How to Remove Stains and Pet Odors from Rugs

Soon we will be closing our homes up for the cooler weather, leaving us face-to-face with rugs and carpets that look and smell less than fresh: A wine spill here, a pet accident there—and you can end up with a real mess underfoot. But commercial carpet cleaners and fresheners can contain synthetic ingredients that can harm you and your pets.

Here are some great formulas that really work to remove grease stains, chewing gum, food and red wine stains, and even cat mistakes (Annie’s formula works better than expensive enzyme-based cleaners!). Find out how to have sweet-smelling, fresh-looking rugs, safely and naturally.

Always try these formulas on a bit of rug that is out of sight first, to be sure they won’t cause discoloration or fading.

Annie’s Fabulous Whipped Carpet-Cleaner:

This formula is fun to make and fun to use. Just mix equal parts water and liquid detergent and whip with a hand beater until it gets frothy. Use a sponge to scoop some onto a section of your rug, rub in gently, then wipe dry with a clean rag.

To Neutralize Pet Odors:

See this great technique for cat mistakes and these general deodorizers for pet odors .

To Remove Red Wine Stains:

It’s easier to get rid of stains when they are fresh. First, blot, then dilute with warm water and blot again. Then:

Method 1: Pour on a bit of milk, white wine, or club soda. Blot and wash with warm water and liquid detergent.

Method 2: Mix equal parts liquid detergent and fresh hydrogen peroxide (it loses its effectiveness if it’s old) and apply to stain. Blot and reapply if necessary, then use warm water to rinse. Allow to dry.

To Remove Fruit Juice and Berry Stains:

Blot and dilute the stain, then apply straight white vinegar. Rinse with warm water.

To Remove Chewing Gum:

Remove as much of it as you can (some people swear by using a plastic bag to pick up the gum: evidently, the gum will adhere to the plastic). Then apply ice cubes to the gum still remaining on the carpet to freeze it: the gum becomes easy to pick out of the rug fibers.

To Remove Grease Stains:

First, blot away as much of the grease as you can. Then apply straight isopropyl alcohol to the stain. Blot, then wash with warm water and liquid detergent. If that doesn’t get it all, apply a few drops of fresh hydrogen peroxide and blot, then wash again with warm water and detergent.

Fragrant Carpet Freshener

Mix 2 cups of borax (in the laundry section of your grocery store) and 25 drops pure essential oil, making sure the oil is evenly distributed throughout the borax. Shake this mixture liberally over your carpet and allow to remain on for a few minutes, then vacuum.

By Annie B. Bond

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

JenJoy H.

5:42PM PST on Dec 15, 2011

I have had a lot of success with Room Shocker. It is an odor eliminator that works like a fumigation bomb. It really works, is environmentally friendly, and super easy to use. You definitely have to check it out at http://www.biocidesystems.com/roomshocker1.html

send a green star

JJ H.

10:47AM PDT on Aug 21, 2011

I've used something called Room Shocker and it works really well. None of the "do it yourself" solutions ever worked for me, and I got tired of wasting time trying things that didn't work. I use Room Shocker on so many odors in my home (they also have something for the car that works great). You can get more details at http://www.biocidesystems.com/cigaretteodor.html

Mike O.

2:10PM PDT on Jun 21, 2011

I am suprised you didn't mention Genesis 950 in this article. It is by far the BEST stain remover and cleaner I have ever used on carpet and furniture. I use it to clean up pet stains and it also removes the odor. In addition, I it has cleaned up A1 Steak Sauce Stains, Paint Stains, Nail Polish, Ink, Tomato Soup, Wine and Blood. It has no chemicals that damage carpet either, and it's non-toxic. Def. the best thing I have ever used and I recommend it to everyone who has ever had a stain to clean.

Catsy D.

11:56PM PDT on Apr 28, 2011

Thanks heaps!

Dianne D.

7:35AM PDT on Apr 28, 2011

These are keepers. Thanks for the information.

Dominic T.

1:32PM PDT on Apr 16, 2011

The best thing for dirty carpets and your home in general is an air purifier. Bacteria, viruses, pollen, formaldehyde, asbestos, germs and dust exist inside your carpets and home. A single ounce of dust contains thousands of dust mites. These air contaminants in your home can cause eye, nose throat an lung irrations, asthma, allergies, headaches, fatigue and much more.
There is one thing you can do to protect your entire family while you are in your home and that is to purchase an air purifier. I too didnt realize about the dangers until I began working at Carico which happens to make the best air purifier in the world. No other purifier has 10 filter stages. In fact most that you can buy at a retail store will only provide 1 or 2 stages of filtration. Whether it be for your babies room, the living area or both....its the best investment you can make. In fact if your babies room and/or living room have carpet, I would say its a must. The purifier may sound pricey but it actually comes out to pennies a day over the life of the product. Remember its being used every day in your home. There are 3 sizes but you should be fine with the compact for your childs room. I would be willing to give you a 10 percent discount if you are interested and there is also a financing option which you may prefer. You may e-mail me at domtorres99@aol.com or call at 310.403.3258. I promise that you will be very happy with your purchase.

Danielle W.

9:51AM PST on Jan 1, 2011

My dogs make such a mess! I'll try anything once :)

Shane T.

9:54PM PST on Dec 30, 2010

detergents should never be used on carpets!
while they will remove the stain generally successfully, they also leave residue that attracts stains/dirt etc

detergents are a short term fix with a long term cost

i work in the industry, my employer has been in the industry for approx 40 years and he strongly opposes the use of any type of detergents. We use water and and a citrus cleaner

Michael C.

9:58AM PST on Dec 30, 2010

Hello. I have 2 cats & 2 dogs, so you can imagine what they do to my house. LOL. Between the paw prints, the urine stains and the cat puke, I tried everything to remove stains. All the household tricks and store bought products I could find. However, I finally came across one thing that cleaned it ALL up. Genesis 950!!! It is the best product I have ever used. it completely breaks down any stain - regardless of how long it has been set in. I use it on the furniture to remove the lick spots and nose marks - which totally gross me out. I also rent a Rug Doctor twice a year and use the 950 in it. My carpets look like new (two days a year - lol). If you have stains, you should look into this stuff. Plus, it is an all purpose cleaner, so I use it for tons of other stuff too. I bought it at a repair shop and order it online now at www.amerikalstore.com

John D.

2:28PM PDT on Sep 12, 2010

Diluted hydrogen peroxide is great for infected cuts or for cuts you think may become infected.

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