Any area rug, whether in your dining room, living room, bathroom, hallway, or bedroom can be cleaned using one of the below techniques without needing to leave the house.
Vacuuming your area rugs is a quick and easy way to remove all that dirt and dust that has gathered over the past several weeks. Pro tip: Make sure to vacuum both sides of your rug for the most thorough cleaning. You don’t need to worry about vacummuing every week, but it’s always a good idea to vacuum at least once a month.
If you have a suction attachment on your vacuum cleaner, even better. Use that instead of a rotary vacuum so that the rugs’ fibers stay in tip-top-shape.
When you only have a second to spare, take your rugs outside and give them a good shake. You can even leave them in the sun for a couple hours.
Check the care tag on your rugs - If they are washable, great! Toss them in the wash, use a gentle detergent, and tumble dry on low heat.
Spills are bound to happen on your area rugs - It’s only a matter of time until that glass of wine gets knocked over by a friend, someone drops Sunday night pasta on your dining room rug, or the kids track in dirt. No worries! Just add small amounts of water as needed and blot the mess several times until the stain is removed. In the case of dirt, you’ll want to shake the rug out first. You can also try blotting the stain with a diluted mild detergent (such as a dishwashing soap mixed with water).
Whatever you do, never scrub the stain. Scrubbing will ruin the intricate fibers of your rug.
It’s not a good idea to use carpet shampooer on your rug. Here’s the thing about them - they are often filled with harsh chemicals which will ruin the fibers of your rugs. They’re also not intended for rug cleaning but rather for carpet cleaning, which are two very different types of materials. Keep the cleaning simple - stick with a diluted mellow detergent.
Trying to clean your area rug at home while it’s sliding around on hardwood floors or tile can be really frustrating, especially when you’re busy and just want the rug cleaning process to go as quickly as possible. The secret for keeping your rugs in place is to use a rug pad. They’re affordable, long-lasting, and stay hidden under your rug while helping it to stay put.
Sometimes spills and stains just can’t be removed at home. This is when it’s time to call the professionals. They’ll use a pH-balanced shampoo that is gently worked into the area rug with a soft-bristled brush, rinsing it and then repeating the process several times. It’s the ultimate go-to method when you just need a deep clean.
It’s also a good practice to get your area rug professionally hand-washed every 3 to 5 years.
There’s no need to ever get your area rugs dry cleaned, steamed, or to use stain cleaners. Similar to carpet shampoo products, these processes and products only cause damage and are not intended for rugs.
Of course it’s important to know how to clean and care for your area rugs, but if you’re still deciding on which area rugs to buy for your home, here are some helpful considerations:
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