How to Clean Rug Stains and Methods of Cleaning Area Rugs
Vacuum and clean rug stains as they occur and your rug will outlast you. However, do it wrong at your peril; rugs must be cleaned carefully to maintain their quality condition.
Vacuuming
Vacuuming is important in maintaining your rug. As dirt accumulates at the surface, vacuuming will remove it before it has a chance to get ground in. Although you can’t clean rug stains by vacuuming, it prolongs the life of your rug. Here are some tips for vacuuming.
- Use a vacuum with a beater bar if you have a cut pile rug.
- Rugs with a looped texture should be vacuumed with suction only; the beater bar can catch on the loops.
- If the beater bar slows down, then the height is set too low. Raise it a little.
- If the beater bar is not rotating, you may have a worn out belt that needs replacing.
- Only vacuum until the bag is half full. The suction diminishes when the bag gets too full.
Cleaning Area Rugs
Clean rug stains right away so that you only have to completely clean your area rug every couple of years. Oil and oily residue can’t be removed by vacuuming and always accumulate over time. As oily dirt builds up it can cause your rug to become matted, so don’t wait too long between cleanings!
There are a number of different methods for cleaning area rugs .
- Steam cleaning by carpet care professionals is recommended. Although you can rent the equipment yourself, only a professional will know what the best type of cleaning solution to use for your rug. If you do decide to do-it-yourself, test it out on a small area of your rug first. If there’s a residue, you’ll probably want to try a different cleaning solution. Never use laundry detergent on your rug!
- Dry powder does not work well with high pile rugs. The powder may cause matting. However, with low pile rugs, dry powders is a good way to clean rug stains. Use the dry powder on the stain, then vacuum. If the stain can’t be removed this way, call a professional.
- Oxygen-based cleaners are fine for cleaning synthetic fiber rugs, but should not be used with natural fiber rugs. Again, you will want to test for colorfastness on a small area of your rug. These cleaners are also good for cleaning rug stains, so you will probably want to keep some around the house in case of a spill.
- Dry foam works fairly well with rugs that can stand up to vacuuming with a beater bar. The foam is worked up from a detergent with a little water, and it then worked into the rug. After it dries, the mixture of foam and muck is vacuumed out.
Cleaning Rug Stains
When you have a spill, take care of it right away. Scoop up all the solid bits and use paper towels to blot up as much liquid as possible. Don’t scrub with the paper towels as that may cause matting. You can then use dry powder or oxy-cleaners if appropriate for your rug type. A personal use steam cleaner can also be helpful for taking care of small rug stains.
Find a Good Professional
A good professional can ease your mind about your rug care. They can help you clean rug stains you just can’t get out. They will know which cleaning method is best for your area rug. A good professional will be able to give you advice about which detergents to use as well. Chicago Rug Cleaning is a provider of high quality carpet care at prices you can feel good about.