Caring for your Area Rug
Caring for the carpets, tile, and rugs throughout your home is a full-time job. Actually, caring for your home, in general, is a full-time job. There’s always something that needs to get done. But when it comes to the area rug that’s been beautifully occupying your living room for the last decade or that statement rug that everyone loves, there are actually quite a few things you could do to take care of that area rug. If you take care of your area rug properly, it can help prolong the life of your rug for years to come.
Easy Tips to Take Care of Your Area Rug
Vacuum
Vacuuming is an important step when it comes to taking care of your floors. An area rug is made to be shown off and stand out. It’s usually placed in a setting where people will be stepping on it, or congregating around it. And when there aren’t guests stepping on the area rug, it’s going to collect dust while it’s not in use. Every day it will collect dust and the dust particles weigh heavier and sink deeper into the fibers of your area rug. The dust particles and allergens mixed with foot traffic can really affect the look and condition of your rug.
An area rug needs to be vacuumed at least once a week. Here are some things to keep in mind when you’re vacuuming your area rugIf your area rug has fringe, you need to be very careful with how you vacuum it. Fringe has a tendency to get caught and wrapped around the vacuum roller. When you vacuum fringe, always go sideways, against the fringe. Long fibrous rugs need to be very carefully vacuumed or left to the care of professionals like JP Carpet Cleaning Expert Floor Care. Every six months or so, make sure you flip the rug over and vacuum the back of the rug, as well as where the rug has been sitting.When you flip the rug over to vacuum it, rotate the rug so it doesn’t get overused in one area.
Clean Spills As Soon As They Happen
As much as you tell yourself that you won’t spill anything on your area rug or that no one is allowed to eat on the rug, sooner or later something will get spilled. A lot of rugs these days are made to be more spill-resistant. But if you have an area rug that’s older, you’re going to want to take care of spills as soon as they happen. Depending on the type of spill, there are different methods to how you want to take care of them.
Water
It isn’t the end of the world if you spill water on your rug. But you’re going to want to blot out as much of the water as you can so it doesn’t soak into the rug causing mold. Use a white paper towel or cloth to ensure that you aren’t rubbing any dyes into the rug. If you feel the need, you can air dry it with a fan or on low heat with a hairdryer. But don’t hold the hairdryer too close to the rug or you might burn it.
Food and Drinks
These can be trickier to get out of any rug. And if you spill wine or pomegranate juice on your rug, you might want to call in the help of a professional. But if you spill juice, soda, or food, get to it right away. Use a gentle organic spot remover or make your own spot-removing solution. Use cold water and gently massage the area until the stain comes out. Don’t pound the rug, dab it to prevent smashing the food particles or liquids deeper into the surface.
Pet urine or vomit
When it comes to urine and vomit, those are two very tough things to get out of any rug. Pet urine is especially hard to get out of things, especially fabrics or fibers. You can try a solution that has vinegar in it to neutralize the smell, but bringing in a professional for this job would give you a higher probability of saving the rug.
Use a Rug Pad
A rug pad is simply a pad that you put underneath your area rug. It prevents the rug from slipping and sliding. If the rug is held in place, it won’t get wrinkled or crumpled which can actually damage the rug. This will help prolong the life of the rug. The rug pad also helps to preserve the shape of the rug. It acts as a cushion underneath the area rug and helps the fibers and overall integrity of the rug stay truer to shape. If your area rug sits on carpet, tile, or hardwood, your area rug needs a rug pad underneath.
Deep Clean your Area Rug in Los Angeles
No matter how well you tend to care for that area rug in your Los Angeles home, the reality is that it’s going to need a deep clean eventually. The thing about deep cleaning though, is that it’s better if you do it regularly. When you deep clean your area rug in Los Angeles on an annual basis, you’re not only cleaning the rug but you’re protecting it as well. At JP Carpet Cleaning Expert Floor Care, our 100% eco-friendly methods will help you maintain and care for your area rug. Schedule a complimentary assessment for deep cleaning of your area rug today.
