How to clean a Rug: Rug Cleaning & Maintenance Tips

RUG CLEANING AND MAINTENANCE 101

So you bought a new rug for your room and you just love how it fits snuggly in your space. But then your toddler comes over and – well, we all know how that ends!! Spills and stains are some of the worst nightmares that our customers face on a day-to-day basis. However, by understanding how to clean rugs, one will also be able to preserve their investment. Maintenance and regular vacuuming, removal of dust, and prompt treatment of stains and spills are all essential parts of rug care. Keep your rug in tip-top shape with these simple, easy-to-follow tips!

Rug Care

• Vacuum your rug regularly. To maintain an area rug, regularly turn it over and give it a good beat on the back with a broom, topped with a vigorous shake. This will loosen any dirt or dust that has fallen down into the fibres.

• For wool rugs, use only the suction for vacuuming, avoid brushes and rotating bars or powerheads. Vacuum wool rugs only a few times a month. Vacuuming more often can pull out the fibres.

• Do not vacuum fringe or tassels. They are delicate material, and get easily tangled in the vacuum’s head, or worse, ripped by the suction. Fluffing them by hand is all they need. Anything else can cause damage to them.

• Rotate the rug to even out wear and tear. Foot traffic patterns can beat tracks into the pattern and fibres of a rug. This can be prevented by rotating your area rug regularly so as to avoid the formation of this wear and give your rug double the lifespan.

Cleaning Spills

• Remove any solid debris by scraping. Trying to rub out a stain just pushes the spill into the pile and causes fibres to mat. Instead, blot up spills by covering the area with a clean towel or a thick pad of paper towels. Press down with the heel of your hand. Repeat using dry towels until all the liquid has been absorbed.

• Mix your own spot-cleaning solution by diluting detergent in lukewarm water (always do a patch test first!). Then, blot the affected area with a dry towel. Repeat until no more residue comes off of the rug. Remember, never ever rub!