|
Treat your rug right. Care and cleaning advices.
 |
Once you have invested in a quality rug,
you can protect your investment by caring for your rug well. Even
though most people purchase rugs for actual use, and not just
decoration, it will suffer some normal wear and tear. This can be
minimized by a regular schedule of cleaning and rug upkeep. Many rug
vendors offer special cleaning services that vary widely in price
and quality. Whether you choose to take advantage of such services,
there are still some general tips to keep in mind for your own care
of the rug.
If you experience any spills on
your rug, you will want to treat the spot right away. The longer a
spill sits, the more likely it is to become a stain. Spot treatments
are best done with cold water, which should then be blotted up until
the rug is dry. Don’t forget to blot the top and the bottom
of the rug! An even better alternative is to use a wet-dry vacuum,
if you have one. Once the spill has been treated, you should move
any furniture so that it will not sit directly on top of the
affected area, as some moisture is likely to remain in the rug and
can cause dry-rot, ruining both your furniture and your rug.
|
Keep in mind that you should never
hang a rug in order for it to dry. Doing so can cause colors to run,
bleeding into other areas of the rug. Since hand-made rugs are still
typically dyed with natural products, rather than chemical dyes,
they run a greater risk for bleeding. You can prevent that, though,
by simply leaving the rug flat.
|
It is recommended that a rug be brushed, rather than vacuumed. Over
time, frequent vacuuming will actually damage the integrity of the
rug fibers, causing your rug to wear much faster. Brushing with a
fiber broom or hand brush can extend the life of your rug. Be sure
to clean the top and bottom of the rug, as well as the floor beneath
the rug. When doing so, check for signs of wear, tear, and other
damage, such as that caused by moths. You can often catch problems
before they become serious.
If you do plan to
vacuum your rug, you should keep the following tips in mind. Always
be sure that the brush on your vacuum is clean. You can easily carry
dirt from one surface to another, staining your rug unintentionally.
After cleaning your brush, make a quick inspection of the hardware
that houses the brush. Ensure that there are no protruding metal
parts or other equipment damages that could catch on your rug and
cause unraveling or other damage. |
 |
If your rug requires a deep
cleaning, do not wash it in your home washer and dryer! This will
severely damage, if not destroy, your rug. You may need to have your
rug professionally cleaned in such a case. Many shops will offer a
free estimate of what it will cost to have your rug cleaned.
Certainly, professional cleaning will cost far less than replacing
your rug!
TheAreaRugs.com Glossary |
PROTECTION PLAN
