I have a big rug in my bedroom which I would like to bring to school- however it smells bad from jsut being on the floor for so long. I would like to clean it just enough so that it won't stink up my dorm room WITHOUT calling a carpet cleaner. Any suggestions?
How about spraying it with a can of resolve or similar brand carpet foam, scrub with a damp mop,let dry then vacuum. Spritz with some febreze.
The best way to keep a rug clean is to keep it from getting dirty in the first place. Removing outdoor shoes when entering the house (as people do in most rug-weaving countries) is a good idea if this accords with your lifestyle. Bare-foot or sock-foot traffic is much gentler to a rug than a hard outdoor-shoe sole (or spike heel), and leaving your outdoor shoes at the entrance to the house tracks in much less dirt.
I have a big living room rug. It is acrylic but a very nice fake persian rug that wasn't cheap. You can only use the following for an acrylic rug, but if it is dirty and stinky, it would work (see for just stinky rugs below). Take it out to a deck or some surface that is not grassy or soily under neath. Hose it down and scrub it with oxyclean and a mild dish detergent, hose it off and then hang it so it will dry (takes a day or so in dry weather. If it is just smelly, get some old fashioned lysol spray (the kind that smells like antiseptic, not the new pretty smelling ones and take the rug outside. Spray the hell out of it and let it sit in the sun for a couple of hours. This will kill the mildew, old clothes smell or whatever is making it smell. You can't use febreeze or something with a nice odor because it will cover the smell, not get rid of it. Good luck
You don't say what the rug is made of....if it's the kind that folds up easily and can go into a big machine at the laundromat...then wash it that way (using a good detergent and Tide Stain Release in-wash booster packet and add some good fabric softener).... If it's the kind of carpet that needs shampooing: then rent a machine that will clean the carpet with some good carpet cleaner (go to Walmart...they have Bissell's Pet Remover solution or WM also has their version at cheaper price. This solution is great at removing strong odors from carpets and leaves a great scent). OK...you don't want to call a cleaner...and if you don't want to rent a machine either: how about trying a good steam cleaner and running it over and over the rug to sanitize and clean it? May need spot remover for stubborn stains where you see them. You'll have to put a little effort into this project if you want to live comfortably with the finished product.
The lady at your laundramat can clean it for a small price for she puts it in a giant washing machine.
