Area rugs make our interior design more beautiful and warm up our floors. They introduce more color and pattern into a space. But, of course, any type of an area rug needs cleaning and care. Usually professional cleaning services provide the necessary care for the rugs ensuring their longer life. But it is also very important to know how to clean area rugs.
Size, construction, and material matter in the area rug cleaning. Most rugs will benefit from the following methods of cleaning:
1. Vacuum large area rugs
You should vacuum large area rugs and remove the dirt. If a rug is reversible, you should vacuum both sides. If it isn’t avoid vacuuming the back of the rug, as it will definitely damage fibers especially in case of a handmade rug. By this you will remove grit from your area rug which couldwear your rug out. Do not vacuum any of the fringes of the rug. Avoid beating the rug and select a wet/dry vacuum for a long-pile shag rug.
2. Get rid of pet hair
If you have a pet, brush out its hair from the rug. Vacuum cleaners do not “notice” the pet hair, so they may sometimes leave it behind. Brush in the direction of the nap of the rug, using a stiff brush. An old-fashioned kitchen sponge can also help you clear up the rug. You can simply grab a dry and clean sponge and wipe it over the rug. Baking soda can help you remove hair from the rug as well as deodorize the fabric. You can sprinkle hair infested areas with a light coating of baking soda and leave it for several minutes. After this go back to point 1: vacuum the area.
3. Shake small area rugs
One of the advantages of buying a small rug is having the chance to shake it. If the rug is small enough, you can simply take it outside and shake it or beat it vigorously to remove dirt and anything else. You should, of course, firstly check your local codes and then shake the rug if it isn’t forbidden in your area.
