Area Rugs Emergencies

These tips will help prevent permanent damage to your valuable rugs

Things to have handy:  Club Soda, Cotton Towels, White Odorless Vinegar

1. Liquids – Immediately Blot with cotton towel.  Do not scrub the fibers, or you may distort and damage them.
2. Non- Liquids – Immediately scrape up with spoon, and blot with cotton towel.
3. Examine the towel:
   1. Is the spill absorbing into the towel
   2. Are any of the rug’s dues absorbing into the towel?  If they are, blot a bit more and then STOP. No more work can be done to this area without causing the dyes to bleed together, potentially devaluing the rug.
4. If the rug’s dyes are not absorbing into the towel, then place a folded towel underneath the affected area.  Pour some Club Soda into a bowl and dampen a sponge with it.  Gently moisten the spill area with the sponge just until its damp – NOT soaking wet.
5. Using a clean towel, blot the top of the rug to continue absorbing the spill from the fibers.  (Club Soda helps keep the spill “suspended” so you can grab it with the cotton towel when you blot.
6. When no more spilled material is visible in the towel, create a “sandwich” with a folded towel under the spill and one on top, and either stand on the this area or put a heavy PLASTIC item for about 10 minutes.
7. Remove the towels and elevate the damp area so that it can dry completely.  You can use a hair dryer on cool or warm settings on the front and back of the rug to quicken the process, or prop up the rug and allow it to air dry for at least 24 hours or until completely dry to prevent mildew.