Rugs add warmth and comfort to your home, protecting your feet from cold tiles, providing a soft surface for children to play on, and acting as accents and centerpieces to enhance the ambiance and charm of your interiors. But, with use comes dust, dander, spills, and dulled fibers. Cleaning rugs isn’t a simple task, and the proper instructions need to be followed to ensure your rugs are thoroughly cleaned without the fibers or color being damaged. This blog is here to give you a few simple ways that you can DIY your rug cleaning project.
Rug Cleaning: From Stained To Spotless
Say your living room rug is looking a little dull—that emerald green is looking almost jade, and that gold just looks brown. The best thing to do would be to call a professional rug cleaner. But if you’re determined to handle the spills and debris yourself, the cleaning method is going to depend on a few different things.
Let’s take a look at various methods to clean your rugs on your own.
Vacuuming: Routine Rug Cleaning
We believe that it’s always better to keep up with your rug maintenance so you don’t end up with a lot of dirt in the first place. For living room rugs, we recommend vacuuming every day to loosen and remove debris. But for a piece in your bedroom that doesn’t receive a lot of traffic, you can easily stretch the time to twice or even once a week. Just grab a vacuum and slowly run over each section for a fluffy and soft rug under your feet!
Spot Cleaning: Spills & Stains
On the other hand, if you’ve just spilt a drink or if your pet has had an accident, you need to take action immediately. Grab a cleaning solution and, following the instructions on the packaging, spot-clean any potential stains before they have a chance to settle in. Also, shake or beat the rug beforehand to remove any loose debris.
Cleaning Small Natural Rugs
Natural rugs—made of cotton or wool—require some extra love and care. Beat or shake the rug thoroughly to remove any loose debris that can be removed from the fibers, going over it with a vacuum cleaner with an upholstery attachment to give it a more in-depth clean. Next, mix a bit of mild detergent with warm water and use a sponge to gently scrub down the rug. Rinse thoroughly with a vinegar and water solution and then hang to dry.
Renewing Synthetic Rugs
Next, if you have a synthetic rug, you’re in luck. Check the instructions on the care tag to ensure it’s machine-washable before placing it in the washer. Adjust the water temperature based on the instructions and add the right amount of detergent before running the machine on the gentle cycle. If it isn’t washer-friendly, follow the cleaning method for the natural rugs. Finally, hang the rug out to dry—preferably in a sunny spot to prevent smells or mold from forming and done!
Washing Large Area Rugs
Now this is where it gets a bit more complicated. Area rugs are difficult to clean on your own due to their sheer size and weight, so be sure to vacuum them regularly to prevent dirt from accumulating in the first place. But if you’re determined to handle them yourself anyway, here is how that’ll go.
- Test the colorfastness: Add a few drops of detergent to an inconspicuous spot on your rug and leave them there for a few minutes before cleaning them with a white cloth. If there isn’t any bleeding, your area rug is colorfast, and you can move on to the next step.
- Celtzar: If the dyes are colorfast, use a sponge dipped in a bit of the liquid to dampen the area and blot dry with a clean cloth. Next, sandwich the spot between two towels and stand on top to remove excess water.
- Vinegar & Water: Conversely, if your rug isn’t colorfast, mix four parts water with one part white vinegar or sprinkle corn starch and leave it for 24 hours. Vacuum the next day.
- Taking It Outside: alternatively, if you can, take your rug outside and use a hose to dampen it if it’s sturdy enough. Use the appropriate detergent and let it sit for a few minutes before scrubbing.
- Rinse: Rinse the suds from the carpet again, ensuring a thorough job to remove all the dirt and debris.
- Drying: Finally, leave it out to dry for a day or two so that all the moisture is gone, and then give your rug a gentle brushing to restore its texture and shape.
Conclusion
While best left to trained professionals, rug cleaning at home can be a rewarding and cost-effective activity that can renew your dull and worn-out rug. Keep up with your routine vacuuming and use the appropriate methods depending on the type of rug you have. If you still have any more questions about rug cleaning, feel free to drop us a line, and enjoy soft and fluffy rugs in no time at all.
FAQs
What types of rugs can be cleaned at home?
Synthetic fiber rugs, as well as machine-washable rugs, are easily cleaned at home.
What can I use to lift red wine stains?
After doing a patch test, use plain soda water to lift red wine stains.
How long does professional rug cleaning take?
Typically, it takes 7-10 business days for professionals to clean your rugs.