We've all been there, a brief lapse of concentration and suddenly a normal day turns to tragedy in an instant. I am speaking of course about the age-old tension between vessel and fluid, wine and glass, coffee and mug. Despite our best efforts to contain them, these richly pigmented liquids are irresistibly attracted to our favourite furnishings and fabrics. But what to do when your favourite rug falls victims to a rogue teacup, or a Merlot that goes from cheeky to downright mischievous? It is easy to fall prey to despair, but if you can keep your head, it may not be too late for your rug.

First steps - damage control

The first thing to do is to attempt to remove as much of the liquid from the rug as possible. Use kitchen paper or an absorbent cloth to soak up the errant fluid until the affected region is as dry as possible. Next, make a very dilute mixture of water and washing-up liquid. Apply this gently, brushing in the natural direction of the pile. Do not scrub back and forth or use more force than necessary, as this can damage the fibres and even remove the original colouring from some rugs. Continue to absorb the liquid and apply more as needed, until the discolouration is gone. Position the rug such that both sides are exposed to the air and leave to dry.

What next?

Hopefully, the procedure above will have solved the problem, and you can get back to normality. If there is still staining however, it is time to call in the professionals.

Our stain-treatment for rugs

Prior to the full-immersion stage of our process, we will treat any localised staining with industrial grade stain removing agents. We select the specific product based on the composition of the rug and the nature of the stain, always ensuring that it will effectively address the discolouration without compromising the original colours.

The stain removing agent is left on for as long as necessary, before being expunged along with the other detergents, shampoo and conditioner applied during the full immersion stage of our process. This is important, as if it is not thoroughly rinsed out in time it may start to break down the dyes in the rug. For this reason, we do not recommend using domestic stain treatments at home as they are difficult to rinse out properly without the large area that we use to submerge the rugs and hose out the products.

How effective is it?

Just as every rug is different, so too is every stain, making it difficult to guarantee that stains will be removed. Some materials (especially natural fibres such as wool and cotton) are more amenable to cleaning than others, and some contaminants are more or less stubborn. With this proviso in mind, we can say that as a rule of thumb we will be successful in totally removing the stain if we get to it within 1 - 2 weeks, so it pays to act quickly. We have on many occasions removed all trace of the following contaminants:

If the stain is older, we can usually reduce its appearance. If the stain is very old however, it can become as much a part of the rug as the original dyes, meaning that removing it with the method above would be just as likely to take the colouring out with it. If that is the case, we can offer more advanced restoration options, such as removing the damaged area and reconstructing it from scratch.

Conclusion

Accidents happen, and they can turn your favourite rug from a thing of beauty into an ugly mess. But as bad as it might look, our facility is equipped to deal with it. We have the experience and knowledge to undo almost anything and give your rug its best chance of returning to its former glory.