Rug Cleaning Tips
A rug is one of the most artistic ways of decorating a house. However beautiful the tiles are, a pretty rug does add more beauty and sophistication to the house! Besides, it also provides comfort to the feet, especially on a chilly evening! But rugs also mean a lot of extra work, if you are not aware of some easy rug cleaning tips. There are different types of rug cleaners available in the market, however, you hardly need them if you clean the rug on a regular basis with the usual cleaning equipment. However, different kinds of rugs need different kinds cleaning, for example, an oriental rug might need washing however, bamboo rug care includes only dusting and wiping.
Cleaning however, is the later part, before that you should know if the rug is actually dirty. When a rug is newly purchased, most of us tend to clean it almost every alternate day! Rugs do not need such excessive cleaning. One easy way to find out if the rug is dirty or not is to lift the rug and kick the back side of the rug, if clouds of dirt arise, it is definitely dirty. So once you know that it is rug cleaning time, use the tips below given.
Tips for Cleaning Rugs
There are just a few steps involved in rug cleaning which are no different from furniture cleaning. Some of the methods are mentioned below.
Vacuuming: Most of the time rugs and carpets get dirty due to dirt only. So before starting the cleaning work, take some efforts to avoid the rug from getting dirty. One easy way to do this is to keep a doormat, if a doormat is placed at the door, people automatically dust their feet before entering the room which prevents the dirt from entering the house and making the rugs dirty. Remember, excessive dirt can break down the fibers of the rug.
Some rugs like leather shag rugs or flokati rugs can be cleaned by simply shaking them vigorously. There is no need to vacuum these rugs, simply pat the rugs or rake them after shaking to clean the fibers. However, rugs like oriental rugs or bamboo rugs need to be vacuumed regularly. Vacuum both the sides of the rug, going over in a traffic pattern. If your rug has a looped texture, do not use the rotating beater bar, use only the suction option. Do not ever use vacuum for the fringes! If you are living in a high traffic area, you will need to vacuum the rug daily, if not, twice a week is sufficient.
Steam Cleaning: Another way to clean rugs is to use steam cleaners, you get steam cleaners in the market. Hot water sprays are also a good option, of course depending on the rug. For the first time, use a hot water spray or steam cleaner on a small patch as some rugs lose color after coming in contact with water. You can actually wash your oriental rug with a mild rug shampoo or liquid soap, however, do not use hot water because if there are stains on the rug, they will get tougher due to the hot water. Do not scrub vigorously and squeeze the rug until all the excess water is drained, you can use rubber window squeegee for it. Dry from both the sides thoroughly, do not leave a single patch damp. There are different ways to clean a stained rug, some of the most common stain solutions are given below.
Cleaning the Spills: Spills can be a headache if not attained early. So the first rule is to attain the stain, immediately! If there is a food spill, blot the liquid with paper towels or a white cloth, do not rub the liquid as it will make it seep in. Make a solution of 1 tsp detergent (neutral), 100 ml white vinegar and 1000 ml warm water, mix well and apply on the stain, leave overnight. The next day rub off the solution with the help of a damp sponge. Another easy way to get rid of spills is to cover the stain with a thick cloth and put something heavy on top of it and leave overnight. This will help absorb the stain.
Other Cleaning Tips: One important tip to keep the rug clean and same all over is to rotate it once a year. Rotating the rug to 180 degrees will make it wear evenly everywhere, which will make it look the same throughout. Another easy trick to keep the rugs clean is to use rug pads, it avoids the shifting or stretching of the rug, which in turn makes the rug last longer. Rug pads should be used for all types of rugs. One important thing to keep in mind is never to lift the rug for shifting, whichever type of rug it is, lift it and roll. Carry the roll of the rug and not the entire rug as the way it is.
These were some easy rug cleaning tips. As stated earlier, clean the rugs on a regular basis to avoid soiled and stained rugs. After all it's only clean rugs that increase the beauty of the house, not the dirty ones!
