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Yes, you can use a hose to clean an area rug. Before you do, it’s a good idea to vacuum out dust and dirt and use a rug brush to remove pet hair and other debris. Just be careful not to be too aggressive, or you’ll damage the material. Bring your area rug outside and wet it evenly with your hose. You can even use a pressure washer on a light setting if you have a new, durable rug. Continue soaking until the water runs clean, and then hang your rug to dry.

Some of the worst and hardest stains to remove from carpets include dark-colored spills like red wine, coffee, blood, and ink. These can permanently discolor the carpet, especially if they aren't treated immediately, and are particularly visible on light-colored carpets. Bleach is also one of the worst culprits, as it causes near-instant color loss that cannot be restored through cleaning. For most tough stains, if DIY methods don't work, a professional carpet cleaner may be able to help. However, for bleach stains, the best option is often to dye or replace the affected area.

Typically, you should avoid using a traditional carpet cleaner on Oriental rugs because the chemical makeup of carpet cleaners can damage the rug’s natural fibers. You can, however, opt for a neutral pH cleaner, which can do a decent job of cleaning the carpet without damaging it. Always test whatever cleaning solution you use on a small, hidden spot of your rug first. That way, if any damage occurs, it doesn’t totally ruin your rug.

The best cleaner to remove soot depends on the surface material and the type of fire, but consider dish soaps or degreasers, baking soda, rubbing alcohol, and hydrogen. Low-oxygen fires often leave behind greasy soot, which is best removed with dish soaps or degreasers. Baking soda can be useful for absorbing soot deposits from carpets, followed by rubbing alcohol or hydrogen peroxide to clean the set-in stains.