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Rugs: Stain Removal Guide

Rugs: Stain Removal Guide

Rug Stain Removal Guide
  • Even with the best routine rug care and maintenance, accidents will happen. If you have children, the spilling risk is at least tripled! Whether it is water, juice, coffee, wine, a pet accident or other spill, it is crucial to remove the mess right away.
  • Always work from the outer edge of the spill towards the center so it does not spread. Use a spoon or spatula to scoop up large debris and remove excess liquid, but do not rub or scrub at the fibers -- this will cause the pile to mat and clump, and may thus increase the visibility of a potential stain.
  • Owners of even the most well-behaved cats and dogs will occasionally come across pet accidents. Often, the messes are not discovered until long after the accident occurred.
  • Cleaning Instructions for Alcoholic Beverages
    Step 1: Add cold water and blot
    Step 2: Detergent solution created from mixing one teaspoon of clear dishwashing liquid with a cup of warm (not hot) water.
  • Cleaning Instructions for Bleach:
    Step 1: Add cold water and blot
    Step 2: Detergent solution created from mixing one teaspoon of clear dishwashing liquid with a cup of warm (not hot) water.
  • Cleaning Instructions for Blood:
    Step 1: Add cold water and blot
    Step 2: Detergent solution created from mixing one teaspoon of clear dishwashing liquid with a cup of warm (not hot) water.
  • Cleaning Instructions for Butter:
    Step 1: Methylated mineral spirits, or turpentine.
    Step 2: Detergent solution created from mixing one teaspoon of clear dishwashing liquid with a cup of warm (not hot) water.
  • Cleaning Instructions for Candle wax:
    Step 1: Absorbent paper and hot iron
  • Cleaning Instructions for Chewing Gum:
    Step 1: Chill with aerosol freezing agent or ice cubes in a plastic bag. Pick or scrape off gum.
    Step 2: Methylated mineral spirits, or turpentine.
  • Cleaning Instructions for Chocolate:
    Step 1: Detergent solution created from mixing one teaspoon of clear dishwashing liquid with a cup of warm (not hot) water.
    Step 2: Methylated mineral spirits, or turpentine.
  • Cleaning Instructions for Coffee:
    Step 1: Add cold water and blot
    Step 2: Detergent solution created from mixing one teaspoon of clear dishwashing liquid with a cup of warm (not hot) water.
    Step 3: Methylated mineral spirits, or turpentine.
  • Cleaning Instructions for Colas and Soft Drinks:
    Step 1: Add cold water and blot
    Step 2: Detergent solution created from mixing one teaspoon of clear dishwashing liquid with a cup of warm (not hot) water.
  • Cleaning Instructions for Cream:
    Step 1: Detergent solution created from mixing one teaspoon of clear dishwashing liquid with a cup of warm (not hot) water.
    Step 2: Methylated mineral spirits, or turpentine.
  • Cleaning Instructions for Egg:
    Step 1: Detergent solution created from mixing one teaspoon of clear dishwashing liquid with a cup of warm (not hot) water.
  • Cleaning Instructions for Floor Wax:
    Step 1: Methylated mineral spirits, or turpentine.
    Step 2: Detergent solution created from mixing one teaspoon of clear dishwashing liquid with a cup of warm (not hot) water.
  • Cleaning Instructions for Fruit Juice:
    Step 1: Add cold water and blot
    Step 2: Detergent solution created from mixing one teaspoon of clear dishwashing liquid with a cup of warm (not hot) water.
  • Cleaning Instructions for Furniture Polish:
    Step 1: Methylated mineral spirits, or turpentine.
    Step 2: Detergent solution created from mixing one teaspoon of clear dishwashing liquid with a cup of warm (not hot) water.
  • Cleaning Instructions for Gravy and Sauces:
    Step 1: Warm water
    Step 2: Detergent solution created from mixing one teaspoon of clear dishwashing liquid with a cup of warm (not hot) water.
    Step 3: Methylated mineral spirits, or turpentine.
  • Cleaning Instructions for Ink (Fountain Pen):
    Step 1: Add cold water and blot
    Step 2: Detergent solution created from mixing one teaspoon of clear dishwashing liquid with a cup of warm (not hot) water.
  • Cleaning Instructions for Ink (Ball Point):
    Step 1: Chill with aerosol freezing agent or ice cubes in a plastic bag. Pick or scrape off gum.
    Step 2: Isopropyl alcohol
    Step 3: Detergent solution created from mixing one teaspoon of clear dishwashing liquid with a cup of warm (not hot) water.
  • Cleaning Instructions for Ink (Felt Tip):
    Step 1: Warm water
    Step 2: Detergent solution created from mixing one teaspoon of clear dishwashing liquid with a cup of warm (not hot) water.
    Step 3: Clean nail polish remover (preferably acetone)
  • Cleaning Instructions for Ketchup:
    Step 1: Warm water
    Step 2: Detergent solution created from mixing one teaspoon of clear dishwashing liquid with a cup of warm (not hot) water.
  • Cleaning Instructions for Lipstick:
    Step 1: Methylated mineral spirits, or turpentine.
    Step 2: Detergent solution created from mixing one teaspoon of clear dishwashing liquid with a cup of warm (not hot) water.
  • Cleaning Instructions for Mercurochrome:
    Step 1: Detergent solution created from mixing one teaspoon of clear dishwashing liquid with a cup of warm (not hot) water.
    Step 2: Absorbent cleaner (e.g. CarpetMate)
  • Cleaning Instructions for Milk:
    Step 1: Warm water
    Step 2: Methylated mineral spirits, or turpentine.
    Step 3: Detergent solution created from mixing one teaspoon of clear dishwashing liquid with a cup of warm (not hot) water.
  • Cleaning Instructions for Mustard:
    Step 1: Detergent solution created from mixing one teaspoon of clear dishwashing liquid with a cup of warm (not hot) water.
  • Cleaning Instructions for Nail Polish:
    Step 1: Clean nail polish remover (preferably acetone)
    Step 2: Methylated mineral spirits, or turpentine.
  • Cleaning Instructions for Oil and Grease:
    Step 1: Methylated mineral spirits, or turpentine.
    Step 2: Detergent solution created from mixing one teaspoon of clear dishwashing liquid with a cup of warm (not hot) water.
  • Cleaning Instructions for Paint(Latex):
    Step 1: Add cold water and blot
    Step 2: Detergent solution created from mixing one teaspoon of clear dishwashing liquid with a cup of warm (not hot) water.
    Step 3: Methylated mineral spirits, or turpentine.
  • Cleaning Instructions for Paint(Oil):
    Step 1: Absorbent powder (e.g., salt, or talc)
    Step 2: Methylated mineral spirits, or turpentine.
    Step 3: Detergent solution created from mixing one teaspoon of clear dishwashing liquid with a cup of warm (not hot) water.
  • Cleaning Instructions for Rust:
    Step 1: Methylated mineral spirits, or turpentine.
    Step 2: Detergent solution created from mixing one teaspoon of clear dishwashing liquid with a cup of warm (not hot) water.
    Step 3: Rust remover
  • Cleaning Instructions for Salad Dressing:
    Step 1: Detergent solution created from mixing one teaspoon of clear dishwashing liquid with a cup of warm (not hot) water.
    Step 2: Methylated mineral spirits, or turpentine.
  • Cleaning Instructions for Shoe Polish:
    Step 1: Methylated mineral spirits, or turpentine.
    Step 2: Detergent solution created from mixing one teaspoon of clear dishwashing liquid with a cup of warm (not hot) water.
  • Cleaning Instructions for Soot:
    Step 1: Methylated mineral spirits, or turpentine.
    Step 2: Detergent solution created from mixing one teaspoon of clear dishwashing liquid with a cup of warm (not hot) water.
  • Cleaning Instructions for Tar:
    Step 1: Methylated mineral spirits, or turpentine.
  • Cleaning Instructions for Tea:
    Step 1: Add cold water and blot
    Step 2: Detergent solution created from mixing one teaspoon of clear dishwashing liquid with a cup of warm (not hot) water.
    Step 3: Methylated mineral spirits, or turpentine.
  • Cleaning Instructions for Urine(fresh):
    Step 1: Add cold water and blot
    Step 2: Detergent solution created from mixing one teaspoon of clear dishwashing liquid with a cup of warm (not hot) water.
  • Cleaning Instructions for Urine(old):
    Step 1: Add cold water and blot
    Step 2: Detergent solution created from mixing one teaspoon of clear dishwashing liquid with a cup of warm (not hot) water.
    Step 3: Absorbent cleaner (e.g. CarpetMate)
  • Cleaning Instructions for Vomit:
    Step 1: Detergent solution created from mixing one teaspoon of clear dishwashing liquid with a cup of warm (not hot) water.
  • Cleaning Instructions for Wine:
    Step 1: Absorbent powder (e.g., salt, or talc)
    Step 2: Add cold water and blot
    Step 3: Detergent solution created from mixing one teaspoon of clear dishwashing liquid with a cup of warm (not hot) water.

    Engraving lockets and jewelry: can my piece be engraved?

    Engraving lockets and jewelry: can my piece be engraved?

    A brief overview on the types of jewelry that can be engraved.
    The art of engraving goes back to the Stone Age, where cave men etched their art on rocks, pottery and cave walls. As time went by, engraving became the highest form of mastery an artist could achieve.

  • Jewelry was first created for adornment, an outward show of status and prestige, often times embedded with gemstones or imitations. Adding an engraving to the piece added beauty and meaning; making the jewelry more treasured and prized.
  • Today, engraved jewelry is very affordable. If you buy your locket or other jewelry from a reputable jewelry store, they can tell you immediately if the object is engravable. If you received your piece as a gift or purchased it elsewhere, there are a few simple rules to determining if it can be engraved.
  • Lockets made of very thin gold or silver cannot be engraved because their surfaces will collapse when hit with the engraver's tool. The same principles apply to very thin walled rings or other objects; the engraving tool can split the bands.
  • In order to be sure that your jewelry can be engraved, look for either solid gold, gold filled or sterling silver markings. Gold plated jewelry is generally too soft to withstand engraving.
  • Gold jewelry should be at least 14 karat gold and of a heavy enough production to be engraved. All gold jewelry is marked with a karat stamping, i.e., 10K, 14K, 24K, etc. Gold-filled jewelry has all the same features of Karat gold, only is generally similar in price to Sterling Silver jewelry. Both of these types of jewelry can be engraved providing the walls are thick enough.
  • Sterling Silver jewelry should have the mark '925' stamped somewhere on the piece. This means that the piece is at least 92.5% silver. An alternative marking is a walking lion with his leg raised. Known as the lion passant, it is an old form of silver marking. Pure silver is rarely used in jewelry making, as it is too soft. Silver jewelry purchased at craft shows or other places is often referred to as Mexican Silver. The silver content in these pieces are questionable and would require a jeweler to determine their suitability.
  • Once you have determined that your piece can be engraved, you next decision will be the font that will be used. On small spaces, such as lockets or inside ring bands, a block font generally works best. Flowery or script fonts tend to be unreadable. The exception to this would be if you wanted only a single initial on the front of a pendant. Then a script font would be perfectly acceptable.
  • For larger items, like ID bracelets, choose a font that goes along with the gender of the owner. A bold, block font is usually preferred my male wearers, while a nice script font works best for females.
  • If in doubt which font to use, talk it over with the jeweler engraving your piece, he or she will have the experience to know what type of engraving will look best on most items.
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