Rugs are always beautiful until the inevitable happens and a stain distorts the harmony of the surface. The stains can come from food, drinks, pet dirt and feces, kids, and many more. Regretfully, some of them are very stubborn. But with the best rug stain remover, the rug can get back to its pristine look.
This guide reviewed 10 products we believe are the very best when it comes to removing stains permanently from your rug. You don’t have to go through the sometimes frustrating exercise of looking for an appropriate product to deal with the stain on your rug.
How We Evaluated the Best Rug Stain Removers
It is hard to keep track of all rug stain removers because of the long list of products on the market. That is understandable since there are endless ways stains find their way to our precious rugs.
Choosing just 10 from so many was never going to be easy. We stuck to it though. And with the help of certain important features, we were able to whittle it down to the 10 we considered the best.
Some of the criteria used in evaluating the best rug stain removers include the following:
Broad spectrum stain remover – Many stain or spot removers are made to target specific types of stain. It is therefore common to come across products designed only for organic oils or grease or food-based stains and so on.
The best spot remover had to be able to deal with all kinds of stains. A sort of ‘Jack-of-all-trade’ remover that is effective no matter the type of stain.
Price – It is always tricky using the price tag as a factor in selecting items because the relationship between price and quality is not very straightforward.
With stain removers though, it was easy to get some really excellent products at decent prices. Products with high price tags were dropped if an equally good product was cheaper and available.
But a delicate balancing had to be struck between price and quality. In several cases, the low price actually meant mediocre product.
Easy to use – If we had our way, most of us would dispense with chores like removing stains from our floors.
The products that made the final cut don’t take up too much of your time than is necessary. And you don’t have to follow some long, lengthy and sometimes confusing instructions before commencing the cleaning work.
The most ideal product doesn’t require extra cleaning or vacuuming after blotting or soaking up the formulation from the rug with a cloth.
Deodorizer – Stains come from many sources and many of them leave the area with a foul smell that lingers for long even after cleaning up the mess.
Priority was given to products that completely eliminated the foul odor leaving behind a clean, fresh smell.
Non-toxic – How safe the product is to humans, especially kids and pets, was one of the most important consideration.
The chemicals used in the formulation had to be non-toxic to the skin.
Effectiveness – How well did the product remove the stain? How long did it take? Did the spot attract dirt after the stain was removed? Was the stained area bleached after eliminating the stain?
These were the ‘effectiveness’ questions the products under consideration were subjected to.
Top 10 Best Rug Stain Removers
#1. Bubbas Super Steamer Carpet Shampoo
Bubbas Carpet Shampoo is an excellent stain remover that comes highly recommended for all types of stains.
To get the best results from it, you would need a steam cleaner that is suitable for rugs. You would be amazed by the results especially if you are a dog and cat owner and you constantly have to clean the messes and stains left behind by your beloved pets.
It is primarily made to remove all those tough stains left behind by pets. However, it is also able to do a bit of everything as far as removing all sorts of stains go.
Expect it to also eliminate pet odors. As an additional bonus, your rug would be deodorized while all the fibers would he revitalized giving them back their luster.
#2. Sunny & Honey Pet Stain and Odor Miracle
Sunny & Honey’s Pet and Odor Miracle is the perfect stain remover for the environmentally conscious individual. It is easy on the environment and the products are never tested on animals.
It is a bio-enzymatic formula that goes right down to the root of the problem instead of cleaning only the surface stain.
When the formula is sprayed on the offending stain, the bacteria in the enzyme instantly become active and start chipping away at the stain. The smart bacteria even know when to stop once there is no more stain to remove.
Once the job is completed, the solution dries up and disintegrates leaving no residue behind. You would be happy to know that the product is safe to use even with children around.
#3. Bissell Professional Power Shot 95C9 Stain Remover
This stain remover delivers professional-level stain-removing capabilities with the unique StainLift Technology that would efficiently remove tough stains caused by red wine, pet, oils, and coffee among others.
It is eco-friendly with a biodegradable detergent with no hazardous propellants making it safe for humans and children.
Bissell Professional Power Shot is famous for doing a better job of removing stain than many of the leading aerosol spot cleaners.
Like all the best rug stain remover, it attacks the stain by penetrating them right to the source. In the end, it leaves a long lasting fresh, clean scent in your home.
#4. Hoover PetPlus Pet Stain and Odor Remover AH30325NF
The Hoover PetPlus is a powerful cleaner enhanced with enzymes to take care of pet messes and eliminate any lingering odor.
It comes with a new proprietary advanced pet formula that includes ingredients formulated to penetrate deep into the offending stain and eliminate stains no matter how stubborn.
It also uses a similar strategy to eliminate offensive smells like pet odors. The formulation also deters pets from re-soiling the same spot. To complete the process for a flawless rug, ensure you vacuum the rug once it is dry.
It is a concentrated solution so you are expected to dilute 3 oz in a gallon of water making it a good investment since a container would last long.
#5. Chem-Dry Carpet Stain Extinguisher
Chem-Dry Carpet Stain Extinguisher is an all-purpose stain remover that does a great job of eliminating a wide range of stains from your rug and other surfaces including upholstery and fabrics.
This is a non-toxic spot cleaner is safe to use around kids and pets and it doesn’t contain any harsh solvents capable of damaging your rug’s fibers. It uses the cleaning efficacy of carbonation to lift spots to the surface for better cleaning.
However, this particular product is not that great at dealing with stains caused by grease or oils. Chem-Dry, though, have several products designed to deal with specific stains.
#6. Shaw R2X Stain & Soil Remover
Shaw R2X stain and soil remover is an easy-to-use spray cleaner that easily doubles as a spot cleaner and for wall-to-wall rug cleaning and for handling most types of stains including oil-based stains.
A favorite of many professional rug installers, it is effective on all types of rugs and carpets including wool. Apart from cleaning and removing stains, it also protects the rug fibers.
You can also use it to clear stains on fabrics such as furniture, clothing, automobile carpet and upholstery.
To use it, simply scrape any solids from the rug, spray, and blot; repeat until the stain disappears. This no-rinse formulation doesn’t leave behind a messy residue.
#7. VeryDirtyCarpets Spot & Stain Remover
With this multi-surface spot and stain remover, you are guaranteed that once a stain is removed, no rebound or boomerang staining would come back to haunt you after some days. In other words, it removes stains permanently.
The formulation is designed with the latest cleaning technology that ensures the stains are trapped in a polymer-based, non-stick powder that is easy to remove with a good vacuum.
All types of stains including oils, food stains, animal stains, and stains from soils are removed without much fuss. You don’t need to scrub the formulation. Simply blot out the solution with a dry cloth to leave behind a spotless rug.
#8. Stainmaster Area Rugs Stain Remover & Cleaner
If you want a stain remover that is tough on unwanted stains and gentle on your rug, look no further than the Stainmaster stain remover and cleaner.
The product is sensitive to the rug’s color (s) ensuring that it doesn’t bleach it.
You would love that it doesn’t leave any sticky residue behind that is capable of attracting dirt over time. The formulation is, instead, designed to repel dirt and protect the rug against re-staining ensuring your rug keeps looking new for as long as possible.
Everyday stains like coffee, oils, pet stains, urine, feces, etc., do not stand a chance against it. And the light, fresh scent is also great at masking any unpleasant odor.
#9. Folex Carpet Spot Remover
First-time users of Folex Spot Remover would think they just discovered the holy grail of rug stain remover. This non-toxic formulation is effective not just on rugs, carpets and other surfaces, it can also be used to remove stains and spots on laundry items.
The results are almost instant and because it is a non-ionic cleaner, the cleaned area has no static charge to attract new dirt later.
The odorless stain remover comes in 32 oz container that would last a long time because you don’t need much of it to eliminate stains.
It makes your job easier as it requires no rinsing, vacuuming or having to wait a long time to see results.
#10. Spot Shot Professional Instant Stain Remover
Spot Shot is another perfect rug stain remover that combines the strength of professional stain removers with the gentleness of natural, non-toxic formulations.
Stains from food, drinks, and oils are easily removed with no trace no matter the age of the stain or how deeply ingrained it is on the rug. It would also deodorize the rug eliminating all the off odors you found irritating.
The product, like all the best ones, is easy to use. Simply the spray and blot after a few minutes. It leaves no residue so there is no need for scrubbing or vacuuming.
Some Pro Rug Stain Removing Tips and Tricks
1. Use a blotting cloth to evacuate any excess mess on the rug. Continue soaking up the mess until the cloth cannot absorb liquid any longer.
2.Point the nozzle in the direction of the stain and liberally soak the stain with the spot remover. Spread the solution to cover two times more area the stain to take care of areas that the stain may have spread to beneath the rug.
3.Leave the solution for at least one hour on the stain. Repeat the process until the stain disappears.
4.Use a wet rag to blot the treated area. This rinses out the stain remover. Your rug should now be without stain.
5.To remove stains caused by vomit or feces, first, use a paper towel to remove and clean as much of the mess as possible without rubbing in the stain. Clean the mess from the outside towards the center to avoid spreading the stain to a wider area.
6.For old and stubborn stains, it is recommended that you heavily saturate the stain with the stain remover. Don’t hold back on the amount you pour on the stain.
7.Remember to always wear gloves. Though the product might contain no nasty chemical, it would likely leach off your skin’s surface oil leaving it very dry.
Rug Stain Remover
Conclusion
The best rug stain remover has to effectively deal with stains permanently and at the same time, remove any bad smell caused by that stain.
The products in this review were carefully chosen to meet these two primary targets of a rug stain remover. The products are from different manufacturers with varying price tags so that your options are not limited to just a few.
No matter which one you decide to purchase, you would find the results amazing.
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