How to Clean Area Rugs at Home: The Dos and Don’ts
Your area rugs make your Staten Island house warmer, more colourful, and more comfortable. To keep them looking good and make them last longer, you need to take care of them on a regular basis. It's best to hire a professional to do a deep clean, but knowing the basics of cleaning area rugs at home will help you deal with daily wear and tear. But it's also crucial to know when to stop doing things yourself.
Your First Line of Defence is to Vacuum Regularly
The best thing you can do for your rugs between professional cleanings is to sweep them properly.
- Vacuum often: Rugs in areas with a lot of foot traffic should be vacuumed several times a week, while rugs in areas with less foot traffic should be vacuumed at least once a week.
- Don't Use a Beater Bar on Fragile Carpets: If you have fringes or delicate carpets like Orientals or wool, turn off the beater bar/brush roll and use the suction-only option.
- Take Your Time: Vacuum slowly and in several directions to let the suction pick up dirt that is deep down.
The Immediate Response
When a spill happens, it's important to clean it up right away.
- Blot, Don't rub: Use a white, absorbent cloth or paper towels to soak up the liquid right away. Put some weight on it to soak up as much liquid as you can.
- Test Cleaning Solutions: Before applying any cleaner, always test it on a hidden area of the rug, like a snipped fibre from the back.
- Use a Mild Solution: For many accidents, a mix of cool water and one drop of pH-neutral dish soap works well. Instead of putting the solution straight on the rug.
Things to Avoid:
- Harsh Chemicals: Bleach, ammonia, and all-purpose cleansers are all hazardous for fibres and dyes, so don't use them.
- Too Much Water: If you get the rug too wet, the dye can run, mildew can grow in the base, and the rug can get smaller.
- Heat: Don't use hot water since it can set stains composed of protein, such those from eggs and milk.
When Should You Hire a Professional
Here's why you should employ a professional rug cleaning if your home care isn't enough.
- Deep-Set Allergies and dirt: Dirt and allergies from regular living build up deep in the rug's base. This harsh soil tears fibres, which makes them wear out faster.
- Odours that won't go away: If your rug smells bad all the time because of pets, spills, or mildew, it means there is a problem deep down in the rug's padding or foundation.
- Delicate or Valuable Rugs: You require special tools and skills to care for delicate or precious heirloom, oriental, wool, or silk carpets.
- Large or Set-In Stains: Stains that have been stepped on for months have set in deeply and usually need professional-grade spotting agents and techniques to break down.
How Rug Cleaning Near Me Gets Your Rugs Cleaner
When you employ a professional like Carpet Cleaner Staten Island, the job is much more thorough than anything you could do yourself.
- Inspection and Dusting: First, we check the rug for damage and colourfastness. Then we dust it. After that, we use a professional rug dusting machine to beat out the dry, rough dirt.
- Stain Treatment: We use particular solutions to treat stains that are already there, including tannin, protein, or oil.
- Hand Washing: Cleaning an area rug by hand is different from cleaning wall-to-wall carpet since it requires you to do it yourself. We wash the rug by hand with cleaning products that are safe for rugs.
- Gentle rinsing and thorough drying: The rug is rinsed well and then dried flat in a room with controlled temperature and constant airflow.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: Is it okay to use a leased carpet cleaner on my rugs?
We don't think it's a good idea. These machines often use too much water and don't have enough power to rinse and remove it properly. This can leave soap behind that draws more dirt and can cause mildew and shrinkage, which could violate your rug's guarantee.
Q2: How often should I hire someone to clean my area rugs?
For regular upkeep, we suggest having a professional cleaning every 12 to 24 months. Homes with kids, pets, or a lot of people coming and going may need to be cleaned once a year.
Q3: Are the cleaning supplies you use safe for my family and dogs?
Yes, for sure. We use cleaning products that are safe for the environment, won't hurt your property, and will break down on their own. They are tough on dirt but not too rough on your property or the environment.
Q4: My rug became wet because of a leak. Can you keep it safe?
Time is really crucial. In an emergency, we can help you mend rugs that have been damaged by water. Call us straight away to save your rug and stop mold and mildew from forming.
Q5: What makes Carpet Cleaner Staten Island the best choice?
We know a lot about area rugs. We don't use a method that works for everyone. You can be sure that your costly things will be treated with the care they deserve because our experts know how to handle the unique needs of different rug fibres, structures, and colours.
Protect Your Investment with the Right Care
To clean area rugs at home successfully, you need to keep them clean and address spots carefully. But you can't replace professional knowledge when it comes to a deep, safe, and regenerative clean that safeguards your investment.
Don't take a chance on hurting your favourite rugs. Contact Carpet Cleaner Staten Island today for a professional cleaning and evaluation. Our local specialists can take care of your rugs so they look great for years to come.