CLEANING AND MAINTENANCE GUIDE

We recommend visiting the website of the manufacturer of your product for specific cleaning and maintenance instructions. Links can be found on our links page. However, below is a chart, which contains instructions for removing common stains from synthetic yarns like nylon and polypropylene. Remember, no carpet is stain-proof. The instructions provided below are only recommendations and are not guaranteed to work in all cases. Craft Rug Mills makes make no warranty, express or implied, as to the effectiveness of the procedures described herein.

 

Stain Procedure Stain Procedure
Beer B Kool Aid. M
Berries M Lemonade M
Blood M Lipstick QA
Butter A Makeup AB
Candle Wax O-A Mayonnaise B
Candy (Sugar) B Mercurochrome M
Catsup M Methiolate M
Chewing Gum GA Milk B
Chocolate B Mixed Drinks (Liqueurs) M
Chalk P Mud (Allow to dry) PB
Coffee M Mustard (Allow to dry) M
Cooking Oil AB Nail Polish L
Crayon AB Paint – Laytex B
Dirt or Clay PB Paint – Oil A
Dyes (Blue, Black, etc.) M Pet Food M
Excrement B Shoe Polish AM
Fruit Juice/Drinks M Soft Drinks M
Furniture Polish M Tar A
Grease – Food AB Tea M
Grease – Auto A Urine DM
Glue – White B Vomit BM
Glue – Hobby AL Wine BM
Ice Cream B Unknown AB
Ink – Ball Point Pen A
Ink – India, Marking Pen AM

 

Stain Chart
SCRAPE — Gently scoop or scrape with the blunt edge of a spoon from the outside of the spill toward the center.
BLOT — Press straight down with a pad of clean white paper towels — never rub. Rubbing alters carpet texture. Then in a final blotting, leave 1/2″ of paper towels on the spot overnight with a weight.
APPLY — Apply all liquids to a clean white (not printed) paper towel and use to dampen carpet. Never wet a carpet through to the backing.
WEIGHT — A weighted 1/2″ pad of white paper towels, left overnight, will absorb the last traces of liquid and foreign materials.
DETERGENT — Mix 1/4 teaspoon clear, see-through hand dish-washing detergent with 1 cup warm — not hot — water.
HYDROGEN PEROXIDE/AMMONIA — Mix 1/2 cup (3% solution available in drug stores) with 1 teaspoon undiluted, unscented, clear (not sudsy) household ammonia. Use within 2 hours of mixing.
DRY CLEANING FLUID — Liquid, non-oily, non-caustic type sold for spot removal from garments (Carbona #10, Energine, etc.). Caution, may be flammable.
Stain Removal Procedures
PROCEDURE A: Apply dry cleaning fluid, use dry towel or cloth. Blot — don’t rub. Repeat dry cleaning fluid application as above. Blot — don’t rub. Finish with weighted pad of towels.

PROCEDURE B: Scrape or blot up excess spill. Apply detergent (see cleaning solutions above), use damp towel. Blot — don’t rub. Apply water — with damp towel. Blot — finish with weighted pad of towels.

PROCEDURE D: Scrape or blot up excess spill. Apply detergent (see cleaning solutions above), use damp towel. Blot — don’t rub. Apply ammonia (see cleaning solutions above), use damp towel. Blot — don’t rub. Apply water — with damp towel. Blot — finish with weighted pad of towels. Apply white vinegar (undiluted), only after stain is removed.

PROCEDURE G: Scrape or blot up excess spill. Freeze with ice cubes. Shatter with blunt object such as the back of a spoon. Vacuum chips away before they melt.

PROCEDURE L: Apply nail polish remover (non-oily acetone type) — use cotton towel to apply to the spill. Don’t wet through to carpet backing. Pick up softened material — use clean white paper towel and push toward center of the spot to avoid spreading material. Repeat above — soften and carefully remove a layer of the material each time. Haste may spread the stain and/or damage the carpet.

PROCEDURE M: Apply detergent solution (see cleaning solutions above), use damp towel, leave 3-5 minutes. Blot — don’t rub. If stain is removed, finish with a water rinse, blot, followed with a pad of weighted paper towels. If stain is not removed, continue as follows. Apply hydrogen peroxide solution (see cleaning solutions above), let stand 2 to 3 hours under a weighted sheet of plastic wrap. Repeat application of hydrogen peroxide and dry under weighted plastic wrap until removal is complete. Apply water with damp towel. Blot — finish with weighted pad of paper towels. Apply white vinegar (undiluted), only after stain is removed.

PROCEDURE O: Scrape off excess material. Cover with white cotton towel or brown paper. Apply warm iron until material is absorbed. Be sure towel is large enough to cover the stained area. Take care never to touch the iron to the carpet as the fiber may melt. Change towel or rotate to clean area and repeat until all material is absorbed.

PROCEDURE P: Vacuum away as much as possible. Loosen remaining material by tapping with a scrub brush or toothbrush. Tap with brush, do not scrub. Vacuum again. Follow with PROCEDURE B.

PROCEDURE Q: Scrape off excess material. Lightly rub area with a fresh slice of white bread. Complete removal with PROCEDURE A.