Maintaining your area rug is vital to the lifespan of the piece. Neglect and too much time between cleanings can lead to a buildup of dirt and grime, making it more difficult to spot-clean the rug. This means recruiting the help of professional cleaners to handle your rug cleaning before the accessory loses is luster and color. While professional cleanings are always recommended for any area rug, there are some simple steps you can take between cleanings to ensure the life of your area rug will be extended for years to come. The easiest, most vital thing you can do for your rug is to flip it over at least once a month to vacuum the back. This may not be professional-grade rug cleaning, but this simple step allows the back to breathe and takes away any grit that may be damaging to the underside of the rug. Avoid vacuuming tassels and fringed edges since these are easily sucked into the vacuum’s brushes, causing them to get tangles up in the vacuum and possibly requiring scissors to cut them free. Thankfully, the fringes themselves do not need vacuuming to stay clean. Simply run your fingers through them to release any dirt and only vacuum the carpeted portion of the rug. Try to vacuum your rug once a week if possible. You have probably seen carpet shampoos and sprays that promise to make rug cleaning easier. Stay away from these products. These are almost always made from wall-to-wall synthetic carpeting and not high-quality wool area rugs. Using these products may actually cause more harm to your rug than good, resulting in irreversible damage. Carefully check commercial product labels for spot cleaners and shampoos that are made for wool rugs, but test them first to make sure the colors will not bleed together. Anytime something is spilled on the area rug, don’t automatically call a professional cleaner to come in. Simply blot liquid or scrape solid spills with a 100% white cotton dry towel. Press and hold down very firmly and repeat until the liquid is absorbed. Avoid rubbing the spill in a circle since this can force the liquid into the fibers, resulting in permanent damage. Red wine spills can be cleaned with an equal part mixture of Dawn liquid soap and 10% hydrogen peroxide. Blot carefully with a towel. If in doubt, call a professional rug cleaning service to come in and handle the situation. Read About: Antique Rug Cleaning, Area Rug Cleaning
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