The use of area rugs has become common in the past few years, mainly as a result of the popularity of ceramic and hardwood flooring. As attractive as these hard surfaces can be, they give off a chill in colder weather, and they aren’t friendly to the soles of bare feet. What they do, however, is provide an excellent canvas for novelty rugs that fill a number of purposes in your home. If you’ve invested money in rugs, you’ll want to manage and care for them as well as possible. Regular Vacuuming Even invisible dust can be harmful to carpeting, particularly pale, delicate and pastel colors. The dust becomes ingrained in the rug pile, and without regular cleaning area rugs will get increasingly discolored. In most residential rooms a weekly spree with a vacuum cleaner is sufficient to remove the newest layer of dust and dirt. In commercial environments or high traffic areas, however, two to three times a week may give better control. You might consider vacuuming daily in hallways and lob