http://www.care2.com/greenliving/remove-stains-and-pet-odors-from-rug.html
How to Remove Stains and Pet Odors from Rugs
By Annie B. Bond
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.
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11 comments
add your comment »Re.Tee Tree oil for pets, be very careful with cats, as it can be toxic to them, infact be careful with all essential oils & cats, use only very diluted, and do some research first.
But to help making your pet smell better put a few drops of lavender in basin of warm water, and using a flannel rub down your dog/pet with it. Also use a couple of drops in the water you use for washing floors, surfaces, etc, and in the rinse water for you clothes, it will help the pet to feel "more at home", it is especially useful for a newly adopted pet.
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Bio-Spotter is a unique blend of plant-based surfactants coupled with a brittle drying copolymer. It is very safe and environmentally friendly with over 99.7% readily biodegradable ingredients at use dilution. Bio-Spotter does not contain any petroleum distillates, butyl, ammonium hydroxide, phosphates, etc. Side-by-side tests with competitive non-green products will convince you of both its cleaning power and its ability to remove mal-odor. www.biospotter.com
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I tried the baking soda and vinegar trick for pet stain on my carpet, but after about 4 days my dog went right back to the same spot and peed....does anyone else have any suggestions....
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How funny, Kellie! I was mother to 6 puppies whose momma disappeared at one week. I started bottle feeding them in the house of course at a week old. They were in a box, then in a playpen, then corraled in the living room, then allover the place. We had snow for weeks so outside was no option. I just got rid of the last one but I have to do the whole house. I was going to use oxyclean and vinegar. I am chemically sensitive and can only use non-toxic cleaners.
You gave me hope of reclaiming my house. Oh, one of the border collies adopted me so I have to keep her.
Meredith
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Borax sprinkled on your carpet for 20 minutes then vacuumed gets rid of fleas.
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I beleive we should be getting out (libraries, parks, local events) more often and I want my animal to smell good I think tea tree oil (natural)is safe, does anyone know? rustypockets@skunkbox.com
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Does the liquid detergent mean liquid laundry detergent?
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Try this on for size... Miss Tuffy Marie had a litter of ten in April of this year. Being the mama that I am...thoze puppies were in the house for the 1st eight weeks of their lives. Cleaning up after ten puppies everyday wasn't exactly my favorite thing to do. I bought every product on the market in hopes of saving my carpet...nothing worked...and then I found the secret. Hydrogen Peroxide and Vinegar. It worked like magic. Don't worry...the peroxide isn't strong enough to discolor the carpet and although the vinegar smell is a little strong for a day or two, it keeps your kido's from ever taking a potty break in that spot. Hope this helps!
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As an addendum to the above, I of course blotted the wine up before pouring the vinegar over the stain. :)
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I've had great luck removing wine with vinegar and baking soda. A guest spilled a bottle of merlot on my light colored carpet, and I immediately poured a healthy amount of vinegar over it, followed by a good amount of baking soda so that it all foamed up. The red wine turned a lighter purple, and with some scrubbing, came out entirely.
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