Many of us think that area rugs are a good investment in decoration. They add color to the rooms while they warm us up. They also provide soft places for playing games, slumber parties, and movie watching. But in order for our rugs to last a long time, they need to be regularly maintained. A big part of maintaining is rug cleaning.
If you want to clean your rug twice a week. You only need to deep clean the rug when it gets dirty. If the rug isn’t visibly dirty, or there is no foul-odor, you can try testing your rug: Try picking up the corner of the rug and then let it fall down. If there is a little cloud of dust that floats up, you need to clean your rug.
Well, you can send your rug to a rug cleaning company-but it wouldn’t be cheap. If you’re willing to work during the weekend, it is possible for you to do a great job of cleaning your own rug at home. Another benefit that you can get after cleaning your own rug is that you will have peace of mind knowing what types of cleaners were used in cleaning your rugs. This is very important for those who have young children or any chemical sensitivities.
Here is a list of the thing that you should do while cleaning your rug at home:
- Gather your supplies and tools
Here are the things that you will be needing to successfully clean your area rug:
- Bucket
- Rug shampoo (you can use mild dish soap)
- Water
- Sponge or a soft-bristle brush
- Optional:
- Garden hose
- Wet-dry vacuum
- Rubber gloves
- Remove debris and dirt
To start off, you need to thoroughly vacuum both sides of the rug. You need to make sure that every last bit of dirt and debris are gone. If you have pets at home, use the brush attachment of the vacuum to get any stray hairs. - Mix your cleaner
When it comes to what cleaning solution to use, you can use a rug shampoo. When you have the rug shampoo already, you need to follow the specific direction on the bottle while mixing.
If you do not have any rug shampoo, you can use a mild dishwashing detergent that was mixed with warm water. Remember to never use hot water because it can shrink the rug and it can also cause fading.
- Do a color test
Before scrubbing, you need to make sure that the cleaner that you are using does not cause the colors to change. You can try testing the solution on the corner of the rug to make sure that it doesn’t change the color of the rug. If the color of the solution in the rug doesn’t bleed, it is safe to move to the next step. - Wash the rug
Using a soft-bristle brush or a sponge, work the cleaning solution into the lather of the rug. Let the solution sit on the rug for around five minutes before you start rinsing it. If you rinse the rug for less than five minutes, you will short change the cleaning process. You need at least five minutes for the solution to settle in the rug. - Rinse the rug
After five minutes, you should start rinsing the solution out of the rug using buckets of clean water or garden hose. You need to make sure that all of the cleaning solutions are completely removed from the rug and the runoff water should be crystal clear. - Remove the excess water
After rinsing the rug, you need to get rid of as much excess water in the rug as you can so that it will be able to dry faster. If you have a wet-dry vacuum, you can use it to help speed up the process. - Let the drug dry
The next to the last step is to let the area rug dry. You should lay the rug flat and allow the top part of the rug to dry completely. After that, flip it over so that the bottom side of the rug can dry. Make sure that the rug is fully dry before you return it. - Brush out or vacuum the rug
While cleaning the rug, fibers and threads can get squished and compacted. To revive them, you need to run the vacuum cleaner over the dry rug, or you can use a brush such as a soft-bristled brush. Now you are finished and can enjoy your newly cleaned carpet.
Rug cleaning regularly can prevent the build-up of mold and mildew. By doing this regularly, you will rest assured that your rugs can last a long time.