Cleaning your area rugs eliminates dirt, dust, pet dander, mites, mold, and other indoor allergens that may get trapped in the fibers. Exposure to these allergens can lead to a host of health problems, and that is why it is crucial to have your rugs cleaned.
To preserve your family’s health, you need to get it right with the rug cleaning. You can give your rugs a proper cleaning with the following, among other tips.
Regular Vacuuming
Compared to sweeping with a broom, vacuuming does a better job of removing dust, dirt, and any other debris from your rugs. You also won’t have to use much effort to vacuum your rugs, unlike sweeping.
These are particles that the kids, pets, and other members of your household may drag in on their feet. The dirt may also come in through open windows and doors. Therefore, it is expected that how frequently you vacuum will depend on how much and how fast these particles settle on your rugs.
The vacuuming technique you also use matters. Move slow and smoothly over the rug for the best results, which will give the vacuum plenty of time to remove those deeply-embedded particles. Go over the rug several times from different directions and use overlapping strokes.
Act Fast
With spills and certain stains, you had better act fast in cleaning them up. Any delays may only make it more difficult to clean up later on because the stain sets in even more with time.
You can use paper towels or tissue to dab at and blot up the liquid for small spills. Ensure that you dab from the outside of the spillage going in, as this motion will prevent the spillage from spreading further.
Even as you try to act fast, you may also need to pause a little. If you are using a cleaning solution, try it out first on a small spot on your rug. Be sure that the solution does not damage your rug’s color before going all out on the whole rug.
Use What Is Available
Did you know that a mixture of water and vinegar is an excellent natural cleaner? Just as with the store-bought cleaners, ensure that you first test for color-fastness to avoid discoloring and ruining your rugs. You can also sprinkle some baking soda on the rug and let it sit a while before you start vacuuming. The baking soda serves as a deodorizer.
For stains such as gum, you can use ice cubes to harden the gum first, which will make it easier to scrape off. On the other hand, applying some heat will take care of other stains such as wax stains. What you should do is put a piece of cloth over the wax stain on your rug, then place a hot iron over the cloth. The heat will soften the wax, and you can easily scrape it off with a blunt object from the rug.
No Substitute for a Deep Cleaning
Deep cleaning does just that; it gives your rugs a better clean, as it targets even the deeply-embedded particles and also takes care of any odors. This deep cleaning is achieved with the use of top-of-the-range equipment and several cleaning methods.
Unless you have the equipment needed for deep cleaning, this is a job that is best left to the professional rug cleaners. If yours is a busy household with kids and pets running around, then ensure that you have your rugs professionally cleaned at least every couple of months, and for most people, biannually works just fine.
Remain Consistent
Consistency is the key to achieving the best results with rug cleaning. Be it the DIY tasks such as vacuuming, you need to be consistent not just with the frequency, but also the techniques that you use. Similarly, there should be no exception to acting fast when it comes to spills and spots.
In the same vein, you need to establish and stick to a regular schedule for professional deep cleaning. Only serious changes to your circumstances, such as becoming the only occupant in your home, should inform a change in this schedule.
Keeping your rugs clean at all times will go a long way towards preserving your health. Additional benefits of regular proper cleaning include preserving the look and longevity of the rugs. With the outlined tips and more, you can achieve precisely that.
