There are many benefits to complementing your interior with a rug: it adds warmth, color, and patterns to the room while demarcating specific areas. However, a quality rug requires regular maintenance to preserve it as much as possible while preventing dirt from accumulating, hence the importance of knowing the proper cleaning methods.
Follow this handy guide to learn basic maintenance, deep cleaning, and stain removal techniques that will help make your carpet look like new again.
Summary :
- How to Clean a Carpet: Basic Tips
- How to Deep Clean a Carpet
- How to Clean Stains on Carpet
- How to Clean a Carpet: Conclusion
How to Clean a Carpet: Basic Tips
To properly care for a rug, it is important to consider its size, structure, and material. For most rugs, here are the basic recommended care steps:
- Vacuum regularly: Just like with carpet, regular vacuuming is essential to remove dirt that could damage the rug. If the rug is reversible, vacuum both sides. Do not vacuum the fringes and turn off the beater bar if the rug has long pile to avoid tangling.
- Brushing Pet Hair: Sometimes the vacuum cleaner can leave pet hair on the carpet. Use a stiff brush attachment to remove it by brushing in the direction of the carpet pile.
- Turning the rug: Foot traffic and exposure to the sun can add additional stress to the rug. It is therefore recommended to turn it once or twice a year to avoid uneven wear.
- Shaking out small rugs: If the rug is small enough, you can take it out and shake or beat it vigorously to remove dirt and grit.
How to Deep Clean a Carpet
To deep clean a rug, it's important to check the care label to see if it should be dry cleaned, spot cleaned, or machine washed . If a rug is dry cleaned, it could mean there's a risk of fading, so it's important to test it before spot cleaning. If you've determined that a rug is washable, machine wash it on the delicate cycle . To prevent long fringes from tangling, divide them into several strands and tie each strand with white string. It's recommended that you place the rug in a mesh laundry bag or zippered pillowcase to protect it and wash it in cold water.
See this premium washable rug , perfect for machine washes at low temperatures
Once the wash is complete, hang the rug on a clothesline, picnic table, or stacked bricks outdoors to dry. Avoid hanging a wet rug on a clothesline, as this can cause it to lose its shape as it dries. Small rugs made of synthetic fibers similar to carpet can be dried on a small work table or counter protected by a tablecloth, old sheets, or towels.
It is recommended to deep clean a rug every 12 to 18 months . When using cleaning products for the first time, test a small area of the rug to make sure it is not damaged by the product and there is no discoloration. To deep clean a large rug, place it on a vinyl or concrete surface, apply carpet cleaning foam, and scrub according to directions. Finish by rinsing or vacuuming. Make sure the rug is dry before replacing it.
Finally, dry cleaning may also be an option for small and medium sized rugs, but it is important to check the care instructions on the label.
How to Clean Stains on Carpet
When your carpet gets stained, it's important to act quickly by blotting the stain and removing moisture from spills. Here are some tips for removing different types of carpet stains:
- Alcohol and carbonated drinks: Use a solution of one teaspoon of liquid dishwashing detergent, one quart of warm water, and one teaspoon of white vinegar. Apply the solution to the stain, rinse, and dry with a cloth.
- Coffee or Tea: Use the detergent mixture above, apply to the stain, rinse and blot. If the stain persists, use a special carpet cleaning product.
- Grease-based stains: Use a dry carpet cleaner for foods such as butter, margarine or gravy.
- Chewing gum: Remove what you can by hand, then place ice cubes in a plastic bag and place them on top of the remaining gum to harden it. Scrape off the gum with a spoon or dull knife. Vacuum and use dry cleaner if necessary.
- Paint: For acrylic and latex paints, clean the stain while it is wet with the detergent solution. If the color remains, dab with rubbing alcohol. For oil-based paints, sponge with odorless mineral spirits, being careful not to soak the carpet.
- Tomato Sauce: Sponge with cold water, dab with a detergent solution or oxygen cleaner. Rinse with a solution of one cup white vinegar and two cups water, then blot until dry.
- Urine, stool and vomit: Apply detergent solution or oxygenated cleaner, rinse and blot dry.
- Melted wax: Use the same treatment as for chewing gum, hardening it with ice cubes in a plastic bag and then scraping it off. Dampen a clean white cloth or cotton ball with rubbing alcohol and blot to remove any remaining wax.