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Your rug is no different than any other piece of flooring in your home. It must be appropriately cared for in order to realize its full life expectancy. Proper cleaning and maintenance techniques will also keep your rug looking fresh and plush, like the day you laid it in your living room.
Below are general guidelines to keep in mind when caring for you rug.
- If you rotate rugs or store them depending on the season, it is best to have them professionally cleaned and wrapped, then store it in an area that does not experience extreme temperatures. Your rug will be clean and looking new when you take it back out next year.
- In general, you should care for large rugs in the same fashion as wall-to-wall carpet.
- Because small entranceway rugs are sometimes difficult to vacuum, take them outside to shake until dust and dirt are gone. Or hang the rug up outside and beat and sweep it with a broom to remove dust and dirt.
- Check labels to know whether your rug should be dry-cleaned, spot-cleaned or laundered. Even ones that may appear washable may not be colorfast; imported rugs tend to require dry cleaning.
- If you can wash your rug, choose the delicate cycle and cold water. Also, divide the fringe of your rub into several hanks, wrapping each with white string, in order to avoid tangles or knots. Then place the rug in a mesh laundry bag.
- After washing, you should lay wet rugs over a clothes-drying rack, a large table or bricks on a porch or patio. Hanging rugs on a single clothesline can distort the shape.
Special cases and materials call for different care than normal. Here are a few examples.
- Woven and Braided. Check for stitching breaks before and after cleaning woven or braided rugs. Following product instructions, apply commercial carpet cleaning solution over the surface of large rugs. Rinse or vacuum, then let the rug dry thoroughly.
- Oriental. When vacuuming vintage or antique oriental rugs, lay a piece of nylon over the rug, weighting the sides so it will remain in place. By vacuuming over the screen, dirt will be removed, but the rug will be protected from the vacuum. You can also tie nylon mesh to a vacuum attachment and change it as dirt accumulates.
- Coir and Sisal. Dirt will sift through the open weaves of rugs made from coir, sisal and other natural materials. This means you should protect your floor underneath when cleaning stains. Remove and beat the rug then vacuum the floor underneath to ensure that dirt and dust does not settle there. Water weakens the fibers of these rugs.
- Fur and Sheepskin. Unscented talcum powder can help clean fur and sheepskin rugs. Shake the talcum powder over the rug and then leave it for several hours. Brush the powder through the hair, and then shake it out. Depending on the cleanliness and length of the fur, this process may be done several times.
Based on the style and material in your rug, there are a number of different techniques to clean and maintain it. When you purchase a rug, be sure to research the material or take note of special care requirements on labels and from showrooms. Proper care will keep your rug looking beautiful while ultimately extending its life in your home.
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