It’s a moment of pure panic. A guest at your party gestures a little too enthusiastically, and a full glass of red wine goes tumbling onto your beautiful, light-colored area rug. Your first instinct might be to grab a scrub brush and a random household cleaner and start scrubbing frantically. Stop! The actions you take in the first few minutes after a spill can mean the difference between a removable spot and a permanent, set-in stain. While a serious spill like red wine will almost always require professional treatment, your immediate “first aid” response is critical for mitigating the damage and giving the professionals the best possible chance of success.
Step 1: Act Immediately and Do Not Panic
The key to treating any spill is to act as quickly as possible. The longer the spill sits, the deeper it will penetrate the rug fibers and the more likely it is to set and become a permanent stain. Take a deep breath and work calmly and deliberately.
Step 2: Blot, Don’t Rub!
This is the most important rule of spot removal.
- Grab a Clean White Towel: Get a stack of clean, white, absorbent towels or paper towels. Using a white towel is important so that no color from the towel can transfer to the rug.
- Blot from the Outside In: Start at the outside edge of the spill and blot inwards toward the center. This prevents the spill from spreading and getting larger.
- Apply Gentle Pressure: Lay the towel on the spill and apply firm, downward pressure to absorb as much of the liquid as possible. Continue this process with fresh, dry sections of the towel until you are no longer pulling up any more color. Never, ever scrub or rub the spot. Scrubbing can damage the delicate rug fibers and can work the stain deeper into the pile, making it much harder to remove.
Step 3: A Simple Rinsing Solution
After you have blotted up as much of the wine as possible, you can perform a gentle rinse.
- Mix a Simple Solution: Mix a small amount of clear, mild dish soap with cool water. Alternatively, a mixture of white vinegar and water can be effective.
- Blot with the Solution: Dampen a new, clean white cloth with this solution and gently blot the affected area. Do not oversaturate the rug.
- Rinse with Water: Dampen another clean cloth with plain water and blot the area to “rinse” out the cleaning solution.
- Final Blot: Finish by blotting the area with a dry towel to absorb as much moisture as possible.
What NOT to Do
What you don’t do is just as important as what you do.
- Do Not Use Colored Towels.
- Do Not Scrub or Rub the Stain.
- Do Not Use Harsh Chemical Cleaners: Never use an off-the-shelf carpet spot cleaner, especially one containing bleach or other harsh chemicals, on a wool or silk oriental rug. These products can strip the color from the rug and cause permanent, irreversible damage. As home care resources like Good Housekeeping often warn about household chemicals, what is safe for one surface can be destructive on another.
- Do Not Apply Heat: Do not use a hairdryer or other heat source to try and dry the spot, as heat can set the stain permanently.
Step 4: Call a Professional
While these first aid steps can help, a stain like red wine has powerful dyes that will likely require professional treatment. A professional rug cleaner has a variety of specialized spot removal agents and techniques to safely treat stubborn stains without damaging your rug.
Your Palm Desert Rug Spot Removal Experts
Accidents happen. When a spill threatens your valuable area rug, quick action is key. For homeowners in Palm Desert and throughout the Coachella Valley, the team at Magic Rug Cleaners are experts in professional rug spot removal. Contact us as soon as a spill occurs for professional advice and service.