Area rugs and their maintenance

Cleaning area rugs seems challenging, but it isn’t as difficult as most people cut it out to be.

In fact, cleaning an area rug is a project you can easily execute at your home.

All it takes is using everyday supplies that you have lying across your home, and your rugs will be as good as new in no time! Deep-rooted stains and germs begin pilling up on your rugs if they aren’t thoroughly cleaned every now and then, which is why it is vital to clean them frequently to maintain a clean and refreshed feel.

While professional cleaning seems like the optimal solution to deep clean your rug, it costs a pretty penny and is not economical. If the area rug is too large for you to handle on your own, don’t hesitate to ask any of your family members for help and save yourself from any kind of muscle sprain.

Is cleaning my rug at home recommended?

Washing a whole rug in your house always poses a risk. See the directions for care on a still attached tag or on the factory’s website to make sure it is done carefully.

You can also reach out to local specialists for the ultimate cleaning experience.

Overall, cleaning area rugs at home is advantageous as the expense of professional cleaning might be significantly high and calls for a hefty investment.

Actively cleaning an area rug might take a couple of minutes to an hour, depending on the condition of your rug.

However, the majority of the time spent cleaning is passive, such as allowing the stain remover to sink in and waiting for your rug to dry.

Drying takes around a couple of hours to one day, although the process can be speeded up by a fan or cold blow drier if you’re short on time.

When a rug is safe to wash at home, it might take the best part of a day to deeply clean the whole thing.

However, it should be no more than a few hours for vigorous cleaning.

It is to be noted that one of the most crucial processes of drying the rug might take a few days, depending on the environment and the thickness of your respective rug.

How to clean area rugs yourself?

Head outdoors and get started

It is best to set up all your equipment outside, preferably on a sunny day.

Lie your area rug on any kind of sturdy surface, such as a bench, and begin cleaning your carpet.

Begin by vacuuming both of the sides of the rug.

Vacuuming assists thoroughly in disposing off all the dust and debris embedded in the rug.

If you have pets, brush away any stray hairs with the brush attachment.

DIY a cleanser

The best part of cleaning area rugs by yourself at home is that there is a wide variety of readily available natural ingredients which can assist in meticulously cleaning your rug.

The bonus benefit of using these green ingredients is that they are eco-friendly and good for the environment.

You can either mix ¼ cup of white vinegar with ¼ cup of water to make an all-natural mixture or you can use a detergent.

For the detergent alternative, mix a teaspoon of liquid dishwashing detergent into a cup of lukewarm water.

Do a color test

Ensure that your rug isn’t colorfast and its colors are not prone to bleeding.

To test this out, apply your picture on the corner of your area rug to see how it will react.

Clean rigorously

Allow the cleaner to soak into the carpeting for a few minutes.

Work the shampoo into the carpet fibers with a strong brush having a long handle for better grip and thorough cleaning.

Using a hose, clean the rug

Before you finish, thoroughly rinse the rug with a garden hose, ensuring the water is free of soap suds.

To remove extra water, use a squeegee

This tool, commonly used to clean windows, will work perfectly to extract excess water from the carpeting.

Push the rubber-edged blade of the squeegee firmly into the rug and pull to remove as much liquid as possible.

Dry the rug

Hang your area rug on a clothing line and keep it in the sunshine for it to dry overnight.

If your rug has fully dried, you won’t be able to feel any excess water on it, and its texture will get stiff.

Vacuum

It is vital to vacuum your area rug one final time to ensure that it is combed properly and the carpet fibers are completely flattened out.

Removing different types of stains from your rugs

There are different types of stains, from water-soluble stains to protein-based ones. If your rug is placed in a heavy traffic area, then it must have sustained some stubborn stains that look ugly and ruin the carpet’s overall appearance.

While cleaning these stains seems impossible, it is worth noting that it is totally achievable and can be easily done by using common ingredients available at your home.

Tea or coffee stains

So you were simply lounging in your tv lounge while reading a good book over a robust cup of coffee when your mug accidentally slipped from your hand, causing your plush, new area rug to get splattered with a very prominent smudge.

While such an instance may have caused you some worry, it is vital to know that all it takes is a concoction of a teaspoon of a regular detergent such as Dawn or Joy, a cup of warm water, and ¼ teaspoon of white vinegar to make the tea or coffee stains disappear! Apply the detergent mixture, rinse and blot it and see how effective this solution is.

Paint

If your child has been painting near the carpet and smeared some acrylic and oil paint on your carpet area rug, then all you have to do is spot-clean the area with the detergent solution and dab it with rubbing alcohol if the color persists.

Bubblegum

Gums can be sticky and difficult to get rid of. Begin by peeling off as much gum as you can.

Now put some ice cubes in a plastic bag and put them over the stain to solidify it.

Then scrape off the gum with a blunt knife, and voila! The stain is gone!

Greasy fat-based stains

Use a dry-solvent spot carpet cleaner for foods like butter, margarine, and the like.