The Ultimate Guide to Rug Cleaning
Finding the ideal rug may be a thrilling experience. You’ll need to know how to properly care for your rug once you’ve picked one that ticks all of your boxes. There’s no need to pay high rates to have your rugs professionally cleaned or even replaced if you spill something or your beloved dog has an accident. You may take efforts to not only clean your rugs but also to prevent them from staining in the first place. This article will cover all you need to know about cleaning a rug at home.
regular care and maintenance
Naturally, the best way to deal with stains is to avoid them in the first place. Maintaining your carpets and rugs on a regular basis will help keep them looking wonderful and your house feeling pleasant.
Vacuum your rugs regularly
Rugs and carpets should be vacuumed once or twice a week at the very least. Consider vacuuming more frequently in high-traffic areas, up to twice a day. To neutralise odours and keep your rug smelling fresh, sprinkle a little baking soda on the surface before vacuuming. Finally, avoid using the beater bar (particularly when washing shag rugs!) and reduce the airflow setting to avoid harming the rug’s fibres and extending its lifespan.
To level out wear, rotate rugs
Rugs aren’t always equally worn. Parts of your rug are likely to see more traffic than others, especially if it extends partially beneath furniture. It’s also possible that the way your windows are set up means that more sunlight falls on one region than another, resulting in ugly faded spots. To avoid these concerns, make it a practise to rotate your rug 180 degrees every 6 months or so to ensure even wear.
Keep a rug cleaner nearby
Having a decent rug cleaner on hand pays off big time because most stains are easiest to clear when you act quickly. While some people will desire a variety of formulae for every type of spill, the majority of people will only require a reliable all-purpose cleaner. To deal with the majority of typical spills and stains, we recommend calling the most skilled rug cleaning company in Ireland.
Cleaning various types of rug stains
By acting immediately and having the correct tools on hand, you may save a lot of money on most little spills. The care label on your rug should be your first stop, but if it isn’t comprehensive enough, these pointers can help.
How to Remove Common Rug Stains
The answer to most basic stains is to act soon. The first step is to clear the area of any physical debris. To avoid pushing the material deeper into the pile, don’t use a paper towel or rag at this time. To gently lift the dirt up and away, use an instrument like a fork or a spoon. After that, gently blot the area with a damp paper towel and apply a stain-removal solution. Finally, dab dry the area after rinsing it with cool water. Warm water should never be used. For persistent spills, repeat the process as needed.
How to Get Rid of Pet Stains
Pet stains are one of the most common and feared stains that humans may encounter. Urine stains will begin to smell if not treated. That means these stains are not only unsightly, but they also pose a health concern. When it comes to pet stains, the most important thing to remember is to never use a steam cleaner. The high heat will just intensify the odour and aid in the staining process. Instead, treat them like any other stain, but with a pet stain-specific remover. These are made to combat the foul-smelling and potentially harmful compounds contained in urine. Pet stains will be no problem if you act fast, avoid heat, and remember to lightly dab rather than scrub.
Cleaning rugs of various types
With most rugs, the information above will enough, but depending on the style and material of your rug, you should make some additional considerations. Continue reading to find out how to clean a rug of any material or construction.
Cleaning wool and cotton rugs
Wool is an excellent material. It’s soft, long-lasting, mostly waterproof, and color-faster than most other materials. Unfortunately, the fibres’ shape makes them excellent at trapping dirt. Cotton, as a natural fibre, shares the majority of these advantages and disadvantages.
Fortunately, these rugs do not require much more maintenance than you may assume. Vacuuming should be done with additional care throughout the first several months. When wool rugs are brand new, they tend to shed. Don’t freak out! Your rug will not be left bare—once all of the loose fibres have been shook out, it should look beautiful for years!
Jute rug cleaning instructions
Jute is a strong textile with hard strands that make it difficult for dirt to stick to. This makes them quite simple to clean—a simple vacuuming should suffice.
Jute and water do not mix. Jute absorbs moisture quickly and holds it for a long period, which can lead to the growth of mould, mildew, or hazardous germs. Use paper towels and a hair dryer to swiftly wipe up any spills. Clean small areas at a time, and test any cleaners on an inconspicuous location.
Cleaning synthetic fibre rugs
The majority of today’s rugs are composed of synthetic materials such as polypropylene, polyester, and acrylic. These rugs are a fantastic substitute for wool and cotton carpets for a fraction of the cost and require no special maintenance. With synthetic rugs, however, expectations must be managed. Synthetic fibres are very smooth, unlike wool, cotton, and other porous natural fibres. This means they’ll show dirt more easily, won’t keep dye as well, and will eventually fade. Fortunately, these problems can be avoided with regular maintenance.
You should also be aware that many synthetic rugs contain a jute backing and hence face the same issues as a 100% jute rug. If this is the situation with your rug, avoid cleaning it with water and dry any spills as soon as possible.
Shag rug cleaning instructions
Shag rugs, regardless of material, will require specific maintenance to keep them clean. Shag carpets have long strands that trap dirt and keep it buried deep within the pile. Vacuuming is particularly difficult because of the high pile. The beater bar can even pull the fibres out if the suction is too strong. Never use the beater bar when vacuuming a shag rug. If the rug is small enough, turn it over and vacuum the back side instead. Any dirt buried beneath will be loosen. You can easily sweep up anything that has been shaken loose from the floor beneath the rug.
How to clean a rug thoroughly
The easiest way to remove set-in stains is to thoroughly clean the entire rug. But before you go out and rent a machine or hire an expensive professional service, keep reading. While these options can make things easier or more convenient, deep cleaning a rug with home products is surprisingly simple.
Look at the label
Consult your rug’s care label before attempting any deep cleaning, and follow any directions it provides. This label will tell you if you need to take any particular precautions or if you should avoid cleaning altogether. If your rug has a jute backing, for example, you should avoid deep washing it because drying it would be difficult. It could grow musty-smelling mould or mildew.
Set up your workspace and tools
Prepare an outdoor workspace before you begin. This should ideally be somewhere sunny where you can let the rug dry after you’re finished. This also indicates that the optimum time to undertake a deep clean is in the spring or summer, when the sun is shining. A slanted driveway or a deck with a railing over which you may drape the rug are good choices. You shouldn’t set up on your lawn because you don’t want the cleansers to soak into the grass. You’ll also require the following supplies:
- Rug shampoo or a light dish soap.
- Bucket
- A sponge or brush with soft bristles
- Water
Vacuum the rug well
To release particles, give the rug a good vacuuming on both sides. If it still looks dirty, beat it with a brush a few times to knock out any trapped material.
Use rug shampoo or a light detergent to clean
When using a rug shampoo, make sure to follow the mixing recommendations. Instead, a couple capfuls of dish detergent in a pail of warm water should enough. To check for colorfastness, start with a small, inconspicuous region. If everything goes smoothly, rinse the entire rug with a garden hose, then use the soft brush to gently work your cleaning solution into the rug. You shouldn’t have to exert too much effort; simply let the cleaner do its job. Allow the rug to air dry for a few minutes or as advised by your shampoo, then hose it down again.
Dry completely
This is perhaps the most crucial step: make sure your rug is entirely dry before bringing it indoors. This may take some time depending on the material and construction of your rug; don’t rush it! Failure to thoroughly dry your rug before bringing it inside can result in mould, mildew, germs, foul odours, and long-term damage to the rug or floor it covers. You can speed up the process by placing the rug on a slanted driveway or stretched over a deck railing or clothesline. If you have access to one, a box fan could be used to help speed things up. Periodically flip the rug to help it dry evenly on both sides.
Vacuum once again
Finally, vacuum the rug one more to eliminate any dirt that was not already washed away by the deep cleaning. Your rug should appear to be brand new!
Do you have any rug cleaning advice?
When cleaning a rug, there are several factors to consider, as well as multiple methods. Please share any special skills, tips, or tricks with us! As we expand this page to include even more information regarding the care and keeping of every sort of rug possible, we’d love to be able to share great ideas from experienced rug owners.