As with carpet, area rugs require special care to keep them feeling plush and looking beautiful. Read on to learn more about proper vacuuming techniques, stain removal, and more.
Daily care
Vacuum your area rug regularly to removed trapped dirt and allergens. If your area rug is in a low-traffic area, you may not need to vacuum more than once a week; if it is in a high-traffic area, twice a week might be more effective.
For shag area rugs, it’s very important to protect the cable yarn when vacuuming. Not only can long yarns on from the area rug wrap around your vacuum’s beater bar, also known as a rotator brush, but the brush itself can damage your rug’s fibers. To prevent such damage, carefully disconnect your vacuum's beater bar before vacuuming.
Preventative maintenance
Start by investing in doormats and placing them throughout your home. Encourage visitors to use them and to remove outdoor shoes before walking across your rug. Try to limit exposure to direct sunlight, which can fade your rug over time.
Professional cleaning
The occasional professional clean will benefit your area rug. Make sure to hire only a professional cleaning expert! Consider incorporating this deep clean into your spring cleaning routine. It's also important that you never dry clean your rug and be sure to avoid using bleach.
Dealing with spills
No matter how careful you are, your area rug will fall victim to the occasional spill or stain. Fortunately, many of our area rugs have stain-resistant technology built right into their fibers. Still, you'll want to act quickly when an accident occurs.
First, determine whether the stain is water-based or oil-based. Some messes wipe away quickly; others require a more comprehensive approach. For these, it's best to consult your manufacturer's care guidelines. Consider investing in a manufacturer-approved cleaning product, such as Shaw's Carpet Cleaner.
