My previous roommate's cat peed on the rug my mom bought me as a housewarming gift. It's a 3'x4' dark red shag-style rug. My roommate cleaned it with Nature's Miracle when it first happened, but after a day or so of still smelling the urine, we rolled the rug up and stuck it in the garage (where it sat for 3 or so months). Well, I just recently moved to New Orleans (I left the roommate and her damn cat behind!!) and would love to use my comfy carpet on my new hardwood floors. Problem is, as soon as I unrolled it I could smell the pee -- it stunk up my entire house in literally minutes! I've read through several related threads on this forum and most have been about wall-to-wall carpeting with padding, etc. rather than just an area rug. I'm not sure if I can throw the rug into an industrial laundry mat washer or use a steam cleaner on it since it is a shag-style rug... any ideas? I know I could just toss the rug and save myself the headache, stink, and money -- but I would really prefer to save it if at all possible! Thanks in advance :)

I have become the owner of a vintage but not antique (40's maybe?) embroidered tablecloth, looks linen but I suppose could be a cotton blend. When I took it out and opened it up fully to try it on the table, I discovered that a cat had apparently mistaken the box it came in for a litter box at some point, resulting in a 6" spot on the cloth that is actually not yellow, but is rimmed in a mold/mildewy-looking ring of blackish spotting, and which smells vaguely of cat pee. The cloth is large and the embroidery is red (of course), and I haven't the place to hang the full cloth (or lay it flat) if I hand-wash the entire cloth in the tub. Is there anything I can use on the spot? Fortunately, it is small.

I deal with stains EVERY day. DH has involuntary tremors & food with subsequent stains get on his shirts, pj's robes, etc. His skin is extremely fragile; the slightest scratch would make you think he was bleeding to death. I find dried blood on the sheets constantly since, while sleeping he doesn't know he's bleeding. (I should buy stock in Band Aids!) Peroxide takes out fresh blood stains but the product I've found the absolute best is Washing Soda. I put half a cup in washer, liquid detergent & hot water, add clothing, sheets, etc. Soak a couple of hours or overnight. It not only whitens whites but removes spaghetti sauce, mustard, dried blood, soot, black grease, ink & most anything else you can think of except rust & for those a few drops of Whink does it. Washing Soda is about $2.50 a box. I collect antique linens & use both products on them as needed, but never bleach. Suzi

I can't see any difference in the color of the chairs at your table. So, either my monitor is not showing the difference, or it is so subtle, that you've matched well enough that no one but you will notice. May I ask what it would cost to replace one of the side chair slips? I know you don't want to do that, and even if you did, the fabric will likely be from a different dye lot or fabric bolt. Just curious as I like the look of the oyster linen slip covers! Glad you found a solution that you are happy with!