Cleaning and Maintaining Carpets & Rugs

How to Clean Carpet and Rugs

How to Clean Carpet and Rugs

One of the questions we get asked the most over the past 30-plus years is how to clean carpets and rugs. We have encountered every situation you can imagine throughout the years while we have custom-made rugs.  Spilling coffee on white carpet, grease and oil from our tools getting on rugs, we even have had animals, raccoons and squirrels break into our shop and, well, do their business on newly made rugs.

Oh, and one of the big ones is that we work with very sharp carpet blades. Doctors have said they are just as sharp as surgical scalpels.  And all the Rug Rats workers have cut themselves over the years, some seriously.  Blood is very difficult to get out of the carpet.

So, we have had to learn to clean almost all ways to get spots and stains out of the carpet.  Below are some products that we at Rug Rats have used in our shop and homes over the years

 

capture carpet cleaner

Capture Powder

Absorbent deep cleaning powder.
Remover of dirt, odors, and allergens. Eliminates moisture that contributes to the growth of bacteria, mold, and allergens. Eliminates soil and prolongs carpet life. Proven effective in reducing allergens. Safe in a home with kids and pets. Safe for use with all vacuums.

WE LOVE this product. It is a powder that can be sprinkled on the carpet and vacuumed out, and it pulls the dirt residue, etc. If you have a spot sprayed with a cleaner and still have a small ring left, use Capture, possibly a few times. This product has a brush that won’t harm your carpet/rug fibers. Brush the powder deep into the pile, then vacuum out.

Capture Spot and Stain Remover

Capture Carpet Spot & Stain Remover – 32oz. Spray

Ideal for everyday cleanups. Capture spot and stain remover is designed to remove the toughest spots and stains. It quickly removes most Dirt, Juice, Coffee, Wine, Food, and other tough stains. It is safe to use on stain-resistant carpets. This is a quick and easy spray on any spot or stain.  You can use upholstery also.  Dropped food, mud, spills, dirt, etc.  This works on almost anything.

OxiClean Odor Blasters Versatile Odor and Stain Remover Powder, 3 lb

OxiClean Odor Blasters Versatile Odor and Stain Remover Powder, 3 lb

Tackle the toughest dried-in stains; chlorine-free and color-safe, it Works in all temperatures and Gets the tough stains out. We have been using OxiClean for our Custom Rugs for almost 30 years. We love it on any stain or problem.  Use it in your laundry also; it is great for stains on white clothes.

If you have Pets – or not…. here are some great products!  I have 4 dogs.  One is a puppy that we are training, and one, our Yorkie-Poo, has been hard-headed on the potty training.  I have had to learn to clean up messes while keeping my house from smelling like dogs.
OdoBan

Odoban Disinfectant Eliminates Odors

OdoBan® Ready-to-Use offers immediate relief as an air freshener and odor remover. It’s perfect for various household spaces like kitchens and bathrooms, effectively eliminating unwelcome smells from floors, walls, garbage areas, showers, upholstery, carpets, and bedding, all while imparting a fresh fragrance. Its triple-action formula not only cleans and deodorizes but also disinfects surfaces. OdoBan® RTU is highly efficient against odors from bacteria, mildew, and stale food residues on hard, nonporous surfaces. Ideal for use throughout the home, especially in kitchens and bathrooms.

Great for cleaning up a Pets potty mess and keeping things smelling nice.  Use on any smelly area.  Read about getting Pet Stains out of the carpet.

If you don’t have any of these products on hand and have a big spill, use:
1. A little Dawn Dish Detergent and cold water
2. A little Hydrogen Peroxide and cold water
3.  Carbonated Water
4.  Plain cold water

These plain remedies will work if you address the problem immediately and BLOT doesn’t RUB!

I hope that some of these products will work for you.  If you have any questions about carpet cleaning, contact me with your questions.  I will be happy to help you with your carpet cleaning problem.

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About the author - Sandy Henderson

The author Sandy Henderson is owner of Rug Rats Fine Carpet and Rugs, a small town business with a national presence. Sandy was drawn to materials and design and wanted to explore how we can take charge of the beauty and happiness of our own homes. She earned a degree in Clothing and Textiles, from historic Longwood College (founded over two hundred years ago as a teachers’ college in Farmville, Virginia). Sandy now draws on her 36 years in the custom rug business to help clients all over the US with their custom & logo rug decisions.