Santa Cruz Rug Cleaners - Carpet, Upholstery, & Specialty Cleaners; specializing in maintenance and cleaning of rugs, from rare and costly hand-knotted and hand-tied, to synthetic-type bound carpeting.

Cleaning Tips

Here are some handy tips for removing a few everyday spills and spots. Some spots will require professional treatment. If there's any doubt, please call us first. Treat spills and spots immediately. The longer you wait, the harder they are to remove. First, you need to remove as much of the excess as possible. For drink or liquid spills, grab a soft, absorbent terry cloth towel and double it over a few times. Place the towel on the spill and gently blot up as much liquid as possible.

Pretest any spot removal solution in an unseen place - for example, under a piece of furniture or a sofa cushion. Apply a few drops and blot. If the color changes or transfers to the towel, call us. Here at our plant, we have some effective, safe and inexpensive spot removal solutions for sale.

Always blot up spills; don't rub or brush them. Do not over wet. Use clean, white, absorbent terry cloth towels, working from the outer edge of the spot toward the center. Be patient. Differences in the type and age of the stain, the fiber type and the dyes, etc. mean that no two stains will respond in the same way.

Please use these tips at your own risk. Call us if there's even a little doubt.

Use the table below to determine the appropriate cleaning method to use on your home furniture upholstery stain. Explanations of the letters in the Remedy columns appear below the table.

Stain & Remedy Table

Stain Cause:	Remedy:	Stain Cause:	Remedy:
Alcoholic drinks	C / B	Ice cream	B
Ashes / soot	A / B	Ink / lipstick	A / C
Blood	B	Jam / jelly	B / C
Butter	A	Margarine	A
Cake frosting	A / B	Mayonnaise	A / B
Candle wax	A	Milk / formula	A / B
Candy	B / C	Mud	B
Ketchup	B	Mustard	B
Chewing gum	A	Oil	A
Chocolate	A / B	Salad dressing	A / B
Coffee	A / B	Sauces	A / B
Cosmetics	A / B	Shoe polish	A / C
Crayon	A	Soft drinks	B
Dairy products	A / B	Syrup	B
Egg	B	Tar	A
Feces	B	Tea	B
Felt-tip marker	C	Urine	B
Fruit / juice	B / C	Vegetable	A / B
Gravy	A / B	Vomit	B
Grease	A	Wine / Kool-aid	B / C

Remedy A: Use a dry-cleaning solvent (such as Energine®, Carbona®, or K2r®). READ LABEL CAUTIONS. Apply to stained area with a clean cloth. Using a terrycloth towel, blot with increasing pressure until liquid is absorbed. Repeat this procedure multiple times to rinse the stain material from the fabric.

Remedy B: Use a protein/enzyme-type laundry detergent (such as Era®), diluted; use one (1) part detergent to 30 parts water. Apply to stained area with a clean cloth. Using a terry towel, blot with increasing pressure until liquid is absorbed. Repeat this procedure multiple times to remove the stain. Repeat as necessary with clear water to rinse the detergent from the upholstery fabric.

Remedy C: Use a solution of one (1) part distilled white wine vinegar mixed with nine (9) parts ethyl rubbing alcohol (denatured or isopropyl rubbing alcohol may be substituted). Apply to stained area with a clean cloth. Using a terry towel, blot with increasing pressure until liquid is absorbed. Repeat this procedure multiple times to remove the stain from the upholstery fabric.