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Cleaning Spills and Stains from

Shaw Rugs

No Carpet or rug is stain proof, but since many are stain resistant, you have time to act if you do so quickly, to prevent deep-set staining. Follow these general guideline for spills not specifically listed below.

1. Remove as much of food spills as possible by scraping the carpet gently with a spoon or a dull knife.
2. Absorb wet spills as quickly as possible by blotting repeatedly with white paper towels or white cloth towels. Always blot; never rub or scrub abrasively, as a fuzzy area may result. When blotting, work from the outer edge in toward the center of the spot to avoid spreading the spill.
3. Remove the stain using one of the cleaning items from the checklist below.
4. Rinse the cleaned carpet area with water to remove detergent residue that may become sticky and cause rapid re-soiling.
5. Absorb any remaining moisture by placing several layers of white towels over the  spill and weighing them down with a heavy object. This step is necessary even when the rug or carpet doesn't seem particularly damp.

Cleaning Water Soluble Spills

The following types of water soluble spills can be cleaned using the method below:

• Beer
• Berries
• Blood
• Chocolate
• Coffee
• Cola Drinks
• De-Icer (calcium chloricide) Vacuum thoroughly first, then clean as described.
• Excrement
• Food Dyes
• Furniture Polish (non-oil based)
• Glue (white glue like Elmers)
• Gravy
• Ice Cream
• Ink (washable)
• Jelly
• Milk
• Mud
• Paint (latex if still wet)

Absorb as much as possible with white towels. Blot the stained area with white paper towels or white cloth towels dampened with cool water until there is no more transfer of the stain onto the towels. If any of the stain remains, use a detergent solution. (A solution of mild non-bleach dishwashing detergent like Dawn, Joy, or clear Ivory is reccommended with a mixture of 1/4 teaspoon of detergent to 32 ounces of water). Do not use detergents that are cloudy or creamy because they may leave a sticky residue.  Spray lightly onto the spot and blot repeatedly with white towels, working from the outer edge in toward the center of the spot to prevent the stain from spreading.  Rinse thoroughly by spraying with clean water, and then blotting with white towels.  Do not use too much detergent because the residue will contribute to rapid resoiling.

For stubborn stains we reccommend using a professional cleaner.

What do you use to clean the spill? Be prepare with the following checklist.

White cloths or white paper towels

Detergent solution: Mix mild liquid detergent with water (no more than 1/4 teaspoon of detergent to 32 ounces of water.) A clear non-bleach liquid dishwashing detergent such as  Dawn, Joy or clear Ivory is reccommend. Do not use detergents that are cloudy, creamy or colored as they may leave a sticky residue.

Vinegar solution: Mix 1 part white vinegar to 1 part water.

Ammonia solution: Mix one tablespoon of ammonia to one cup of water. (Do not use on wool or wool-blend carpets or rugs.)

Non-oily nail polish remover

Chewing gum remover (freeze or solid type)

Spot remover: Use spot removers designed specifically for grease, oil or tar, such as Carbona or Energine.

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