How do you get Coal Dust out of Carpet?

Question:I work in the cleaning business, and where i work people from Coal mines come in all day,leaving coal dust in carpet.

Answers:
Try to suck it up - getting it wet only turns it inky and then you REALLY have a problem. Tell people that work in the coal mines to remove their shoes and leave them outside, or to lay runners down over the carpet so they don't wreck it. I hope you make them sign a disclaimer before you try to clean up stains that may not come up!