If you’ve opted to use custom area rugs instead of carpeting in your home, it’s important that you know how to keep them clean and well-maintained. Rugs add something extra to your home, and at the same time, they attract a lot of dust & dirt. Considering the time you spend at work and at home, keeping it clean is not as easy as it seems.
Cleaning your area rug can be an easy chore with the help of our useful cleaning & maintenance tips. Follow these tips to keep rugs clean for as long as possible:
GIVE YOUR RUGS A THOROUGH SHAKING
Don’t be afraid to shake your rugs outside unless it is especially thick/big. Shaking your rug will help take out any debris/dust that was trapped in the fibers of your rug. If you have someone in the house to assist you, then big rugs can be rolled up and brought outside. By doing this prior to the deep cleaning process, you will find that you have eliminated a significant amount of loose dust and dirt.
DO REGULAR VACUUMING
Now that most of the debris is taken out, it’s time to pull out the vacuum cleaner. Vacuuming on a regular and systematic basis can be your rugs’ best friend when it comes to retaining their original sheen and luster. It can literally add years to the life of your rugs. This is rug care 101. Do this at least once a week or as needed. If your rug has fringes around the edges, do not vacuum them. Instead, use a dustpan to collect dust and dirt.
REMOVE STAINS
If you missed treating a stain as soon as it appeared, you may need a serious stain removal product that is compatible with the rug’s fabric. Rinse after blotting the stain from outside to inside. Repeat these steps if necessary. Avoid scrubbing the stained area too vigorously as this can damage the fibers.
DEEP CLEANING
You should do a deep cleaning of your rug depending on which material it was made of. You should do this to a minimum of once per year. If your rug is placed in an area where there is a lot of foot traffic or if you have a small home with children or pets, you may need to do a deep cleaning on a regular basis. Handwash rugs that are fragile. Use a gentle cleaner and a little warm water for rugs with natural fibers. You can machine wash woven & braided rugs. Be sure to follow the proper washing instructions.
MAKE SURE IT’S DRY
After a thorough cleaning, double-check that it is fully dry on both sides. Squeeze out any excess water, use the heat of the sun, or use indoor fans to speed up the drying process and to avoid mildew or mold formation.
Tips for Maintaining the Quality of Your Area Rugs
Rugs/carpets can last a long time if you care for them properly. If you have been looking for tips or ways how to maintain your rugs, follow these tips.
Include quality padding. Make sure that your rugs are properly covered by quality padding underneath. It avoids slippage & helps minimize wear, and most importantly it enhances the comfort factor. Not putting rug padding will cause damage to your rugs & to your floor. Underlayments vary, and selecting the right one is important.
Rotate them regularly. Make it a habit to change your rugs’ orientation at least once a year. Some people change their rugs as often as once every six months, depending on the amount of foot traffic the rug gets. This makes for more uniformly spread wear, giving your rug a more uniform look that will help retain both appearance and value.
Change the furniture arrangement regularly. Rearranging furniture not only changes the appearance of a room but also disrupts or eliminates natural paths that people normally use. This will extend the life of your rugs by many years.
Block sunlight. Sunlight can also cause damage to your rugs, over time, it may dramatically fade & lose its natural color. To prevent this, keep your rugs out of direct sunlight. If this is not possible, make sure to rotate your rug as much as possible to ensure more uniform fading.
Cleaning & maintaining your rugs can be a tiring chore, but if you do preventive maintenance in advance you will see that it is all worth it. Aside from knowing how you can properly take care of your rugs, it is also important to seek help from professionals that can do the job for you. If you have a rug that needs some TLC and you’d like to get it looking new again, contact us and we will be happy to give you a free, no-obligation estimate for your cleaning.
