Is it salvageable?!

[frostedviolets]

Please help me 🙁

DS took his toys from the paddling pool and played with them on my rug, the toys leaked (quite a lot of) water and it’s stained my rug!!

All I can find on google is ‘treat stains with water’
That’s not helpful for me!
It’s water that has caused the stain!

Is it fixable?!
It was really expensive and DH has gone off on one at how the kids break everything and hundreds of pounds have been wasted as it’ll have to be thrown away as it’s ruined now.

Picture of one area of damage

[Bluntness100]

Can you post a pic of the total rug? Im not sure I’ve seen a cream and orange cow before, so maybe it is dyed, or maybe you see the colours differently.

[Nousernameforme]

www.gorgeouscreatures.com.au/blogs/product-info/how-to-clean-a-cowhide-rug-can-you-wash-a-cowhide-rug#

This seems to suggest maybe leaving it out in the sun upside down to properly dry out.

I don't think they should take on water stains as it says you can use water to clean them so maybe it's the soap that's left the marks. If its a kill or cure situation i would go over it with a damp cloth and then hang it with the underside outside IYSWIM.

If it doesn't work can you not hide that bit under a sofa or something

[oohnicevase]

I can't see the pic properly but you would need to wet the total area again and then dry it promptly with a hairdryer using sweeping movements and 'chase ' the water to the edge of the rug .. if that fails bung it in the wash and drip dry away from the sun / then beat it until it softens ..

[frostedviolets]

Gosh, perhaps it was a mistake posting this.

I didn’t post for a battering of my choice of husband, I just wanted some advice on removing the stain from my rug.

None of you know know anything about me or my husband and are so disgustingly rude and judgemental.

FYI, virtually nothing in our house is actually expensive.
It’s almost all second hand.
Good condition, but second hand.

The rug was really expensive.
We bought it because the cat pisses on cheap artificial rugs and we really wanted a nice rug and were led to believe that cowhide is ‘easy care’, very durable and stain resistant and would last for many years.
Obviously, would not have bought it if we knew it couldn’t even handle a bit of water.

I honestly can’t believe the overreaction and nastiness.

[TorkTorkBam]

Bloody hell.

Forget the rug. Get some emergency treatment onto the defective husband.

[AppleKatie]

I can’t quite get past that you are hoovering this rug with a specific attachment daily. Something tells me this isn’t the only time consuming household job you do everyday.

How often does your DH hoover the rug? Given it’s so special to him.

[vanillandhoney]

Well call me naive but I didn’t think some plain water would ruin a rug!

Well, no, but with small children, surely spills and accidents are part and parcel of the whole thing?

If your DH can't handle having a slightly stained rug on the floor, why are you buying such expensive things in the first place?! It's bonkers to me. He either sucks it up and keeps it down (if the stain is permanent, that is), or he stops buying several hundred pound rugs!

[frostedviolets]

Then why are the pair of you buying rugs that cost hundreds of pounds? Surely when you have young children you either suck up the inevitable damage, or buy cheap Argos stuff until they're old enough to be trusted?

Well call me naive but I didn’t think some plain water would ruin a rug!

[Covert19]

It looks like hard water marks to me, or possibly soapy residue if the toys have previously been used in a bath (?). I'd try plain water first, and if that doesn't work, suede cleaner or a foaming carpet cleaner. Use a soft absorbent cloth, wiping in the direction of the hair. No way it will be ruined - cowhide is tough.

Afterwards, treat the whole rug with a spray-on stain guard, so that subsequent spillages are more easily removed from it.

Good luck!

[frostedviolets]

It’s been down a few months.
I vacuum it every day and shake it out once or twice a week

[vanillandhoney]

He can’t stand things looking out of place or keeping things that are broken or damaged.

Then why are the pair of you buying rugs that cost hundreds of pounds? Surely when you have young children you either suck up the inevitable damage, or buy cheap Argos stuff until they're old enough to be trusted?

[Idododoidadada]

Cows don't get stained by the rain!


I also wondered if the rug was slightly dirty previously and the ‘stain’ is actually a really clean bit compared to the rest? How long has the rug been down?

www.cowhiderugs.co.uk/cleaning-a-cowhide-rug-or-cowhide-skin-carpet/

[frostedviolets]

Tried the brush attachment already.
I vacuum it every day.

I want to think it’s just dirty and the water has washed the dirt away, even though that makes me sound like a right filthy mare.

But, parts of the rug are beige/pale orange and it’s gone white there too!
So that can’t have been dirt, it’s literally bleached the colour out.

This is plain water btw.

Wondering if it really is dyed though it seems a crazy thing to do, it’s not a ‘patterned’ dyed rug, it’s an (allegedly) all natural, pure cowhide with the natural colouring.
It’s like a cream/pale grey with light orange/beige patches

[pussycatinboots]

Hmm...It would be cheaper to keep the kids and the damaged rug and chuck the husband tbh

[TorysSuckRevokeArticle50]

www.citycows.co.uk/pages/How-To-Clean-Your-Cowhide-Rug.html

Have you tried the brush attachment on your hoover?

[Suzie6789]

Oh, my DH has a thing about perfection.
He can’t stand things looking out of place or keeping things that are broken or damaged.

This plus kids is a very bad combination.

Wait until you have huge, hulking clumsy teenagers bashing into everything, It feels like they are systematically destroying my house.

[Bluntness100]

Hmmm. Is the rug dirty? Could that be why water has left lighter spots? Water shouldn’t mark cow hide like that, could there be other chemical in the water?

Personally I’d just give it a wipe with a damp cloth.

[BlueBooby]

How long ago since you discovered it was wet? If it only happened today I'd wait a while before panicking. It may feel dry but be wet in the middle.

[Hoggleludo]

Plus. Kids. Expensive items

Don't mix at all. If he was that worried. I'd put the rug in a room with no kids. It's not the kids fault. They don't realise the value of things.

[CoffeeBeansGalore]

Found this:

What can I clean my suede sofa with?

Moisten a clean cloth with either a suede cleaner or white vinegar. Gently rub the affected area using small circular motions or in a cross pattern. Let the area dry and then polish with the suede cloth or brush with the napping brush.Clean spills as soon as possible to prevent further staining.

[Hoggleludo]

If it's natural cowhide. Surely water wouldn't ruin it?

I'd brush it. And I would try a little water on a patch and a gentle rub with a cloth. See if it makes it worse

I mean right now it's damaged.

Also look towards your home insurance.

[MulticolourMophead]

Oh, my DH has a thing about perfection.
He can’t stand things looking out of place or keeping things that are broken or damaged.

So, basically your DH is the one wasting money here, not your DC.

Why are you buying expensive items when you have young children, when you ^know* your DH has this attitude? This is the real waste of money.

And most broken things can be repaired. I have a couple of small vintage wardrobes in my bedroom, that had some damage. I fixed them up and they look better than ever. Result being that they weren't wasted and give me pleasure.

I would suggest that you speak to the manufacturer of the rug, they would probably be able to give you advice.

[SoupDragon]

Just get it professionally cleaned.

[TheHighestSardine]

He can’t stand things looking out of place or keeping things that are broken or damaged.

He's going to be a joy for the next fifteen years as the kids grow up.

[SoupDragon]

Has the water washed some dirt away rather than stained it?

Cows don't get stained by the rain!