How To Clean A Rug

Courtney is the perfect blend of 1950’s housewife and modern housewife. She keeps things simple. On her website, Homemaker Hero, she features tips and tricks of how things were done “back then” and applies them to modern living.  You can also find Courtney on twitter @HomemakerHero.

Housekeeping Heaven: How To Clean A Rug

Over the past few weeks I have discussed how to take care of your carpet and begin loving it again. I realize not every home has carpet flooring. Wood and vinyl flooring has become a popular trend in new homes because it’s easier to take care of.

That being said, many people who choose wood or vinyl flooring often buy rugs to decorate the living area, bathroom floors, and sometimes even bedside to keep their feet a bit warmer in the mornings when crawling out of bed. As a homemaker, I have been in home décor stores often enough to know that rugs are not cheap. If you choose to spend good money on a rug, you need to know how to properly take care of it.

There are three simple rules for taking care of your rug.

1. Do not beat your rug! You may have seen your grandmother or mother take a rug out back and beat it with a baseball bat to get it clean. Please do not do this to your rug! This can cause the woven threads to loosen and damage the back of the rug. If poorly made, your rug could separate completely from the backing with only one whack. The only rug that can tolerate a beating is a doormat.

2. Do not use carpet shampoos or sprays! Shampoos usually attract more dirt than they take away. Plus, the brushes from a shampoo machine can damage your rug. Never drench your rug with water as it could damage the backing of the rug and any floor surface underneath the rug. Carpet sprays have a tendency to discolor rugs. To spot clean, use a gentle stain solution when necessary. Your best bet for deep cleaning your rug is to have it professionally cleaned.

3. Vacuum your rug! Vacuuming is key to keeping your rug clean. It’s best to do it once a week and no less than once every two weeks. To vacuum your rug, you will need to vacuum the top side to remove excess dirt. Then flip over the rug and vacuum the backside. Finally, flip the rug back over and vacuum the top side once again. If your rug has fringe, do not use the beater bar on your vacuum! This will suck the fringe into the vacuum causing it to get caught around the beater bar and damaging the fringe and possibly even damaging your vacuum. If your vacuum comes with a curtain cleaning tool that allows you to adjust to a low setting, use this.

Of course, the best way to keep your rugs clean is to avoid stepping on them. Remove your shoes. Wearing socks or going barefoot is easier on the carpet than hard soled shoes or heels. Following these tips will help give extended life to your rug and allow it to look good year after year.

Next week, check out Housekeeping Heaven for “The Power of Soap and Water”. Make sure you don’t miss any of Courtney’s housekeeping and cleaning posts by getting our free updates now!

Disclaimer: Treatments and cleaning methods are recommendations only from personal experience and research.  Please use common sense in using these methods and understand that damage may occur to certain materials.  IS World Media is not responsible for any damage that may occur due to the cleaning methods described.