How Do You Clean an Area Rug?

Area rugs do more than keep your floors clean—they bring comfort, interesting textures and their own style to any room. Regardless of the type of rug, be it plush wool or a braided or natural fiber carpet, upkeep and proper cleaning will help it stay nice and last even longer. Being careless with your rugs can make them dirty, stained and more likely to age quickly, but regular maintenance preserves their new appearance for many years.

This guide will give you everything you need to know about how do you clean an area rug effectively. This article tells you how to use everyday tools and cleaners and how to take care of hard-to-clean surfaces. Want to keep your house safe and tidy? Let’s get started.

Find more ideas and great rugs at Ownkoti by going to ownkoti.com and seeing their large rug collection.

Basic Cleaning Tools

Having all the right tools by your side before you clean is always useful. Distinctive essential accessories should be kept close by every rug owner.

Vacuum cleaner: A vacuum with suction and brush settings you can control will help get rid of dust and dirt without harming delicate carpets.

Soft brush or broom: This is a good choice when you don’t want to pull threads as you loosen dirt from your fiber or woven rugs.

Mild detergent or rug shampoo: Get a mild cleaner that doesn’t change the pH of your rugs or delicate clothes.

Spot cleaner or stain remover: To treat a spill fast, use a stain remover that is safe for your rug’s fabric—remember to try it in a hidden part of the rug first.

White cloth or microfiber towels: To remove spills and apply cleaner without making the clothes color on the blotter spot.

Bucket and warm water: For combining various cleaning solutions and washing liquid waste.

Rug pad (optional): Secures rugs and gives you a comfortable rug experience.

These tools on hand save time while carrying out either daily or thorough cleaning jobs.

Basic Care

Regular, light care keeps your area rug looking nice before you deep clean it. Following are practices that help you every day and every week.

Vacuuming tips

• To keep your rug clean, try to vacuum it once each week.
• If your rug has a low pile, turn on the brush roll, but if it’s a high pile or not dense, switch off the beater bar to save the rug.
• Lift each side and place it on the vacuum suction if you can.
• Every so often, move your furniture to vacuum difficult to reach places and to stop the floor from being permanently marked.

Spot cleaning

• As soon as a spot appears, cover it gently with a clean white cloth without scraping, or you could force the stain in.
• Use a mild detergent or a spot cleaner and blot the cleaner in from the outside so the stain doesn’t spread to other parts.
• Put a dried, gentle cloth in the crib and let the dampness soak through.
• If the stain is not coming out, do another very gentle attempt or go ahead and have your fabric professionally cleaned.

Avoiding damage

• Don’t place rugs in sunny places to prevent fading.
• Move your rug around every 4-6 months to make sure wear is spread out.
• Applying rug pads can stop your rugs from slipping and increase their grip.
• Be sure to place pads underneath any heavy item you put on your rug.

Hot products:

Anti-slip Washable Vintage Floral Decorative Area Rug
Tropical Jungle Washable Anti-slip Indoor Outdoor Rug
Durable Vintage Floral Anti-slip Area Rug
Elegant Floral Soft Anti-slip Area Rug

Guide to Cleaning Carpets of Different Materials

All kinds of rugs need care that matches their material to avoid damage. Here’s how to take care of a few common surfaces:

Woven or braided carpets

Cleaning method: Vacuum regularly and then take the mattress outside and give it a shake to get rid of dust.

Lightly go over the weave with a soft brush to free trapped dirt.

For stains, try rubbing in some mild detergent that’s been mixed with warm water and pat it dry gently. Don’t let the water saturate the rug.

Warning: Wet the braids no more than is necessary to protect their strength and stop mold growth.

Coconut fiber and grass carpets (coir, sisal, jute)

Cleaning method: Regularly vacuum the area because natural fibers will catch dirt easily.

For stains only, apply a very small amount of dry cleaning sponge or suds mixed with a little mild soap.

If your clothes are damp, air dry them completely to stop mold and unpleasant odors.

Warning: Avoid getting your natural fiber clothes too wet; they are not meant to stand up to water.

Hand-knotted and antique carpets

Cleaning method: Don’t use the beater bar; instead, use a soft brush to clean dust.

Clean the stain with some pH-neutral rug shampoo and some cold water. Don’t use very strong scrubbers.

Hire professional cleaners if you have very stubborn stains or if it’s been a year since your carpet was cleaned.

Warning: As antique rugs are delicate, you must not use homemade steam cleaners or liquid treatments.

Fur or hairy carpets (sheepskin, shag)

Cleaning method: Shake outside to get rid of loose dirt.

Use a handheld part on your vacuum and vacuum gently.

Use a gentle detergent, but only blot it on the stain so the fabric doesn’t lose its texture.

Once you finish cleaning, let the air dry it.

Warning:  Don’t use a lot of heat or strong chemicals since they can mate the fabric.

How Often to Clean

The schedule for cleaning your rug will depend on its fabrics, the amount of walking it gets and whether it’s mainly indoors or outdoors.

Final Thoughts

If you clean your area rug correctly, it will look beautiful for years. Rugs will keep your home looking nice for a long time when taken care of properly.

Check out rugs that are both attractive and easy to care for in Ownkoti’s collection. Plus, their attractive sheets and bedding sets fit well with your floor and the entire room decor.

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