Area Rug Cleaning Spotting Guide

Seeing spots on your rug? Here are some helpful tips from the rug cleaning experts at Hammond Knoll. And keep us in mind the next time you need your rugs or carpets professionally cleaned.

One or more of the following four solutions will be required together with some white absorbent cloth or tissue, depending on the type of spot you are trying to clean:

1. Detergent Solution: Hammond Knoll "Spot Be Gone" or substitute one teaspoon of liquid dishwashing detergent to 1/2 pint of warm water.
2. Detergent/Vinegar Solution: Add one teaspoon of white vinegar to the detergent solution.
3. Ammonia Solution: One tablespoon of household ammonia to one cup of warm water. (Refrain from a stronger ammonia solution on wool carpet.)
4. Dry Cleaning Solvent: Use a solvent such as Energine. Test the solution on a small, inconspicuous area, then tackle the stain by working from the outer edge toward the center.

If you have Adobe Acrobat Reader, you can view and print our Spotting Guide for directions on how to treat the most common types of rug and carpet spots, using the solutions above. If you don’t have Acrobat Reader, see the Spotting Guide below or click here to download the free Acrobat Reader software.

Alcohol/wine Blood Chewing Gum Chocolate Coffee/Tea Egg

Fats Fruit Glue Gravy Grease Ice Cream

Lipstick Liquid Foods Milk Nail Polish Oil/Tar Perfume

Shoe Polish Soft Drinks Solids Urine Vomit Wax

Alcohol/wine:
Blot up the surplus spillage. Use Detergent/Vinegar solution. Work from the outer edge of the stain, using a little at a time and blotting up with dry cloths frequently.

Blood:
Scrape up excess with a blunt knife. Use Detergent solution, starting at the outer edge and blotting dry. Follow with Ammonia solution. Blot dry.

Chewing Gum:
Scrape up with a blunt knife. Use Dry Cleaning solvent followed by Detergent/Vinegar solution. Blot dry.

Chocolate:
Scrape up excess with a blunt knife. Use Detergent solution, starting at the outer edge and blotting dry. Follow with Ammonia solution. Blot dry.

Coffee/Tea:
Blot up the surplus spillage. Use Detergent solution, and follow with vinegar. Work from the outer edge of the stain, using a little at a time and blotting up with dry cloths frequently.

Egg:
Scrape up excess with a blunt knife. Use Detergent solution, starting at the outer edge and blotting dry. Follow with Ammonia solution. Blot dry.

Fats:
Scrape up with a blunt knife. Use Dry Cleaning solvent followed by Detergent/Vinegar solution. Blot dry.

Fruit:
Scrape up with a blunt knife. Use Detergent solution, starting at the outer edge and blotting dry. Follow with Ammonia solution. Blot dry.

Glue:
Scrape up excess with a blunt knife. Use Detergent solution, starting at the outer edge and blotting dry. Follow with Ammonia solution. Blot dry.

Gravy:
Scrape up excess with a blunt knife. Use Detergent solution, starting at the outer edge and blotting dry. Follow with Ammonia solution. Blot dry.

Grease:
Scrape up with a blunt knife. Use Dry Cleaning solvent followed by Detergent/Vinegar solution. Blot dry.

Ice Cream:
Scrape up excess with a blunt knife. Use Detergent solution, starting at the outer edge and blotting dry. Follow with Ammonia solution. Blot dry.

Lipstick:
Scrape up with a blunt knife. Use Dry Cleaning solvent followed by Detergent/Vinegar solution. Blot dry.

Liquid Foods:
Blot up the surplus spillage. Use Detergent solution, starting at the outer edge of the stain, using a little at a time and blotting up with dry cloths frequently.

Milk:
Blot up the surplus spillage. Use Detergent solution, starting at the outer edge and blotting dry. Follow with Ammonia solution. Blot dry.

Nail Polish:
Scrape up with a blunt knife. Use Dry Cleaning solvent followed by Detergent/Vinegar solution. Blot dry.

Oil/Tar:
Scrape up with a blunt knife. Use Dry Cleaning solvent followed by Detergent/Vinegar solution. Blot dry.

Perfume:
Blot up the surplus spillage. Use Detergent/Vinegar solution. Work from the outer edge of the stain, using a little at a time and blotting up with dry cloths frequently.

Shoe Polish:
Scrape up with a blunt knife. Use Dry Cleaning solvent followed by Detergent/Vinegar solution. Blot dry.

Soft Drinks:
Blot up the surplus spillage. Use Detergent solution, starting at the outer edge and blotting dry. Follow with Ammonia solution. Blot dry.

Solids:
Scrape up with a blunt knife. Use Dry Cleaning solvent followed by Detergent/Vinegar solution. Blot dry.

Urine:
Blot up the surplus spillage. Use Detergent/Vinegar solution. Work from the outer edge of the stain, using a little at a time and blotting up with dry cloths frequently.

Vomit:
Scrape up with a blunt knife. Use Dry Cleaning solvent followed by Detergent/Vinegar solution. Blot dry.

Wax:
Scrape up with a blunt knife. Use Dry Cleaning solvent followed by Detergent/Vinegar solution. Blot dry.

Note:
Due to the large number of fabrics on the market and their various combinations, we cannot be responsible for the results from these techniques. Please call us for individualized suggestions.