Rug Cleaning Method

Rug Cleaning

Rugs can be beautiful additions to your home, but they can be expensive and at times delicate. By understanding how to clean rugs, you will also be able to preserve your investment. There are a few very common mistakes that people make when it comes to cleaning area rugs. These mistakes can end up subtracting years from the life of your rugs, and they should be avoided. these tips ranging from vacuuming to spraying to pet odors and spills can keep your rugs looking new for as long as possible.

The Best Method To Clean Your Rug

The best way to keep your area rug looking its best is once a month flip it upside down and vacuum the back of the rug. it is okay to use a beater bar/rotating brush vacuum on the back of a wool rug, on the front it is recommended to only use suction. Vacuuming the back with the beater bar/rotating brush helps push dirt trapped deep down toward the top of the rug. The rug is then flipped right side up and this dirt is vacuumed. For synthetic area rugs it is fine to use the beater bar/rotating brush vacuum on the front and back of the rug.

When you run the vacuum over the fringes they get sucked into the beater bar of your vacuum. The fringes do not need to be vacuumed at all. Fluffing them by hand is all they need. anything else can cause damage to them.

Carpet shampoos are usually made for synthetic wall to wall carpet not wool area rugs. always check the label before using any spot cleaners or rugshampoos. when you use a spotter or shampoo make sure you rinse it all out. If there is any soap residue left in the rug it will attract dirt. always test your rug with a damp white cotton towel to make sure the colors will not run or bleed.

Make sure that you clean up spills or stains as as soon as they occur. Blot or scrape the spillage up depending on the type of spill. Blot, using a clean white 100% cotton dry towel and pressing down very hard from the outside towards the middle. do this repeatedly, turning the folded towel over and over until you have absorbed as much moisture as possible. If the spillage is milk care must be taken to rinse the area thoroughly with mild detergent and water to prevent souring of the residue. For red wine spills, use equal parts of 100% hydrogen peroxide and Dawn liquid dish soap apply to cotton towel and blot. read more...