Area rugs can add warmth,color and interest to a room. It can get very dirty,and most experts recommend that you deep clean your rugs at least once a year. The more people there are in your household, the more often you will need to deep clean. As a general tip, no matter how you plan to clean your area rug, or what product you want to use, make sure to test it on a small area first.
Expert Cleaning
First of all, if the stain is severe, or your area rug is particularly fragile, you should call in experts. Residential area rug cleaning services will be able to properly clean your rug while keeping it intact. The second thing you need to remember is that the product you use will depend on what kind of stain it is. Although the basic method is the same – blot the stain, working from the outside in, rinse, and blot until dry. Never scrub your area rug as it can damage the fibers and ruin the rug.
Pre-Spray
Many people begin their deep clean with vacuuming, and a carpet cleaning pre-spray. Pre-sprays can really help loosen tough stains and heavy soiling. The only issue with them is that some formulations are better at removing specific types of stain, so you do need to have a very good idea of what kind of stains and soilage are in your rug.
Oriental Rug Shampoo
If you have an oriental rug, then you should use an oriental rug shampoo. These shampoos are specially designed for use with delicate fabrics. If your oriental rug has a fringe then you might need a fringe cleaner as well. It’s even more delicate so it won’t damage the fibers.
Detergent or Carpet Rinse
You can also use a detergent or rinse on your area rug. These come in many forms – liquid, powdered, foam, and in a vast range of strengths. Again, the problem is that some detergents are more suitable for specific types of stain and specific types of fabrics and fibers.
Deodorizer
Some people will use a deodorizer. Some people use this at the end of a deep clean, and others will use it to keep the rug fresh in between cleans. There are many different varieties so you need to know exactly what you want the product to do before you buy one.
Home Ingredients
You may be able to clean your area rug using common ingredients from your kitchen store cupboard. White vinegar can work miracles on a multitude of stains. Make sure that you dilute it in water, and then you simply spray it on the stain. Blot it from the outside in with paper towels. Rinse with clean water and blot until dry. The only thing you need to remember if you’re using store cupboard ingredients is to never use bleach to clean a carpet or an area rug. It will destroy it.
It’s usually best to call a professional company and have them deep clean your rug, or if you want to try it yourself, use products that have been specifically designed and formulated for rugs and are safe to use.
