If you have purchased a high-quality rug you will want to take good care of it, and even if you’ve purchased an inexpensive rug, why be wasteful? A quality rug is an investment that can be passed on to future generations, and certainly this requires proper care. Or maybe you’ve purchased an antique rug that you treasure and you are wondering how to make sure that rug does not get damaged? The good news is taking care of your rug at home is easier than you think. Whether we are talking about hand loomed or woven woolen rugs or even those gorgeous neutral beige rugs, lets learn how to go about making sure our rugs will stand the test of time! From weekly cleaning, to spot stain removal, to over all deep cleaning, you can learn to do it all. What a great feeling, right? Okay, lets delve into this topic and become experts!
Tips For Maintaining And Cleaning Rugs In Your Home
Vacuum Regularly And Yes Beating!
Dust and debris build up inside the pile of your rug. If these aren’t cleaned out then they will damage the pile and cause flat spots in your rug. The easiest way to prevent this from becoming an issue is to vacuum your rug at least once a week, but this will vary depending on lifestyle, where you live, pets, kids, and so on. It is important to use the right attachment and to move it slowly across the rug. This will maximize the amount of dust and debris which is extracted. It’s also a good idea to turn the rug over and vacuum the other side!
A good vacuuming of both sides can take care of dust, but when possible, do take a rug outside and beat it over a balcony or rail. Yes, the traditional way folks! Maybe you’ll even decide to buy a rug beater? If you live for example in a high-rise, so why not roll up the rug, put it in a bag, and take it with you when you visit friends or family with a backyard, and shake out and beat your rug there?
Deciding When To Clean A Rug
We’ve mentioned cleaning your rug weekly but this does depend on how often the rug is used. Of course you could opt to adapt the custom of removing your shoes at the door, which is done in many cultures, it sure does save time and energy cleaning the floor, and putting on some comfortable house shoes could be a great cue to relax, you are home!
Flatweave rugs that can fit in the washing machine should probably get washed two to three times per year, depending on where they’re located and how dirty they get. To extend the time between Flatweave rugs are the same on both sides, so do flip the rug and dirty that side too before washing.
Taking furniture off of a rugs and moving them is a big job, so it is highly recommend to stay on top of your vacuuming, and purchase some spray upholstery cleaner. Large and very heavy rugs can possibly go three to five years without being washed/deep cleaned, as long as they’re cared properly.
To determine if your rug needs cleaning is if it looks gray and dull. Vacuum the rug, run a moist white cloth across it, and if the cloth picks up lots of dirt, yes it is time to give the rug a bath.
Dealing With Spills And Spot Cleaning
One of the biggest issues for any rug is spills. A spill can quickly turn into a stain unless you respond quickly. The first step is to place tissue over the stain, this will draw the stain outward and reduce the stain. If a mess contains any solids, remove those first. You should never rub a stain. After blotting, use a soft toothbrush to work some mild cleaner into the stain, if necessary.
Using a clean white towel, make a mild solution of dish soap or laundry detergent diluted in warm water and apply to the stain with the towel. Use just enough of the solution to soak the stain only. Do be careful not to over wet the area by applying too much, as this can spread the stain and make the rug too wet, which can lead to mold or mildew.
Rinse out the soap with warm water applied to the clean towel, and keep gently blotting the stain until it’s gone (hopefully.) You may need to repeat this process several times, so some patience is neede. Never ever scrub this will certainly damage the rug fibers and will lead to a hole in your rug!
When in doubt, always test an inconspicuous area to make sure the colors don’t run or the soap doesn’t stain your rug.
For stubborn stains, try an enzymatic stain remover like Zout or Resolve. First check whether it’s safe for your rug and test a small area on your rug by following the instructions on the bottle.
Once your stain is gone, to avoid mildew forming, make sure the area dries completely. You can use a fan or hair dryer on “cold.” Improper drying can cause mold to form, especially on natural fibers, such as wool and cotton. If the rug stays damp for too long, it can also damage the floor underneath. Fully drying the area is mandatory!
If all else fails—or you’re dealing with an old, set-in stain—consider investing in a portable carpet upholstery cleaner. It may just be worth it, and can be used for multiple cleaning tasks, like that dirty couch, as well.
Washing A Rug At Home, Can I Ruin It?
Washing an entire rug at home will always carry a risk. In order to do it safely, always look at the care instructions, either on a still-attached tag or the manufacturer’s website. You can also reach out to local experts. In general, it’s worthwhile to clean thin, inexpensive rugs at home because the cost of professional cleaning can be more expensive than the rug itself. But thicker or more valuable rugs are risky to DIY, so proceed with caution, or reach out to a professional.
Not all rugs can be washed at home, especially extra-large, thick, antique, or heirloom ones. Cleaning a rug at home can lead to mildew issues, yikes, so proceed with knowledge. For extra-large or delicate antique wool rugs, you’re better off consulting a professional in your area. If your rug is medium sized, you may want to give it a try.
With at-home washings, low-pile wool rugs—especially multicolor ones—will likely bleed their colors. Some bleeding may not bother most rug owners, but this is a personal preference.
Always test a small area first. Synthetic rugs don’t have dyes that bleed, but they can still buckle or develop mold due to natural fibers used in other parts of the rug (like the outer edges or interior fibers). To limit bleeding and deter any fungal growth, it’s important to dry rugs quickly.
Time And Seasonal Considerations?
If you decide a rug is safe to wash at home, deep-cleaning the entire thing can take the better part of a day. But the actual cleaning time shouldn’t take more than several hours. One of the most important steps, the drying process, can take a few days, depending on your climate and the thickness of the rug. First consider your climate, and when is the best time to leave a rug outdoors. That cleaning may just have to wait for dryer/warmer weather. If the rug is too dirty to bear, you could opt to roll it up and store it under a bed until weather permits.
How To Deep Clean Small To Medium Size Area Rugs
For Small Woven Synthetic or Natural-fiber Rugs
Vacuum or beat out as much dust as possible. If a small rug fits in your washer, you can likely wash it there. Do check the care label to be sure, and always select a cold and gentle wash cycle. Afterward, lay the rug flat and air-dry it. To deter color bleeding on wool and cotton rugs, speed up the drying process by using fans.
For Medium Flatweave, Low-pile, and High-pile synthetic rugs Or Medium Flatweave Natural-fiber Rugs)
Before wetting your rug, remove as much dust as possible with vacuuming and beating as previously mentioned.
Using mild dish soap, first test a small area of the rug to see if the colors bleed too much or if the cleaner leaves a mark. If the colors run, you’ll likely need to take the rug to a professional cleaner. If your cleaned test area looks fine, you can continue, using a soft bristle brush to gently scrub the cleaner into the rug’s surface—treating any spots and stains first, according to the advice above.
Note: If you’d rather not get on your hands and knees, you can also clean rugs outdoors on a clean smooth surface. For precious rugs, work in some plain mild soap only, with your feet, just like old-school grape-crushing!
Once you’ve worked the cleaner into the entire rug, wash away the soap with a garden hose equipped with a spray nozzle, or buckets of water. After rinsing, use clean, dry towels or a squeegee to remove as much excess water as possible. If you have a wet-dry vac, you could also use it to absorb more water.
Lay the rug flat and let it air-dry completely, which may take a couple of days, depending on your climate. Turn the rug over after a few hours to let both sides dry. Setting up fans around the rug can help speed up the drying and help prevent bleeding on wool rugs.
Phew, you did it. Now you will very likely consider adapting the custom of removing your shoes upon entering the house, am I right?
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