What is the best way to clean a rug at home when it has stains? My renters really messed up the floors. I think there are blood spots on the Berber.
Melanie Ford, Tucson, AZ
It sounds like you have a big job in front of you. But the best way to clean a rug at home won’t take too long if you have the right stuff on hand. You can make a homemade yoga mat cleaner, acheap homemade floor cleaner or carpet cleaner with just three ingredients: one-half teaspoon of white vinegar, one-half teaspoon of dish soap, and two cups of warm water. It is the perfect way to clean carpet by hand.
To start, soak a rag in this solution and dab at the spots or coffee stain on the rug. After you blot the wet area with a dry cloth, rub at it again with the wet one. Repeat this until the stain is gone, then rinse off the soapy residue with cold water. Blot it again with a dry towel. If you leave soap behind, it can attract dirt.
If you have blood stains that just won’t come out, try using a tablespoon of ammonia dissolved in a half-cup of warm water. Follow the same process of dabbing and blotting until the marks are gone. Some people have had success cleaning a hand woven rug with hydrogen peroxide and dish soap, but this could lift your carpet’s dye. In fact, before you treat any stains at all, test the homemade cleaner in a place out of sight. If the color of the carpet doesn’t transfer onto a clean white cloth, you’re probably okay to work on the stains.
For grease stains on the carpet, you can try any of the above remedies, depending on the size of the spot. Dish soap is ideal for removing grease but vinegar and ammonia also work well as a carpet degreaser. If your carpet or rug is light-colored, peroxide may do the trick, too.
See even more recipes and tips for cleaning your rugs and carpets at home in this article:https://www.tipsbulletin.com/how-to-get-blood-stains-out-of-carpet-homemade-carpet-cleaner-recipes/
Joan