How-To Videos

Outdoor rugs take a beating. Rain, dirt, pollen, foot traffic, leaves, pets, moisture, and everything else that comes with life outside can slowly turn a good-looking outdoor rug into something that looks like it is ready for the trash. That is exactly what happened to Tom’s rug. But instead of replacing it, Tom added Stain Solver to his annual outdoor cleaning routine, and the before-and-after difference speaks for itself. The dirt and discoloration lifted away, helping Tom save a lot of cleaning time and, more importantly, the cost of buying a new outdoor rug. Clean it. Refresh it. Keep it. Can You Clean an Outdoor Rug with Stain Solver? Yes, many water-washable outdoor rugs can be cleaned with Stain Solver. Always check the rug manufacturer’s cleaning instructions first, and test the solution in a small, inconspicuous area before treating the entire rug. Stain Solver is an oxygen-based powder cleaner that is mixed with warm or hot water before application. For many cleaning projects, it is allowed to work for 30 minutes or longer before the surface is thoroughly rinsed. Tom’s rug is a great example of how simple that process can be. Tom’s Outdoor Rug Before Cleaning Over time, Tom’s outdoor rug had developed significant dirt and greenish discoloration. The change happened gradually, which is common with outdoor surfaces. When you see something every day, you may not realize just how dirty it has become until you start cleaning it. The BEFORE photo makes the buildup easy to see. Rather than throw the rug away and buy another one, Tom decided to make it part of his annual outdoor cleaning. How Tom Cleaned His Outdoor Rug Tom kept the process pretty simple. He mixed Stain Solver with warm water, put the solution into a 1-gallon pump sprayer, sprayed the rug, and let Stain Solver work for approximately 30 minutes. Then he thoroughly rinsed the rug with a garden hose. That was it. In Tom’s case, the dirt and stains rinsed away without requiring a power washer or aggressive scrubbing. His experience demonstrates why allowing the cleaning solution enough time to work can be just as important as the application itself. And when the rug dried? Take another look at that AFTER photo. Instead of shopping for a replacement rug, Tom was able to put the one he already owned back into service. How to Clean an Outdoor Rug with Stain Solver If you have a washable outdoor rug that could use some attention, here is a straightforward process to try. 1. Check the Rug First Review the manufacturer’s care instructions to make sure the rug can be cleaned with water. It is also a good idea to test Stain Solver on a small, inconspicuous area before cleaning the entire rug. 2. Remove Loose Dirt and Debris Sweep, vacuum, or shake loose dirt, leaves, and other debris from the rug before applying your cleaning solution. This allows Stain Solver to concentrate on the dirt and discoloration that remains in the rug. 3. Mix Stain Solver with Warm or Hot Water Mix Stain Solver with warm or hot water until the powder is completely dissolved. For most general cleaning applications, our standard ratio is: 1 cup of Stain Solver per 1 gallon of water Smaller batches can be made using 1 tablespoon per 1 cup of water. 4. Apply the Solution Evenly A pump sprayer works especially well for a project like an outdoor rug because it allows you to apply the solution evenly instead of dumping too much liquid onto one area. Spray the rug thoroughly so the areas you want to clean are wet with the Stain Solver solution. 5. Give Stain Solver Time to Work This is important. Do not spray the rug and immediately rinse it. Tom allowed Stain Solver to work for approximately 30 minutes. If you are cleaning outside on a warm or sunny day, keep an eye on the rug. If the solution starts to dry, lightly mist it again. Keeping a cleaning project wet during the dwell period gives Stain Solver more opportunity to work on the dirt and discoloration. 6. Rinse Thoroughly When the dwell time is complete, thoroughly rinse the rug with clean water. Tom simply used a garden hose. You want the rinse water to carry away the loosened dirt along with the remaining cleaning solution. 7. Let the Rug Dry Completely Allow the rug to dry completely before returning furniture to it or putting it back into regular use. And then compare your own before-and-after photos. You may be surprised by just how much dirt had accumulated. Annual Cleaning Can Help You Keep What You Already Own Tom’s outdoor rug illustrates something we talk about frequently at Stain Solver: Sometimes the best cleaning project is the one that keeps you from having to replace something. Outdoor rugs, cushions, patio furniture, decks, patios, and other exterior surfaces are exposed to dirt and weather month after month. Periodic cleaning can help keep those areas looking their best instead of waiting until they look permanently stained or worn. Stain Solver is currently recommended for a range of outdoor cleaning applications, including decks, patios, outdoor furniture, siding, and other washable exterior surfaces. Making those projects part of an annual outdoor cleaning routine can make a big difference. Tom did. And instead of replacing his outdoor rug, he cleaned it. Clean it. Refresh it. Keep it. Have an outdoor rug, cushion, patio, deck, or piece of outdoor furniture that has seen better days? Give Stain Solver a chance to solve the stain before you replace it.   FAQs Can Stain Solver be used on outdoor rugs? Stain Solver can be used on many water-washable rugs and outdoor fabrics. Check the manufacturer’s care instructions first, and test a small, inconspicuous area before cleaning the entire rug. How long should Stain Solver sit on an outdoor rug? For Tom’s outdoor rug, he allowed Stain Solver to work for approximately 30 minutes before rinsing it. Many Stain Solver cleaning projects benefit from 30 minutes or more of dwell time. Keep the treated area wet while the solution is working. Do I need a pressure washer to clean an outdoor rug? Not necessarily. Tom cleaned his outdoor rug using a pump sprayer and rinsed it with a regular garden hose. A pressure washer was not necessary for his project. Should I scrub an outdoor rug after applying Stain Solver? It depends on the amount and type of buildup. Tom’s rug did not require aggressive scrubbing. Giving Stain Solver adequate dwell time before rinsing may reduce the amount of physical cleaning required. Can I apply Stain Solver with a pump sprayer? Yes. A quality pump sprayer can provide more even coverage, help prevent over-application, and make it easier to keep a large outdoor surface wet during the cleaning process. What else can I clean during my annual outdoor cleaning? Stain Solver can be used on many washable outdoor surfaces, including outdoor furniture, cushions, decks, patios, siding, rugs, and other exterior cleaning projects. Always check the surface manufacturer’s instructions and test first.

Years of Kids, Spills, and Everyday Life Left Their Mark Furniture in a busy family home gets used. A lot. For Gia B., one living room chair had the stains to prove it. After years of use by her kids, the light-colored upholstered chair had accumulated spots, spills, discoloration, and the general evidence of everyday family life. Instead of giving up on the chair, Gia decided to see what Stain Solver could do. The before-and-after photos tell the story. In the before photo, the chair cushions and arm show numerous visible stains, including darker spots scattered across the light fabric. After cleaning with Stain Solver, the fabric looks dramatically cleaner and brighter, with the vast majority of those years of accumulated stains no longer visible. Her Upholstery-Cleaning Method Was Surprisingly Simple Gia didn't use a complicated upholstery-cleaning machine. She applied her Stain Solver solution with a sprayer, making it easy to distribute the solution over the areas that needed attention. She then followed one of the most important parts of the cleaning process: giving Stain Solver time to work. Gia allowed the solution to remain on the fabric for approximately 30 minutes. That dwell time gave the cleaning solution an opportunity to work on the accumulated stains rather than immediately wiping or rinsing it away. After about 30 minutes, she thoroughly rinsed the treated areas. That final step matters. When cleaning upholstery, you don't want to simply spray a cleaning solution onto the fabric and leave the residue behind. Thorough rinsing helps remove the loosened soils along with the cleaning solution. Before and After: A Big Difference on Light Upholstery Light-colored furniture can be beautiful, but it doesn't hide much. Small spills, dirty hands, snacks, drinks, pets, and ordinary household use can gradually leave an upholstered chair looking much older than it actually is. That's what makes Gia's results particularly impressive. Her before photo doesn't show one isolated stain. It shows years of accumulated use across several areas of the chair. The after photo shows just how much of that buildup she was able to remove. Rather than replacing an otherwise usable piece of furniture, Gia gave the chair a serious refresh using Stain Solver, some patience, and a thorough rinse. How Gia Used Stain Solver on Her Upholstered Chair Her process can be summarized in four basic steps: Prepare the Stain Solver solution according to the product directions. Apply it with a sprayer to the stained upholstery. Allow it to sit for approximately 30 minutes so the solution has time to work. Thoroughly rinse the fabric to remove the solution and the soils it has loosened. When cleaning any upholstered furniture, always check the furniture manufacturer's cleaning instructions and test your cleaning solution on a small, inconspicuous area first. Don't Assume a Stained Chair Is a Lost Cause When furniture has been subjected to years of kids, food, drinks, and everyday life, it's easy to look at all those stains and think replacement is the only realistic option. Gia's chair is a good reminder that it may be worth trying to clean it first. Her results came from a straightforward process: spray, allow time to work, and rinse thoroughly. And in this case, the difference between the before and after photos is hard to miss. Have a chair, sofa, cushion, or other washable surface that has seen better days? Before giving up on it, give Stain Solver a chance to solve the stains.