What do you use to spot clean a rug?

[Opti]

I have a small decorative rug, and I need to spot clean it. It is not washable. What do you use? Pros and cons of sprays and methods if you have them.

I expect I'll need to buy something like Resolve or Spot Shot. 

[Knee Deep in Water Chloe]

[Cookies Galore]

I'd probably just use carpet cleaner or an enzyme cleaner but I'm also a big fan of cleaning with vinegar. Google is your friend.

[mollyc]

Dec 26, 2021 13:25:09 GMT -5 Knee Deep in Water Chloe said:

I second this. Best thing ever for when you have menstrating dogs and all kinds of puppy accidents from coffee spilks to poo. It does come with a "check for colour fastness" warning but I haven't had problems with commercial rugs or carpets. Maybe something hand dyed would have a problem

[Tiny]

I use Skout's Honor Stain and Odor remover. It not only cleaned up cat puke - it works on other spills and stains, too! A multi purpose cleaner.

The best advice I can offer is to NOT expect whatever product you choose to completely work on the first application (assuming whatever it is you are cleaning isn't "fresh"). Take you time, have patience.   You may have to apply whatever treatment you go with a couple of times. 


If you don't want to purchase something new... check what laundry stuff you have. If you use something to pre-treat stains on your cloths (an Oxy product) that could do the job.

For the below suggestions: 
ADDED:  **** LESS IS MORE!!   if you use laundry detergent or dish soap or bar soap.  
You want to use as little as possible.   Today's cleaners are AMAZING and just a tiny bit (used with patience) goes a very long way.     Modern laundry detergents don't "foam" or bubble -  they are still working.    Dawn with bubble/foam with very little.. and will KEEP foaming/bubbling - it's easier to remove it from your item if you use less of it.   Both products will clean with very little of it actually used. 


If you don't have that something to pre-treat with -- your liquid laundry detergent mixed with some water might do the job.   I would recommend just a teaspoon of laundry detergent to a quart or more of water.   Laundry detergent is some POWERFUL stuff.   (powder detergent would work too.) 

If you have dawn dish soap (or Ivory bar soap)  - you could try a couple of drops in a quart or more of water and see if that works.    I use those on old linens  they remove the dirt, grime, grease, whatever.    They dont' really remove some stains (coffee, cranberry sauce, for example). 


 You will need to test an area of the rug no matter what you choose to see if effects the color of the rug.

To be honest, if I had a small rug (that I could lug to the basement for cleaning) I would probably go with the laundry detergent/pre-treat option first. I have a utility sink and buckets and a place to hang or elevate off the floor the partially wet rug - so it dries. 

ADDED:   consider what's under your rug when you clean it.... leaving a very wet rug (even just a area of it ) on some types of flooring - will effect the flooring.  Think wet towel left on the floor.       Just an FYI.... 

[Deleted]

We're using Resolve Pro Spot Remover and Carpet Cleaner to cope with an aging cat.  Like Tiny said, less is more-these things are potent.  But so far this one handles cat puke and poop admirably without damaging the rugs.  I've used it on both pure wool and synthetic.  

[Opti]

Mostly from dirt & what not from last year. Small accent rug, so I can drape it over the tub to dry. I did start watching some YouTube video. The guy often starts with Woolite. In the past I had some, but now? If I have some it will be OLD.

I have a much bigger rug that will eventually make it to the dry cleaners, but I would like to make it less bad too.

[Tiny]

The guy often starts with Woolite.

The "magic" of woolite is that it doesn't have all the harsh additives that regular laundry detergent has. and it doesn't create a lot of bubbles and it rinses out cleanly.    A Shampoo or dishwashing liquid(using VERY little) or something like a bar of Ivory soap should work. Check online for substitutes for Woollite.   You can buy baby shampoo in little bottles.  


I've got really old bottle (10 years) of Woolite and it still works.... just used a capful to clean

[Opti]

Dec 26, 2021 19:03:12 GMT -5 Tiny said:

The guy often starts with Woolite.

The "magic" of woolite is that it doesn't have all the harsh additives that regular laundry detergent has. and it doesn't create a lot of bubbles and it rinses out cleanly.    A Shampoo or dishwashing liquid(using VERY little) or something like a bar of Ivory soap should work. Check online for substitutes for Woollite.   You can buy baby shampoo in little bottles.  


I've got really old bottle (10 years) of Woolite and it still works.... just used a capful to clean

My bottle might be older, if it still exists. Not sure if I still have a bit of 'Simply Dawn' or whatever it is named. 

[bookkeeper]

I have a little trick for cleaning or drying rugs.  I like to use a 6 ft ladder and a wood 2 x4 to make a rack for cleaning a big rug.  I ziptie a 2 x 4 to the top of the ladder to make my rack. Outdoor rugs can be easily cleaned using a power washer or hose by draping them over this rack.  Indoor rugs I have spot scrubbed and then taken outside to hang on the rack.  I rinse the rug with water and then air dry.

Big rugs are expensive to have cleaned.  I use Dawn dish soap for most stains.  Oxiclean is good for wine and blood.

[mroped]

There was a product years ago, called Goof Off. We used it to clean stains/spots on carpet.

[Opti]

Dec 26, 2021 21:27:23 GMT -5 mroped said:

There was a product years ago, called Goof Off. We used it to clean stains/spots on carpet.

I think it still exists. I thought I saw it while searching for light bulbs recently.

[buystoys]

I always used Resolve when I had carpets.  Worked like a charm!

[tcu2003]

We use Resolve or Spot Shot - both have worked well for kid messes, cat vomit, etc. 

[Lizard Queen]

I have a little green machine, but I suppose that is sort of washing it.