How do I maintain an area rug?
Finding the perfect rug can be exciting. When you’ve found the rug that checks all your boxes, you need to know how to properly care for it. If you make a spill or your precious pup has an accident, there’s no need to pay exorbitant fees to have your rugs professionally cleaned or even replaced. There are steps you can take to not only clean your rugs, but also prevent staining from happening in the first place. This article will teach you everything you need to know about how to clean a rug at home.
Regular maintenance and upkeep
Of course, the best way to deal with stains is to keep them from happening in the first place. Regular maintenance of your carpets and rugs goes a long way toward keeping them looking great and your home feeling cozy.
Vacuum rugs often
At a minimum, rugs and carpets should be vacuumed once a week or every two weeks. For high traffic areas, consider vacuuming more frequently, up to twice a day. To keep your rug smelling fresh, try sprinkling a bit of baking soda on the surface before vacuuming to neutralize odors. Finally, make sure not to use the beater bar (this is especially important when cleaning shag rugs!) and lower the airflow setting to avoid damaging the fibers of the rug and prolonging its life.
Rotate rugs to even out wear
Rugs don’t always wear evenly. It’s likely that there are parts of your rug that get more traffic than others, especially if it partially extends under furniture. It could also be that your window layout means sunlight beats down on one section more than another, leading to unsightly faded spots. To avoid these potential problems, simply get in the habit of rotating your rug 180 degrees about every 6 months or so to even wear.
Have a rug cleaner on hand
Since most stains are easiest to clean when you act quickly, having a good rug cleaner on hand pays off in a big way. While some people will want to have a whole collection of different formulas for every type of spill imaginable, most people will only need a reliable all-purpose cleaner. We recommend keeping a bottle of Uni-Cleaner on hand to deal with the majority of common spills and stains.