How to Clean Solid Spills From Sisal and Jute Rugs

Welcome to Katie on the Spot, where we delve into the world of cellulose fibers such as sisal, seagrass, and jute. Cleaning up solid spills can be more concerning than others because how you should handle them depends on exactly what kind of spill you have. You may have a spill that is solid, solid and liquid, or even a hardened solid spill. As a general rule of thumb, you should remove any solids that have settled at the top and then address the liquid aspect. After that, handle anything that has saturated the carpet. 

Of course, depending on your specific spill, there are differing concerns you may have. Today, I’m going to break down the most common solid spill types and how you should address them, so you don’t end up with a stained or damaged carpet. 

3 Steps to Clean a Solid Spill From Carpet

First of all, don’t panic! Most spills aren’t catastrophic and aren’t necessarily going to ruin your carpet or leave a lasting stain. The most important thing you can do is have a plan so that when a spill occurs, you can simply grab a couple of supplies and take care of it.

Getting to a spill and taking care of it quickly is half the battle. The less time a substance spends on your carpet, the less it will soak in. This means less texture damage and less chance that it will stain. 

Build a Spill Clean-Up Kit

Before any stains occur, you should assemble a spill response kit for your carpet, which doesn’t take much and can be stored alongside your general cleaning supplies. Your kit should be customized for your carpet and should include:

• An old spoon or butter knife
• Several clean, white rags 
• A dedicated carpet cleaner
• A spray bottle with clean water
• Gloves to keep your hands clean while working

Remove Any Solids Sitting On the Spill

You will want to use the spoon or butterknife to lift the solids on top of the carpet away. Take your time with this step because it is important not to push any sediment down into the carpet deeper. 

Don’t use a razor blade or other sharp edge for this job, as that could damage your carpet. Not only could a sharp edge cut into the carpet, but it could also cause frays and tears as well as generally weaken the fibers in the carpet. 

Remove as much of the sediment as you can this way. The more of the spill that is cleaned up this way, the easier the rest of the job will be. Plus, the more sediment that can be simply picked up and removed, the better your chances of escaping without a stain. 

Treat the Wet Part of the Spill

You will treat the wet part of the spill by using your clean white rag to blot up any remaining liquid. Then you can use your spray bottle to moisten a clean white rag and blot away any residue left on the carpet. You may have to repeat this step several times to remove evidence of the spill completely. 

You can use a spot carpet cleaner specifically designed for your type of carpeting. Make sure you are careful in following the instructions. It is of the utmost importance that you do not use a general household cleaner or any cleaner containing bleach or harsh chemicals on your carpet.

Tips and Tricks For Cleaning a Solid Spill From Carpet

Here are some basics you should remember when trying to clean up a solid spill:

Do’s:

• Use a white rag. Dye from colored rags could discolor rugs or carpets.
• Use a cleaner formulated for the type of carpet that you have.
• Blot lightly to avoid pushing soil down into the carpet or damaging fibers.

Don’ts:

• Don’t use harsh chemicals, bleach, or products not meant to be used on carpeting.
• Don’t use over-the-counter products that use the oxidation process, as that can discolor your carpet.
• Don’t use sharp objects to scrape up a spill. 
• Don’t scrub your carpet trying to get a spill up. This will damage it and create fuzz. 

How Do You Get Hard Residue off Carpet?

The best-case scenario is always to treat a spill as soon as it occurs. However, this isn’t always possible. Sometimes a spill occurs without your knowledge, dries, and leaves a hardened residue on your carpet.

When this happens, you may be able to use a moistened rag to loosen the residue. Your spot cleaner may have instructions that allow for use on hardened residue, and this may help with the problem. In most cases, if you want to avoid damaging your carpet completely, you may want to call a professional if there is hardened residue stuck to the top. 

Check Out The Process For Yourself

As always, you can check out a step-by-step breakdown of the entire cleaning process in my video here:

When you’re trying to tackle a solid spill, in many cases, you can take care of it yourself. This is especially true if you have a kit with the right tools put together beforehand. However, if a spill can’t be cleaned up using the water and blotting method or using the correct cleaner, you may want to consider calling a professional, as more aggressive methods will likely only damage the carpet.

I hope the advice, tips, and tricks outlined above help you in cleaning solid spills from your own carpet so that you can keep your home pristine!

Happy Spotting!

– Katie