For many of us, area rugs are a significant decor investment. They bring color and warmth to our surroundings. They offer relaxing spaces for playing games, watching movies, and hosting slumber parties. Rugs, on the other hand, require regular maintenance to ensure that they last for many years. Rug cleaning should be done on a regular basis as part of that maintenance.
Fortunately, unlike a carpet, which should be vacuumed twice a week, an area rug should only be deep-cleaned when it becomes dirty. Try the following test if the rug isn’t visibly dingy (or smells bad): Simply pick up a corner of the rug and place it on the floor. It’s time for rug cleaning if a small cloud of dust floats up.
You can have a professional rug cleaning service in Melbourne, but it will cost a lot of money. You can clean a rug effectively at home on your own if you’re willing to put in a weekend’s worth of effort.
You’ll also have peace of mind knowing exactly what cleaners are being used rug cleaning, which is becoming increasingly important for many people, especially those who have young children or chemical sensitivities.
1. Remove any loose dirt with a vacuum.
First, thoroughly vacuum both sides of the area rug. Don’t forget about the back, where crumbs, dust, and dirt accumulate.
2. Check the colorfastness of the cleaner on your rug.
You have two options when it comes to cleaners:
- Follow the manufacturer’s instructions when mixing a store-bought rug cleaner/shampoo
- Another option is to use a bucket of warm water with a couple of capfuls of mild liquid dish soap. The fibers will shrink and the color will fade if you use hot water.
- Test your cleaner (store-bought or homemade) on an inconspicuous portion of the rug, such as a tiny section at the corner, to ensure that the colors do not run. If it doesn’t, move on to the next step.
3. Massage the cleaner into the rug for a few minutes before removing it.
Using a sponge or brush, scrub the shampoo or detergent into the rug until suds appear. Allow for several minutes for the solution to sit and work on the rug before rinsing.
4. Use a hose for rug cleaning
Before you finish, give the rug a thorough rinse with a garden hose to remove any soap suds.
5. Using a squeegee, remove any excess water.
This tool, which is commonly used to clean windows, will extract excess water from the rug perfectly. Working only in the direction of the rug’s nap, press the rubber-edged blade of the squeegee firmly into the rug and pull to extract as much liquid as possible.
6. Allow both sides of the rug to dry completely.
Lay the rug flat to dry. Once the top side has dried, flip it over to allow the bottom to dry as well.
7. Use a vacuum cleaner or a brush to loosen the rug’s compacted fibers.
To loosen up the fibers that may have compacted during the washing/drying process, vacuum or brush your area rug with a clean soft-bristled brush. Then, put your rug back in its original spot in the room and unwind!
