Wool and Oriental Rugs:

The Submersion Technique

Area rugs require special handling.  Most of them are made from natural fibers like wool, cotton and silk. That leaves OSR out of the picture (can't be used on natural fibers remember?).  Which leaves us with a submersion technique that has been very successful when dealing with pet odors on area rugs.  Many cleaners hear this term and think it's more work than it actually is.  An area rug doesn't have to be submerged 6 inches under the surface for this procedure to be effective just completely covered.  Granted, they don't want to do this work on site but rather take the rug back to your shop which is more work and a return trip so be sure you charge accordingly. You'll notice that a garage works just fine for space if you work out of your home.

To make this procedure work you will need a few things you probably won't carry on your truck:

1. 4 pieces of PVC pipe (2 of equal distance for length and 2 of equal distance for width).

2. 4 PVC elbows to connect the pieces.

3. 6 millimeter plastic sheeting.

As far as the chemicals go you will need:

Rug Restorer

Once the frame has been assembled they can wrap the 6 millimeter plastic sheeting around the edge of the frame (you want to make sure it overlaps by at least a foot) to create the bottom and sides of the trough.

Once the pit has been assembled the Rug Restorer solution can be added.  Be sure to mix the solution thoroughly to assure even penetration throughout the rug.

Here's the ratio you want to use:

For severe odors:
Mix 1 gallon for every 15 gallons of water.

For light to moderate odors:
Mix 1 gallon for every 25 gallons water.

Then let the area rug dwell for 8 hours.

Please note that a large area rug may require up to 5 gallons of Rug Restorer  to treat. Make sure you price the job accordingly to account for chemical use.

After the Rug Restorer solution  has broken down and suspended the urine contamination the rug should be thoroughly vacuumed to remove any excess solution. After the solution has been removed the rug should be cleaned and then dried very thoroughly.  Use air movers and dehumidifiers if necessary.