ORIENTAL RUG CARE AND CLEANING ADVICE
By understanding how to take care of your rug in between professional cleans, you will be able to extend the life of your rug and preserve your investment. There are a few very common mistakes that people make when it comes to looking after their rugs and these mistakes can end up subtracting years from the life of your rug. By following the tips below, you will be able to keep your rugs looking new for as long as possible.
- Once a month, flip your rug upside down and vacuum the back of the rug. Vacuuming the back of your rug with a rotator brush helps push dirt trapped deep down toward the top of the rug. The rug can then be flipped right side up and the dirt vacuumed out.
- Do not vacuum the fringes or tassels on your rug. The fringes do not need to be vacuumed at all – they can simply be fluffed by hand.
- Do not use carpet shampoos or sprays. These are usually made for synthetic wall to wall carpet and not area rugs. Always check the label before using any spot cleaners or rug shampoos and make sure you test these products on an inconspicuous area first. Also make sure you thoroughly rinse these products out.
- Clean any spills or stains as soon as they occur. Blot or scrape the spillage and ensure you move the towel in straight lines – never rub in a circle as this can cause permanent damage to your rug.
- Pet odours can be neutralised by mixing 1 part white vinegar with 3 parts water. Blot the offending area with a towel dipped into this solution, and then blot dry with another towel.
By following these steps in between professional cleaning of your rug, you will ensure that you get the best out of your rug.
How to Clean Stains From Your Rug
Unfortunately, spills are part of everyday life and can’t really be avoided. But what should you do when your favourite rug has been subjected to a nasty spill?
First and foremost – act quickly! The sooner you attend to the spill, the higher your chances are of removing it completely.
For wine spills – blot the area as much as possible with an absorbent white towel, rinsing the towel frequently. Keep blotting until you can no longer see any wine transferring onto the towel. Don’t scrub while blotting the wine – this will cause the pile to distort and damage.
Use stain cleaning products that have a neutral ph level. Using products with a ph level of around 7 will ensure that no further damage is caused to your rug. Always spot test commercial stain cleaning products fist – some of these products can do more harm than good.
Call a rug cleaning specialist if you are unable to remove the stain after one or two attempts – often, the more times an ineffective product is used, the harder the stain becomes to remove.