# Getting the smell out of leather and cleaning rugs **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 8, 2010, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-the-smell-out-of-leather-and-cleaning-rugs/535463 "2010-04-08T22:29:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Electric\_Warrior](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@Electric\_Warrior](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Electric_Warrior)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2010, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-the-smell-out-of-leather-and-cleaning-rugs/535463/1 "2010-04-08T22:29:25Z")
I had two home-related questions, but I decided that making two threads would be overkill, so I will just make one! Question 1. I went out for Hot Pot last weekend. It was delicious and fun, but that’s beside the point. Basically, I was wearing a leather jacket, and it now smells strongly of soup stock. What is the best process for getting the smell out? Question 2. I am slightly less hopeful about this one. I have this rug in my dorm room. It is basically a short fiber shag rug. Because I knew very little when I first arrived here, a naïve freshman, I bought a black rug. I thought it was like clothing - nothing shows up on black - but as I soon discovered it was the exact opposite! Vacuuming helps a little but I feel like some of the dirt is stuck down at the roots of the fibers. Are there any tricks for vacuuming shag carpets to be sure that all the various specks and bits get picked up? Or will I just have to wait till it’s nice and warm out and beat all the dirt out of the carpet in the courtyard? Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![appleciders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85f322/32.png) [@appleciders](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/appleciders)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2010, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-the-smell-out-of-leather-and-cleaning-rugs/535463/2 "2010-04-08T23:32:48Z")
When I first read the title, I assumed you had a leather rug and it squicked me out. ---
**Author:** ![Perciful](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b38774/32.png) [@Perciful](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Perciful)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2010, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-the-smell-out-of-leather-and-cleaning-rugs/535463/3 "2010-04-09T02:17:45Z")
1. Throw the leather jacket, 6 fabric softener sheets and a couple tennis balls in the dryer on no heat for 60 minutes. Use the no heat setting only. 2. Vacuum it with the small stair attachment that comes with most vacuums. That worked on the black carpeting in my trunk that would never get clean with the pay vacuums at car washes. ---
**Author:** ![Electric\_Warrior](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@Electric\_Warrior](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Electric_Warrior)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2010, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-the-smell-out-of-leather-and-cleaning-rugs/535463/4 "2010-04-09T02:41:29Z")
> [@Perciful](#): > > 1. Throw the leather jacket, 6 fabric softener sheets and a couple tennis balls in the dryer on no heat for 60 minutes. Use the no heat setting only. > > 2. Vacuum it with the small stair attachment that comes with most vacuums. That worked on the black carpeting in my trunk that would never get clean with the pay vacuums at car washes. Oh, thank you! You rule! ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2010, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-the-smell-out-of-leather-and-cleaning-rugs/535463/5 "2010-04-09T03:04:12Z")
> [@appleciders](#): > > When I first read the title, I assumed you had a leather rug and it squicked me out. May I present [leather flooring](http://www.pontevecchiousa.com/leatherfloor.htm) and [leather flooring - with hair!](http://www.pontevecchiousa.com/leather-hair.htm) 🙂