Your dog had an accident on your rug. Here is what to do.
It happens in every home with a dog or cat. The good news is that what you do in the first few minutes makes a big difference, and most accidents can be handled without lasting damage to your rug.
1. Blot up as much as you can, right away
The most important thing is to absorb as much as you can, as quickly as you can. Use plain white paper towels or a clean white cloth and press down firmly. Keep switching to a dry section until you are no longer picking up moisture. If you can, put a towel under the rug too, so the spot doesn’t soak into the pad or the floor.
2. Blot with half white vinegar, half water
Once you’ve blotted up what you can, mix 50% white vinegar and 50% cool water. Dampen a clean white cloth with the mix and blot the area, then blot again with a dry cloth. Work from the outside of the spot toward the center so you don’t spread it.
3. Don’t rub, and don’t use heat
Rubbing pushes the stain deeper into the fibers and can rough up the wool. Hot water, a hair dryer or a steam cleaner can set the stain and the odor, so keep everything cool.
4. Skip the store-bought spot remover
Many spot removers contain harsh chemicals that can strip dye, cause colors to bleed or weaken natural wool. On a fine oriental or handmade rug, that kind of damage is much harder to fix than the original accident.
5. Let it dry, then check it
Let the area air dry with the rug lying flat. Once it’s dry, look and smell. If you still see a mark or notice an odor, the accident likely reached deeper into the rug than you could get to from the surface.
When to call us
If the stain or smell is still there after it dries, or if the accident has happened more than once in the same spot, give us a call. We pick the rug up for free, wash it by hand without harsh detergents or chemicals, and bring it back clean. That’s safe for your kids and for the pet who caused the problem in the first place.