Area rugs warm up floors, inject a splash of colour and pattern into a space, and create zones in your home’s living quarters. However, certain drawbacks include wear and tear from debris, foot traffic and spills. After a while, vacuuming just isn’t enough to get it truly clean. That’s when knowing how to clean it yourself can come in super handy. At Clean Care, we are the professionals in carpet cleaning in Singapore, and we’ll share a few methods on cleaning your area rug at home, giving it a good refresh to look good as new.
Frequent vacuuming is the most essential step that you should take in area rug cleaning. Before doing so, give the rug a shake to dislodge any loose grit or dirt that is trapped within the fibres; these can then be sucked up by the vacuum. Be sure to vacuum both sides if you have a reversible rug. This is an effective way of removing dirt and grime that can wear out your rug sooner. Vacuuming your rug once a week will prevent dirt from being trodden deep into the fabric, which makes it much harder to remove with time.
Vacuuming can sometimes still leave pet hair behind. To remove the hair, use a stiff brush and remember to stroke the brush according to the direction of the rug’s nap. Alternatively, you may hire professional rug cleaning services that use powerful methods of cleaning. These services will not only help remove pet hair but also deep-seated dirt, assuring you of a clean area rug at home.
Lay your rug down where it is close to a water supply, like a hose. Shampoo the rug according to the directions on the label of your carpet shampoo. Some shampoos require mixing with warm water. If you don’t have carpet shampoo available, you can simply mix your own solution of warm water and a tablespoon of mild, liquid dish soap in a pail. Spot-test the shampoo or solution in a small area of the rug to make sure the colours don’t bleed before shampooing your area rug.
When something spills on the rug, the first instinct is often to keep rubbing it till the stain goes away. However, rubbing only spreads the stain and embeds the particles of the spilled object deeper into the fibres of the rug. What you should do instead is to blot at a stain with a moist clean towel so the stain gets transferred to it. Blot the stain from outside to inside and then rinse. Repeat these steps if needed. Avoid scrubbing the stained area with too much force as this may adversely affect the fibres.
You should arrange for professional rug cleaning at least once a year depending on the material with which the rug was constructed. A deep cleaning might even be in order on a more regular basis if your rug is placed in an area with high traffic, or if your household includes young children or pets. And while your average, run-of-the-mill area rug can often be cleaned on your own at home, Persian rugs or any other rug with a “dry clean only” label are best taken for professional rug cleaning services. These rugs are pricey, and you don’t want to risk causing any damage to them.
Clean Care are experts in professional carpet cleaning, and we’re here to provide the support you need to keep your carpets and rugs in tip top condition. Reach out to us today!