Best Carpet Stain Remover Ever

In helping my senior mother with her life, I've had to tackle (1) a dirt (escaping from a vacuum cleaner) stain; (2) spilled coffee stains; and (3) blood stains on her otherwise lovely and pristine-looking carpet. In case you're wondering about the blood, it occurred as she absentmindedly scratched a white mole on her ankle. The injured mole bled a lot and she didn't even notice it, dripping blood on 3 areas of the rug as she returned to her chair.

An all-purpose stain remover from a dollar store didn't work.

Through trial and error (avoiding cleaners that would take the color out of the carpet), what got the stains out was a combination of the following ingredients:

Homemade Carpet Stain Remover

Ingredients:

water-diluted ammonia in a spray bottle (50/50 is actually too strong. I use it as an all-purpose cleaner for household surfaces and now only pour about 1/3 ammonia to 2/3 water, still too much according to this.)

Dishwashing liquid

white vinegar

baking soda

tap water in a cup

a scrub brush

several paper towels

Directions:

1) Wet the stain with water-diluted ammonia.

2) Follow with drops of soap and undiluted white vinegar.

3) Pour baking soda on top of the wet mixture and let it fizzle. I use a scrub brush to work the mixture into the carpet. Toss some clean water on top if the paste is too dry.

4) Let the paste set/dry until the next morning. After 5 minutes or so you can also blot it with paper towels but not excessively so. I covered the wet spot with a couple of paper towels until the next morning so my mom remembered to walk with her walker around the stain. While drying it smells like a big salad.🥗:)

5) Repeat the treatment if needed. When a stain is extra tough, drops of dishwashing detergent can be added to the effort. When the treatment is complete and dry you can vacuum over it. 

We only needed one application. The stains are gone. What a welcome surprise!

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A Natural Fiber Rug That Never Sheds

This Nourison wool rug from Macy's isn't it. Opps, the pink tips of my Croc ballet flats are in the shot!

Ideally I hoped to feature a wonder spray or list ingenious tips to stop wool-and-natural-fiber rugs from shedding. But guess what I surmised? If you can't tolerate shedding, avoid rugs made of wool (sorrel) and jute, 2 popular natural materials. Synthetic rugs shed less, yet are often less desired and less durable. Jute rugs last, add texture to a room and shed. Wool rugs made by hand (hand-knotted or hand-woven) are said to shed less than more affordable wool rugs made by machines (or hand-tufted). 

I don't think the usual tips given to reduce the shedding are very insightful: 1) Lay the rug in a low foot traffic area (oh, c'mon!); 2) Lightly vacuum (tell me how?); 3) Vacuum against the grain (which end is it?); and 4) Use a high-quality rug pad under the rug (well, it's a given and doesn't much reduce shedding, although it extends the life of a rug).

My Safavieh seagrass rug from Overstock

So where does this leave us?: 1) Still looking for a miracle liquid or sure-fire practices; 2) Acceptance of the shedding; 3) Never vacuuming with a beater-bar setting; and 4) Buying rugs made of natural seagrass. Oh, that's the ticket ... for some areas!

In my home, my big area rug is wool, which I bought at Macy's. Neither cheap, nor expensive, somewhere in the middle price-range; 100% wool; and made in India. I vacuum it once a week and must accept some shedding. Always, if I walk around my apartment in socks, I pick up little fibers on the bottoms (like owning a short-haired dog).

For accent rugs such as a doorway; or an enclosed patio room; or perhaps a dining room, I highly recommend natural seagrass over some other natural fiber rugs. Seagrass doesn't shed ... luckily discovered after I bought the rug! It's water-resistant, durable, and feels smooth underfoot, but I don't think I'd want it in a living room. There's no shedding, and yet you'd give up the cozy softness of a wool rug.

Readers, I've researched this topic to death on a number of occasions, and this is the best remedy I can come up with. Perhaps one day somebody will invent the miracle product I keep searching for that will stop wool rugs from shedding. Watch this space! 

Meanwhile feel free to share any tips you have to reduce the shedding of wool or other natural-fiber rugs. For sure, inquiring minds and homeowners want to know!

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Feel The Warmth With KuSan Kits

Still looking for that perfect gift to put under the Christmas tree? Wool hats, gloves and scarves are popular for a reason. Winter is coming!

As temperatures drop, the folks on your holiday list might like to feel the warmth of handmade knitted accessories. KuSan is a merchant of warm knitts, whose offices; design studio; and warehouses are based in North London. The wool used comes from New Zealand; and the items, which also include knitted bags and rugs, are ethically made in Nepal. 

Hand knitters receive fair wages and work humane hours within safe, caring environments. Workers are offered participation in collective bargaining; free association; sufficient breaks; and free staff food. Many have stayed with the company since it began 18 years ago. Since the launch, the company's reputation has grown!

All goods are produced using eco-friendly and substainable practises. 

KuSan sells its woolly goods from London's skate parks to chic boutiques across Europe. Here in the USA customers can find them on Ebay and occassionally at T.J. Maxx. The quality is high end, yet the cost is low.

Super cute style, lovingly handcrafted and affordable, the hats, gloves and scarves are 100% wool and fleece lined. Plus, the retailer is always innovating and updating its collection. I bought a pair of colorful, striped mittens!

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