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Rug maintenance and the dreaded “it’s bound to happen” spills


If you’re reading this, it’s too late.


Just kidding! 😜In this blog post, we will be going over general rug maintenance, cleaning tips and how to get "it's bound to happen" stains out.


If you bought your rug from Sklar Peppler and added our protection plan, then we’ve got your back. No stress to finish reading this post - just call us!


Day to day cleaning:

Vacuum weekly

Rotate monthly to evenly distribute wear

Once a year, shampoo your rug.

If your rug has tassels, don’t vacuum them, it could cause unwanted fraying.


General cleaning tips:

Always always always check the cleaning tag.

General spill: blot with a clean, white cloth. I cannot stress this enough: do not rub - blot.

Club soda is your best friend (now for reasons other than a mean vodka soda). Combine with a small amount of carpet cleaning solution and it should take your stain out.


It’s bound to happen:


🛑STOP🛑: Don’t forget to test any carpet stain removal techniques or new products on a hidden area of your carpet just to confirm results. This includes colourful carpets and white/neutral carpets. A small patch test can help you determine how your carpet will react to the cleaning techniques.


🍷Red Wine Spill:

Don’t panic. Take a deep breath, you got this.


1. Blot up the extra wine with a clean white cloth.

2. Add a little cold water to the wine spill and continue blotting. (This helps dilute the wine)

3. Run to your kitchen and create a 3:1 Baking Soda to water ratio paste. Apply the paste to the stain and wait for it to dry completely.

4. Once the paste has completely dried, vacuum up the paste.

If the stain still remains, you’re outta luck. 😉 Just kidding. Sorry, this is not the time for jokes. If the stain still remains, check the cleaning instruction tag located on the underside of the rug.

5. Apply the stain remover recommended by the rug manufacturer, wait for it to dry and vacuum.


Red Wine Still on White Carpet (instead of using a commercial cleaning solution):

1. Follow the first 5 steps listed above.

2. Mix one part clear dishwashing liquid with two parts hydrogen peroxide.

3. Use a sponge to apply your solution. Let it sit for several minutes (5 - 10).

4. Blot up your solution with a clean white cloth.

5. Take a new clean cloth, dip in plain water and blot the area to remove any remaining soap.

If all else fails, it’s time to make friends with your friendly neighborhood carpet cleaners.


🍬Gum:

No worries here, it just takes time and some elbow grease.


1. Press ice cubes against the spot.

2. Wait until the gum becomes hard and easily breaks off.

3. Use a spot remover to eliminate the remaining pieces of gum.

4. Saturate the spot with cloth soaked in vinegar or alcohol.


🖊️Ink:

Three products, two easy steps, one happy rug owner.


1. Saturate the spot with hairspray and allow it to dry.

2. Blot lightly with a solution of water and vinegar.

We suggest that next time practice calligraphy at your desk, not on your rug:)


🕯️Candle Wax:

Normally this would be a very tricky situation. But you've got Sklar Peppler on your side. Take a deep breath.


1. Place a piece of blotting paper or brown paper bag over the spot.

2. Place a hot iron over the blotter (move constantly and don't let the iron stay in one place).

3. Wait a few minutes until the wax is absorbed into the blotter or bad.

4. Repeat if necessary.

Keep candles out of the reach of children and pets.


💅Nail Polish:

Another classic "it's bound to happen" stain.


1. Wet the stain with cold water.

2. Spray a generous amount of hair spray or window cleaner, followed by a couple of small splashes of rubbing alcohol.

3. Using a small scrub brush (like a toothbrush), scrub the nail polish stain directly for about a minute.

4. While you’re scrubbing, keep pouring clean, cold water onto the stain throughout the process.

5. Repeat the stain is no longer visible.


🍫Chocolate

I'm a foodie. I get it. When indulging in a fresh bar of chocolate things can get out of hand.😉


1.Using a butter knife, scrape off any remaining chocolate residue from the affected area of the carpet. Be sure to perform this step slowly and carefully.

2. Using a paper towel or white clean cloth, use a carpet stain remover to try and lift the chocolate stain.

3. If remnants of the chocolate stain are still visible after performing step 2, take ¼ teaspoon of white detergent and mix it with a cup of water that’s around room temperature.

4. Pour this water and detergent mixture directly onto the stain.

5. Begin blotting the carpet, working from the outer edge of the stain to the inner part. Doing so ensures you’re not spreading the chocolate stain further.

6. Leave the area to dry and the chocolate stain should disappear.


🤢Vomit:

Tuesday nights can get crazy.😜


1. As soon as you discover the vomit stain, scrape off as much of it as possible. If you have a scraper, this is the best tool to use.

2. Sprinkle a bit of cornstarch directly onto the affected area of the carpet. Be sure to use enough so the stain is completely covered.

3. Let the corn starch sit there for 10 to 15 minutes. This should help absorb the vomit from the carpet.

4. With a clean cloth, apply dry cleaning solvent. Effective brands of dry cleaning solvent include Dryel and Dry Cleaner’s Secret.

5. Follow by blotting the stain until all of the dry cleaning solution has been absorbed. After completing this step, it’s likely that the vomit stain will no longer be visible.

6. If you still see remnants of the stain, mix one tablespoon of white vinegar with one tablespoon of dishwashing detergent, and 2 cups of warm water. Sponge the stain.

7. Rinse the carpet with cold water to remove the solution.


Stay Tuned for part two! Let us know if you've used any of these techniques, want to share some of your techniques or what we should tackle next!

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