Maintaining your Rugs
One of the ways to make your carpets last longer is to have rugs and mats down in high traffic areas. You want to make that carpet last, but you also want to make your rugs last as well. Below are some tips to maintain your rugs and keep them looking squeaky clean.
Vacuum not one, but both sides
You normally think about vacuuming one side of your rug when you also vacuum your carpets. You do need to vacuum the top, but you also need to vacuum the bottom too. Flip the rug over and vacuum the backside. This will pick up some dirt, but also loose the dust and debris that are deep in the rug. Flip the rug over and vacuum the front until it is clean.
Some say you need to vacuum your rug every day to keep it clean while others say once a week or every other week is fine. This all depends on the traffic and your preference. When vacuuming watch the fringe! The longer, the easier it is to get caught in your vacuum and damage both the vacuum and the rug.
Rotate
Make sure your rugs move. Not as in slipping around the floor, but make sure they are rotated so that the wear is not concentrated in one area. Even if you don’t have much traffic on your rugs, you should still rotate them because the sun can cause spots on it that fade and bleach.
Something pretty hard to spot over time is moisture. Different areas in the room can have different moisture content and leaving your rug to sit will keep those areas the same for the rug too. This can lead to a portion of your rug getting moldy or water damaged. Rotating can help dry it out a little and prevent these things.
Have it professionally cleaned
If it is dirty have it cleaned, doh! Easier said than done when trying to figure out when it needs a professional. If you have had your rug for a long time, it might be due. It is suggested that you have your rugs professionally cleaned every two to three years.
After vacuuming your rug, rub your figure in a short arc for 10 seconds. If your finger is dirty, the rug needs a deep cleaning. You can also pull apart the pile and look at the warp and weft. If they look dirty, the dirt and dust have sunken in too deep for your vacuum to reach and should get it cleaned.
Clean those spots
Any spills there are you will want to clean up right away to minimize the damage. The longer you wait, the harder they are to get out because they start to settle and dying the fibers. You really don’t want to wait if it is pet urine, poop or throw-up. The smells are not easy to remove and everyone does not want that smell floating around their homes.
Fix it!
When your rug starts fraying, unraveling or getting holes you would also want to fix it as quickly as you can. Leaving it can make the issue worse and leave it to get bigger until there is no fixing your rug. Sometimes a rug is old enough that it is not worth fixing unless it means something to you.
The easiest and quickest way is duct tape! Just tape together the torn pieces of the rug on the backside. This can also be a temporary fix until you have time to do something else such as sewing or using glue to keep it together.
Do you have any tips to keep your rugs looking good? Let us know in the comments below.