Area Rug Cleaning Tips by Fashion Cleaners

An area rug can be a costly investment, so naturally, you’ll want to protect that investment with proper care and cleaning. A beautiful area rug can add style and beauty to your home. Just as a stained, worn or tattered rug can make your home look unkept and uninviting. Today we’ve got a few tips on how to maintain your favorite area rugs.

Area Rug Care requires vacuuming often

Area Rug Basic Care

Regardless of the material, your area rug should be vacuumed regularly, especially in high traffic areas. Vacuuming the rug often will help eliminate dirt and grime. If your rug has a fringed border, take care not to vacuum the fringe. Use a broom to clean the fringes. If your vacuum has a rug setting, use it or any setting that stops the rollers from spinning and just uses the suction of the vacuum. This will help keep from the fibers from breaking down from the spinning action.

If you have a pet and your rug is exposed to a lot of hair, brushing is the best way to remove stubborn pet hairs that don’t come up when vacuuming. When brushing the area rug, go in the direction of the nap, for short pile area rugs, you should use a carpet brush. For longer pile rugs try using a rake (purchase a small plastic rake for use on your area rugs only.

Rotate your rugs a few times per year (at least 2 times). Both sunlight and traffic can add stress to the area rug, which could cause certain areas to wear out or fade faster than other areas. Rotating the rug will slow this deterioration.

Smaller rugs should be taken outside occasionally and given a good shake to remove the dirt and grime. You can also hang them over an outdoor railing and beat them with the back of a broom or a rug beater.

Your area rug should be professionally cleaned every 1 to 2 years. Vacuuming alone will not remove all debris.

Stain Removal

It is important to act quickly after a spill to keep the stain from permanently setting into the area rug. Never rub a spill, it will ultimately set the stain deeper into the rug, making it harder to eliminate.

For Liquid Spills

Use a clean cloth or paper towel and press firmly to absorb as much liquid as possible. Continue blotting until all the liquid is absorbed.

For Stains

Make a solution of equal parts water and white vinegar, with a small amount of liquid detergent. Apply the foam that rises to the top of the solution onto the stained area with a clean wet cloth. Let it sit for about 2 minutes, then using a clean cloth or paper towel, blotting until all the stain has absorbed.

For pet stains

Use the same solution as mentioned above. If the stain is fresh, use a paper towel to blot the area until all the liquid has been absorbed. Next, sprinkle the area with baking soda and let stand for 5 minutes. Then, apply the same solution mentioned above to the area, gently scrub and let the area sit until dry. Vacuum up the remaining powder.

Never use ammonia or any cleaner with on your area rugs, the scent left by the ammonia will cause your pet to return to that spot over and over again.

Using these general cleaning instructions you should be able to extend the life of your area rugs and keep them looking beautiful for years and years.

source: Room for Improvements and Safavieh

Area Rug Care requires vacuuming often

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