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 lobbies, especially during wet or snowy weather. If your area rugs are fringed, vacuum these carefully by hand every fourth week only to avoid tangling.
Bi-Annual Rotation
You turn your mattress periodically to ensure it wears evenly, so why wouldn’t you do the same with your rugs? Rotating the rug twice each year will help you distribute wear and tear more evenly, and prevent it from deteriorating in one section more than others. This is particularly important for rugs in a “through-traffic” residential flooring area, such as between your living and dining rooms. If residents walk daily across the length of the rug, try rotating it a half-turn so traffic crosses the width for a while, too.
Frequent Spot Control
Never let spots remain untreated for more than a few hours without cleaning area rugs, or you risk permanent damage to your rugs. Blotting up spills immediately helps prevent spots and stains developing in your beautiful themed rugs. If a substance is darkly-colored or contains a high chemical content, dilute the spill with water and keep blotting it with a lightly-colored cloth until the liquid being absorbed is almost clean. A specialized spot cleaning product could remove more of the spill, but test it in an inconspicuous area to check the rug’s color fastness first.
Perform Professional Cleaning
Professionally steam cleaning area rugs every two years will help you get rid of the buildup of dirt that occurs in spite of diligent vacuuming. This will loosen and remove soil and other substances from deep within the rugs’ fibers, brighten and freshen the colors, and lift the pile back to its original position.
Contact Brentwood Flooring America to discover how frequent, ongoing care can extend the life of your rugs significantly.
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