Cleaning Hints
To be ready to treat most spills its is a good idea to have on hand the following:
- dry powder laundry detergent
- soda water
- dry cleaing fluid
- clean absorbant cloths
- an old toothbrush
- white vinegar
- windex
- borax (available at supermarkets or pharmacies)
- Glycerine (also available at supermarkets and pharmacies)
| SPILL | SOLUTION |
|---|---|
| Dog Urine | If the stain is recent, sponge with white vinegar then spray with windex. Keep blotting with a clean cloth so the stain will not spread. A few drops of Nilodor will help with any smell. |
| Vomit | Remove with spatula as quickly as possible, then wiipe with cloth and cold water, then borax and warm water. Use tablespoon to 600mls of warm water. Don't allow to get too wet, and follow up with a sponging of eucalyptus to remove any odour. |
| Dry Stains | If a stain is not noticed until it is dry, rub in some glycerine and leave overnight. Next day sponge over lightly with a mixture made from 1 tablespoon of borax to a half litre of warm water. Keep mopping up so as not to get the area to wet |
| Wine | Blot up as quickly as possible. Soda water applied at once can be most effective. Keep mopping up, or if left too long, use borax. Dampen the stain slighlty and apply powdered borax over the stained area. The borax will act as blotting paper and absorb both the stain and the moistrure. Leave until dry, then vacuum off. Eucalyptus will often remove the stale smell from the rug |
| Blood | Blot with tissues. Sponge with salted water (1 teaspoon to 1 cup cold water) and sponge and blot until the mark fades. Sponge with a clean damp cloth to remove traces of salt. Alternatively, make a paste of borax and water and let it fry on the pile. Vacuum to remove the dried powder |
| Butter or Margerine | Remove as much as possible with a spatula, sponge lightly with a dry cleaning fluid, blotting with tissues as the grease disolves. Finally, sprinkle dry carpet cleaning powder over the stain, leave it on for several hours, then vacuum. |
| Chewing Gum | Place some ice blocks in a plastic bag and hold this over the gum for a few minutes. The gum should become brittle and will be easy to lift off. Remove any traces of the gum with dry cleaning fluid applied directly to the pile. Eucalyptus is also good with gum |
| Candle Wax | Lift off as much as possible. Cover remaining wax with half dozen tissues and press with a cool iron. Change the tissues and repeat until no more wax is absorbed |
| Cola or Soft Drink | Blot the area until no more can be absorbed. Then sponge deeply into the pile with laundry detergent powder, using a toothbrush or nailbrush if neccessary. Avoid excess wetting and blot with tissues or clean cloths as you work. Finally, sponge out the suds with a series of clean damp cloths and when the area is dry, vacuum thoroughly |
| Fruit Juice or Cordial | Blot up immediately and then sponge with soda water, blotting frequently. If a stain remains, sponge with 1 teaspoon powder detergent dissolved in 1 cup of water, applied with a toothbrush or nail brush dipped in the solution. Avoid excess wetting and blot frequently. Sponge with clean damp cloths. If not removed these stains will become brown with age. For old stains, rub in a little glycerine and leave for half an hour, then sponge with detergent soloutoin as avbove. A paste made of borax and warm water will often remove final traces of the spillage. |
For additional advice, please do not hesitate to contact us - (03) 9570 -3869 / e info@mmrugs.com.au