Stain Removal Procedures
for Wool & Silk Rugs

from Bane-Clene®

Before beginning your stain removal procedure the stained rug should be thoroughly rinsed, cleaned and blotted dry to remove anything that could interfere with the stain removal process.

Protein fibers such as wool and silk are easily damaged by oxidizers and reducers as well as by strong bases or strong acids. Because of this, careful attention must be given during any stain removal procedure to every detail.

Strong reducing agents can cause the loss of natural color and yellowing of the fiber. Strong oxidizers will cause color loss as well as fiber degradation. Unfortunately most of the products that can successfully remove stains are based on reduction and oxidation reactions. So, before attempting stain removal from a customer’s wool rug, be sure you have a waiver from liability.

Selecting the right product for unknown stains:

  • Most brown or yellow stains are some type of organic stain and will respond best to Stain Magic for Wool.
  • Muted dull red or purple stains are often wine stains (which are also organic in nature) and will respond best to Stain Magic.

  • Vivid red or pink stains are often food dye, which responds best to Red Relief for wool.

Organic Stain Removal:

  • If the stain is organic nature (urine-wine-coffee-etc), use the 3-part product Stain Magic for Wool.
  • Note: Many wool carpets are dyed with organic vegetable colors that can bleed and/or fade during your stain removal procedure. You can stabilize these colors by treating the colored areas you want to protect with CSS (Color Stabilizer and Souring Agent) - Part "C" of the 3-part Stain Magic for Wool product.
  • After cleaning and dry blotting, apply CSS with an eye dropper to wet just those colored fibers you want to protect.
  • IMPORTANT NOTE: CSS will neutralize Stain Magic for Wool and retard its reaction, so do not treat the areas you intend to use Stain Magic for Wool with CSS.
  • Mix equal parts of Part "A" and Part "B"" of Stain Magic for Wool and apply accurately to the stained fibers wetting ONLY the stain damaged fibers.
  • At this point it is best to allow up to 15 minutes dwell time to see if the stain can be removed without the application of external reaction energy.
  • If you observe the stain disappearing, allow sufficient time for the stain to be removed then proceed with the neutralization and rinsing process.
  • If you observe improvement but very slow reaction of the stain to your treatment you have two choices:
    1. You can allow the reaction to proceed for up to 8 hours (or until dry). In this instance you will probably not be present to rinse and neutralize the treated area at the point where the stain is gone. But it should be rinsed and neutralized as soon as possible following the treatment.
    2. You can add external energy to speed up the stain removal chemical reaction. If this is the action you choose proceed as follows:
      1. Carefully dampen only the stained fibers with Stain Magic for Wool solution.
      2. Cover the treated fibers with a damp lightweight terry towel folded in half so you have 2 layers of fabric over the stain.
      3. Apply steam heat from a steam iron set at the lowest steam setting.
      4. Allow ONLY 3 seconds dwell time before you remove the heat and fold back the towel to inspect the treated area.
      5. Repeat the heat application in 3-second intervals until the stain has been removed.
      6. Note: During this process monitor the fibers for bleaching and/or loss of fiber bulk. If you observe either of these conditions discontinue your treatment.
      7. When you have completed your treatment rinse the treated area using hot water extraction. Apply CSS to the treated fibers and again hot water extraction rinse the area. Blot area with a clean white towel to leave as dry as possible

Food Dye Stain Removal:

If you have determined the stain to be food dye, proceed as follows:

  1. Surround stained area with Part "C".
  2. Prepare a solution of Red Relief for Wool by mixing equal parts of Part "A" and Part "B".
  3. Wet the stain damaged fibers only with the mixed Red Relief for Wool.
  4. Allow to work on the stain for no more than 15 minutes.
  5. Extract.
  6. Repeat until stain has changed to a yellow or disappeared.
  7. Promptly hot water extraction-rinse the treated area thoroughly.
  8. Blot as dry as possible with a clean white towel.
  9. Apply Part "C" to the treated area.
  10. Use caution with this procedure. If excessively strong solution is used or excessive time is used, the wool fibers can be permanently discolored.

NOTE: Stain Magic for Wool may not be shipped via Air!

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