How to Care for Your Area Rugs
Padding - A quality pad used under your rug helps protect it from damage , wear and slippage . Every rug needs one . For a flat weave , use rubber waffle pad and for a thick hand knotted or tufted , use rubber backed synthetic felt . Always replace the pad if the rug has had pet contamination .
Vacuuming - Like most carpeting , rugs should be vacuumed at least weekly to remove dry soil , lint , and hair . If in an entryway , vacuum more often . Be cautious not to
Spot and Spill Procedures
1 . Make sure that you safely and immediately clean up spots and spills before they set .
2 . Scoop up or scrape the solids off of the carpet or rug
3 . Soak or blot up the excess liquid by blotting with a clean absorbent material . Do not brush or scrub the stain . vacuum the fringe with your brush bar ! Use the end of a vacuum hose from a canister vacuum . Every few months turn the rug face down on a clean , dry smooth surface and vacuum to vibrate out the embedded dry soil .
Rotation - To ensure even wear , your rug should be rotated . Depending on the traffic , the rotation may vary from every six months to once a year .
8 . Dry completely . A fan or cool hair dryer can be used to speed up the drying process .
9 . Some stains or animal contamination you may find impossible to remove completely in which case the assistance of a professional may be required .
4 . Always work from the edge of the spot inwards
5 . Then spot clean with a WoolSafe-approved spotter www . woolsafeusa . org / consumerproducts or mild liquid laundry detergent solution mixed 1 / 2 teaspoon with 1-quart water . Apply small quantities at a time , applied to a cloth , NOT directly to the spot ; work into the spot with a small brush or sponge
6 . Do not over wet . Blot dry until most of the moisture has been absorbed and color is no longer visible on the towel .
7 . Rinse area thoroughly with a mixture of 6-parts water to one part white distilled vinegar . Avoid wetting the rug ’ s backing .
How to Get Folds out of Your Rug
Often times new rugs from the dealer or rugs that have been rolled or folded for storage may not return to their original intended shape when first laid ( even over a pad ). Many larger rugs have been barrel rolled - a method of folding and rolling to make them more compact for easier handling and delivery .
These folds are caused by the foundation yarns being stretched while folded or rolled . Although most will release over time , there are ways to accelerate this process . And wrinkles in an area rug are not only an eyesore , but can be a tripping hazard as well .
Here are 5 Suggestions to get the Creases and Fold Marks out of a rug ! Use any single one , or a combination of several !
1 . Back-roll or reverse roll the carpet . This is the easiest way to deal with a rug that does not lay flat . Fold the rug in the opposite direction it curls or creases . Be careful ! If you hear cracking noises stop immediately . That means the backing is dry rotted !
2 . Place heavy furniture or weight on the rug . This should accelerate the settling time at least two fold .
3 . Wait for the rug to settle on its own : allow the rug to sit open for several weeks and it should naturally release tension from a hard roll or fold especially in higher humidity environments .
4 . Place the rug up-side-down outdoors under the sun on a clean , dry surface in temperatures between 70-85 degrees Fahrenheit . Direct sunlight for several hours should help the rug release tension naturally and at the very least make it more supple for reverse-rolling as noted in suggestion 1 .
As a last resort . . .
5 . Hire a professional rug cleaning company to “ steam ” the rug with a steamer or truck mount and dry it on an air table . Be sure they check for color fastness first !