Does Your Area Rug Need Cleaning?

Area Rug Cleaning

The Perfect Solution to Area Rug Cleaning

Over time, your area rug suffers much more than just foot traffic. Over time, your rug may suffer from food spills, wine accidents, dirt, grime, even urine and pet poo are not uncommon. Professional carpet cleaning can be expensive so it is a good idea to keep that area rug looking and smelling good between professional cleanings. With Nok-Out, (or SNiPER) area rug cleaning is something you can do to keep that rug in good condition.

Nok-Out? Or SNiPER?

Nok-Out removes odors and is a good all purpose cleaner. SNiPER is also an all purpose cleaner that both removes odors and can sanitize. With a ph of 8.5 our products are gentle, green cleaners. They are both non-abrasive and non-corrosive. When applied correctly, area rug cleaning is easy and thorough. 

What is Your Rug Made Of?

Modern area rugs and carpets that are made of synthetics are robust and colorfast – most of the time. Not always! The first time you use Nok-Out or SNiPER for area rug cleaning, test that the dyes are robust. Take a soft white cloth and wrap a bit of it around your index fingertip. Spray that fingertip until it is wet and then rub the wet fingertip on the fibers in an inconspicuous place. If any dye transfers to the white cloth, the colors are not robust and some fading may occur if you proceed.  Natural fibers such as silk, cotton and wool need to be tested carefully. When cleaning rugs made of natural fibers, it is a good idea to dilute by 2 parts water to 1 part Nok-Out or SNiPER.  

Weekly Cleaning

Every week, as part of your ordinary housecleaning, visually inspect the rug carefully and if it needs it, use a plastic hand scraper to gently loosen any little bits that may be stuck to the fibers in your rug. Then, a good vacuuming can pick up any debris remaining. If possible, roll the rug over and vacuum both under the rug and the back matting of the rug.

Use Nok-Out or SNiPER that has been diluted by 2 parts water to spray any spots you see. Allow up to 5 minutes for activation. Spray again and use a cloth to gently wipe the area to see if the spots lift.

Note:  If a spot cleans away – that’s what it is – a spot.  If it cannot be cleaned away, it is a stain. Stains are permanent, spots are not.

Monthly Area Rug Cleaning

1. Follow the weekly cleaning above. 

2. Spray the rug, both sides with dilute SNiPER or Nok-Out. Allow to dry for five minutes, or till dry to the touch. Sponge dry any remaining moisture, if present.

3. Spray flooring with Nok-Out and allow drying for up to five minutes. Remove any excess moisture with a dry, clean cloth before replacing the rug.

4. Using Nok-Out or SNiPER, spray a stream directly on stains. Massage in. Change trigger spray to a mist. Spray the entire rug (both sides). This step may be omitted, if there are no visible stains remaining.

5. Allow to air dry. Sponge any remaining moisture with a clean cloth, and replace rug.

Every Six Months

This task should be done at least two times per year.

1. Follow steps 1 through 4 above. Begin on the back side of the rug. Spray heavily with SNiPER or Nok-Out. Allow ten minutes to dry completely. If stains are visible on the rug, apply a stream of Nok-Out Carpet Cleaner. Dry, as above.

2. When the back of the rug is dry to the touch, turn the carpet over.

3. Visually inspect rug for stains. If present, spray a stream of Nok-Out on the stain. While it is drying, spray entire carpet with SNiPER or Nok-Out. Allow to air dry. Inspect for any remaining stains. Re-apply as needed.

How is This Different From Carpet Cleaning?

Carpets are held in place using tack strips and cannot be turned over easily. Area rug cleaning is far easier because you can access the back of the rug by simply turning it over. If you are interested, see our carpet cleaning article here.

Area Rug cleaning is not difficult and if you spend a  little time on it periodically, you can keeep that area rug looking good on your floor for many years.

Questions?

If you have any questions regarding how to apply Nok-Out, or SNiPER® check out our How To Articles or, call Ted Price toll free at 866.551.1927.

Completely Eliminate a Horrible Smell

Mary Hunt introduced me to Nok-Out years ago and I am still amazed at how it can completely eliminate a horrible smell.

Yesterday I hosed some dust off a plastic laundry basket. I left it outside to dry for a bit and then returned it to the garage.

A few hours later I walked into the garage and the entire place reeked of cat pee! I did not realize that the neighborhood tom cat had come by and sprayed my basket. It was so bad that I was ready to trash it, but I thought I would try to spray it down with Sniper first. I doused it liberally and left it overnight. Ta Da! Absolutely no smell this morning!

Even after all these years, I am still amazed every time your product works on a smell as terrible as cat spray!

Thank you, Ted!

Michelle Wilson

Sniper Removed Old Water Odors, Mold & Mildew

I have been using Sniper in the Offshore oil industry as both a disinfectant and a deodorizer for years. It has eliminated old water smells of toilets and bathrooms not used in a year where the water sat and molded mildewed and stank. As well as being injected into our old quarters ac vents to prevent mold buildup. Always worked better than anything comparable and well worth the price.

Tim Gaynor, Jun 5, 2017

Rotten Potato Smell Gone!

There cannot be anything worse than potatoes that are forgotten and rot. Any pet I have ever had that had an accident cannot compare. Nok-Out eliminated the odor quickly. What a wonderful product!

Jacqui Frazee, June 14, 2018

“Nok-Out Saved My New Car!”

Thank you for creating such a great product. I would and will recommend this to everyone I know. My son left raw meat in my car for 4 days and I thought that my new car was ruined, but after talking with you and using the product, I can now get in my car and the only thing that I smell is a clean, disinfected smell! Thank you for saving my new car!

Christine McG, Sept 20, 2011

Sniper Eliminated Our Mold Problems!

We’ve used SNiPER disinfectant for several years. It works great. It has eliminated our mold problems and, still, we use it to keep our wooden cutting boards safe.

Robert Moretti, Jr. , Oct 31, 2018

Nok-Out Removed Old Dog Urine Odor

I have an Electrolux rug shampooer and was trying to remove old odors of dog urine in my oriental carpets. I shampooed them then put a concentration of 4-1 water to Nok-Out in the tank and went back over them. No more odor!! Worked great! Was sooo happy!

Laurie M Lijoi, Oct 2, 2019

Christmas tree and Raggedy Ann

We have an artificial Christmas tree that’s still gorgeous but old. Putting it up always bothers my asthma and irritation from getting scratched is not pleasant. Last year I sprayed the tree and the “old tree” smell disappeared. I had purchased Sniper on Mary Hunts advice and it really took care of the basement (moldy) smell! Great! My daughters vintage dolls with cloth bodies had spots of mold or mildew, these are dolls my grandchildren play with. Oh my goodness! Sprayed the doll’s bodies and yarn hair, and the next day they all smelled great, moldy spots gone ! These dolls were over 30 years old and now look soooo good! Would recommend Sniper for other uses, too. Doggy rug smells gone! Smelly shoe odors gone. Grateful to Mary Hunts column for letting us know. 😊👍⭐️

Theresa Taylor

My Mildew Stain Disappeared!

I brought in the plants for winter and when it was time to move them back outside in the spring, I had a mildew stain on the carpet. I received my Nok-Out Carpet cleaner and sprayed the stain and let it sit for 10 minutes. When I returned to scrub the stain it was completely gone!! Woo hoo!! Thank you, Mary Hunt, for introducing me to this wonderful product!

Jodie Hodges, May 28, 2014

Cats Get Old!

Cats get old. Things happen. Nok-Out was recommended to me by a friend in another state. I Will never go to the pet store again to try any other product. Nok-Out is IT! I told my Veterinarian about it. I love how fast it arrives after ordering. I ordered three times because we are still working on issues, but at least the house doesn’t SMELL! Amazing product. THANK YOU!

Mary Lee, June 19, 2016

I Am Amazed at The Results!

I learned about Nok-Out from Mary Hunt’s Everyday Cheapskate column and had to try it. Shipping was so fast and your customer service is OUTSTANDING! I am amazed at the results! I even filled a tiny spray bottle to keep in my car. I won’t be wasting my money on any other cleaners anymore. You have a lifetime customer here. Thank you so much!

Natalia Johnson, Aug 28, 2018

Removed All The Feral Cat Urine

Sniper has been AMAZING. I was able to completely remove all the feral cat urine scent from the carpets, mattresses, clothing, and toys. It worked beautifully and left no smell, no fumes, and didn’t leave any discoloration. Sniper is now my cleaner of choice and I use it everywhere to clean and sanitize as well as freshen the air. I even use it in my daughter’s gym shoes and soccer bag. Thank you so much. Seriously the best product on the market.

Best Odor Control for carpet

Nok-Out and SNiPER are both great products that I use in my carpet cleaning biz to remove odor in carpets. It works great against pet urine odor! It doesn’t cause discoloration and always works. Sniper kills mold and removes the odor in carpets as well. Great products

Grateful Ted
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