Area rugs are a great way to add personality to your room and come in a wide variety of fabrics, textures, shapes, and sizes. Most rugs aren’t cheap, so when you invest in the right rug for your space, you want to get the most out of it by using proper care and maintenance – determined by the size, construction, and material of your rug. For the most part, smaller rugs are easy to maintain whereas larger area rugs should be treated the same as you would wall-to-wall carpet. Make sure to check the care instruction on your specific rug type for special cleaning techniques, otherwise follow these basic maintenance tips from our Tampa Bay area rug cleaning pros:
Vacuum large rugs to remove dirt. The most important thing you can do for your rug is to vacuum it every week or two using a two-speed vacuum with an upholstery attachment. This will remove the yucky stuff like grit and grime that can wear out your area rug prematurely. Most vacuums have a reduced speed of airflow setting for use on area rugs, so make sure to check the settings on your vacuum cleaner. Vacuuming frequently can prolong your rug’s life. But if your area rug has fringe along the edge do not-we repeat DO NOT-vacuum the fringe on your rug.
Brush out pet hair. A vacuum doesn’t always pick everything up, pet hair being one those things. Use a stiff brush attachment or even a simple boars hairbrush to remove pet hair, and brush in the direction of the nap of the rug.
Rotate rugs once or twice a year. Foot traffic, sunlight…these are just a few things that can put extra stress on your home’s area rugs making them look dingy and worn out. It’s a good idea to rotate your rug once or twice a year to prolong its life. But don’t just turn it, we recommend giving it a good deep clean from a professional rug cleaner and then rotate it to help distribute any wear and tear over time.
Shake small area rugs. Care for a smaller rug is easy as you can take most outside and shake it vigorously to remove dirt and grit. Our cleaners recommend that you also vacuum it to make sure you get as much of the gunk out of it.
Use baking soda. Really? Yes! Baking soda helps neutralize odors, so sprinkle a little on your rug and let it sit for a few minutes before vacuuming.
Take care of the edges and bottom of your rug. Many Zerorez clients never clean the floor under their rug until we come in, but at least occasionally clean under the sides. Roll up each side of your area rug to clean under the edges so you can vacuum any dirt or debris that has gotten caught beneath the sides. Be careful not to suck up the mat under your rug if you have one.
Immediately spot clean stains and spills. Spills happen, but when they happen on your rug the best way to remove them is to work fast! Immediately grab a bucket of water with a gentle detergent and get to work with a towel or microfiber cloth. When you tackle the stains quickly, you prevent anything from settling into the rug.
There you have it! But remember, when you’ve got a stain that just won’t quit, or your rug is need of a professional cleaning, our area rug cleaning company is here to help. We serve all of Tampa Bay including Lutz, Odessa, Palm Harbor, and St. Pete. Not only can we tackle stubborn stains, we do it with no chemicals left behind so it stays cleaner longer. Contact our area rug cleaners today!