Unlike hard floors, cleaning a rug is a bit more complex. It requires routine maintenance to keep it looking and smelling nice. Unfortunately, there is no such thing as a magic carpet that stays clean all of the time. Does it seem as if rug stains are bombarding your floors?
If so, take a look at the information below to learn the best ways to clean a rug:
1. Spot Clean
Spot cleaning a rug is the best way to keep dirt and stains under control. When you notice a smudge on the floor, don’t let it linger. You definitely want to act quickly with rug stains and carpet stains that come from things like wine and ink.
To clean the rug you can use a store-bought rug cleaner or make your own. Mix two to three tablespoons of dish soap with warm water. Also, add a little white vinegar if you’d like. Spritz the solution over the stain, and let it sit for about two minutes.
Begin by dabbing the solution up with a clean towel. You never want to rub the stain. But if the stain doesn’t come up with dabbing, it’s okay to take a soft brush and scrub the fibers.
Once you’re done, make sure to get all of the soap residue up with a clean, wet sponge. If not, the leftover soap will attract more dirt.
2. Vacuum Regularly
Even when you don’t have stains on your carpet, if there is pet hair or debris on the floors, your rug will appear dirty. Therefore, vacuuming once or twice a week will keep it looking good.
However, how you clean a rug differs depending on how it’s made. If you have a shag rug, then adjust your vacuum settings to low. Doing so minimizes the airflow in the vacuum and prevents rug fibers from getting ripped or stuck during vacuuming.
Do you have a reversible rug? If so, it’s a good idea to flip it over every once in a while. It just allows an even distribution of foot traffic and gives your decor a different look. For rugs with fringe around the edges, sweep those don’t vacuum them.
3. Use Baking soda
Before you do carpet cleaning or clean a rug, sprinkle some baking soda on the floors. It helps to remove the dirt from it.
The baking soda also helps to neutralize odors. This is a good additional step to take if you have pets or small children that might mess up the floors more often. Using baking soda gives your carpet a deeper clean.
4. Shake Out Your Rug
Sometimes you need to give your rug a good shake. Dirt and dust often become embedded into the folds of the rug fibers. When there’s debris in the crevices of your room, your vacuum can’t get to it. But shaking out your rugs will help to loosen dirt and dust.
This is a good step to take before you vacuum. For small rugs, take them outside and shake them out over a balcony or in the backyard.
For larger rugs, take them outside and hang them on a staircase or clothesline and beat them with a broom or stick. Do this step about once a month
5. Clean Underneath Your Rug
Rug cleaning and isn’t just about keeping the rug itself in good condition. It’s also important to maintain the flooring underneath it. If you don’t, the remaining dirt will make its way back onto your rug.
Not only that, if you have carpet underneath the rug, it routine regular carpet cleaning too. Vacuum under the rug to make sure that the area stays free of debris and smelling nice as well.
6. Rotate Your Rug
Another huge aspect of cleaning a rug is keeping it in pristine condition. It’s a smart idea to rotate your rug every six months. Doing so allows there to be an even distribution of foot traffic.
As you know, carpets are prone to wear and tear, so you don’t want one side looking shabby and the other side looking nice. Also, if you have more than one carpet that you like to decorate with, consider switching them out. That way, your rug has a break and you don’t have to worry about wearing it out quickly.
7. Call in the Pros
Sometimes cleaning a rug gets to be too much— especially if you have a large area rug. Even with following the steps listed above, you might find yourself still struggling to keep your rug looking nice and clean.
Not to mention, if your rug or carpet is a bit old, it could start to lose its luster and require more maintenance. If you’ve reached that point or you just want to give your rug a deep clean, call a professional.
An expert carpet cleaner can ensure that your floors get the makeover that it needs. This is especially true if you have tough stains on your rug that you can’t remove with DIY or store-bought cleaners.
If you’re looking for a great carpet cleaning service, check out Safe-Dry of Atlanta.
Cleaning a Rug Made Easy
As you know from reading the steps above, cleaning a rug isn’t so difficult after all. With a little bit of patience and consistency, your rug and carpet can look good all of the time.
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