Area rugs are a great investment in your home. They are beautiful, can add decoration to your home and can protect wooden floors or fine tiles. However, with the investment of money, it is an investment in care too. It is important to take good care of your carpet in the area so that it is clean, nice, and tidy for many years.
What is first?
Vacuuming is one of the fastest and easiest ways to care for rugs at home. By vacuuming the upper part of the carpet regularly and also by vacuuming the lower part every 3-6 months, your rug will stay clean and can be cleaned quickly and easily. Usually you just need to vacuum the carpet or rug to keep it alive. You should clean the carpet every time you vacuum other carpets or the floor, or at least once a week.
If you are vacuuming the bottom, use the mounting rail on your vacuum cleaner to remove dirt, dust or sand and remove them from the pile. If you don’t have a beater attachment, you can hang the rug out and pound it with a stick or broom until you see no dust or puns. After wiping or vacuuming the floor, replace the carpet as usual and vacuum the top.
Wash the area rugs
Washing area rugs on site can replenish the moisture in the fibers, giving it back its beauty, vitality and color, but you have to do it carefully – you don’t want to ruin your 100 year old antique carpet by washing and drying. Always consult an expert before washing the carpet. They can advise on whether it is safe to put it in the washing machine or suggest other washing methods. Before any washing, always test the carpet to see if it is colored. Cut off a small piece of carpet fiber and apply a small piece of shampoo to the carpet. Leave the shampoo on for ten minutes and rinse it to make sure it is safe for rug cleaning.
Hand washing is always the preferred method and should be done on a clean, level surface, such as a bathtub (if your carpet area is small), on a balcony, hallway or patio. Wipe the carpet well and then remove the whole carpet with a soft brush. After cleaning the carpet, wash it with cold water (you can do this several times to completely remove the shampoo), then remove the excess water with a spatula or gems. Never wash the rug more than once a year and always dry it well before using it again. After washing, dry the rug in the sun. Do not put the carpet or rug in the dryer – even if the rug fibers withstand the heat, the back will not be and will be weak or completely damaged. If you feel that your dryer is a little stiff after drying in the air, just run the vacuum cleaner over it several times when it is back in place.
Spot cleaning
It happens to everyone. You have a chaotic guest at dinner, the dog picks up the mud and enters the house, you have children or you may have done it yourself. The question is not when you get a stain on a rag, when a stain will appear on it. If there is a stain on the carpet, do not try to apply the stain. Always wipe the stain – wiping it can spread the stain and eventually destroy your carpet.
Red wine stains are usually removed with club soda – but always check a small area first. Give a soda, wait 30 minutes, play. If you have a romantic dinner and the wax from the candles drips on the carpet or rug on the spot, try to put ice on the wax to make it as cold as possible, and then cut it out.
If all else fails, call a professional rug cleaner or contact the store where you purchased the carpet directly. These people are experts and see everything, so they know how best to clean the carpet or remove stains.
