How to remove olive oil from a wool rug

Material context

natural, hand-tufted, Persian, berber, kilim, cotton flatweave – anything with lanolin or natural dye. That drives what you can and cannot apply – see the warning above.

The protocol, step by step

1. Blot excess with paper towel – press, do not wipe.
2. Cover the stain with bicarbonate of soda 5 mm thick. Wait 20 minutes; vacuum.
3. Repeat until the powder no longer darkens (usually 2–3 rounds).
4. Residual grease: dilute Fairy Liquid 1:10 in cool water; dab with cloth; blot dry.
5. Never scrub – grinds oil deeper into the wool.

Products needed

• Bicarbonate of soda: Aksoy bicarbonate of soda, 1 kg on Amazon.co.uk
• Fairy Liquid diluted 1:10: Fairy Original washing-up liquid, 2 x 1450 ml on Amazon.co.uk
• Blotting cloth

Realistic verdict

Bicarbonate is the wool grease answer. Requires patience – 2 to 3 absorption cycles.

Frequently asked questions

How fast do I need to act?

Within 1 hour(s). On wool specifically, the olive oil window is the same but the response differs – see the protocol above.

What must I never do to wool?

No warm water on wool – sets the oil ring.

What is the realistic recovery rate?

Bicarbonate is the wool grease answer. Requires patience – 2 to 3 absorption cycles.

When to stop and call a pro

Any olive oil spot on wool larger than 30 × 30 cm; any second incident on the same spot (pigment or odour compound); any wool rug already treated with the wrong product (hot water, or the "never" listed above). Professional wet cleaning cost for wool: £3–£6 per m²; a 200 × 290 wool rug is £20–£35.