Tips on Caring For Your Area Rugs and Carpets
Roy Thomsitt
November 18, 2006
The value of your area rugs and carpets will, of course, depend on their quality, size, type and style. However, whatever they have cost, they are an asset worth maintaining and cleaning well. There are two reasons for that. Firstly, the pile of a rug or carpet can harbor lots of dirt, dust, mites and other particles and insects. Regular cleaning will help to keep such infestations and debris to a minimum, which is good for your family's domestic health. Secondly, the rug will not only look better but its life will be preserved.
If you buy your area rugs from a reliable source, you should have instructions on cleaning, and it is important to follow those if you want to maintain the rug in good condition. Regular vacuuming, at least once a week, is usually a good basis. However, at regular intervals it is advisable to have your rugs and carpets professionally cleaned. It is best to choose a company or technician with an industry standard certification, such as IICRC.
We all have accidents, so sometimes you have some emergency cleaning to to. I remember many years ago I had kept putting off decorating our bungalow in England, so I decided it was best to take a full week off work, and for my wife to take our 2 year old son away. From 7am to 10 or 11 pm every day I was painting, finishing with the lounge on the last day. Close to 11pm, it was all done, and the last brush stroke had been made.
On the lounge floor was a brand new and very expensive carpet. I removed all the covering which I had put down to protect from paint spatter. During the whole week, I had not put any paint in the wrong place. Everything had gone to perfection.
I had forgotten though, that I had left a large pot of paint on the step ladders, which I had not yet put away. With tiredness set in, I clumsily knocked down the pot of paint. The lid was not on it, and I watched in horror as the paint spilled out across the new carpet. I will never forget that moment.
Remarkably, I did not mutter a word, remained calm, and went to get cloth and a good supply of water. I had no hope of avoiding a stain, but wanted at least to clear up the mess. I set about mopping up and then cleaning as best as I could. When I went to bed, I was quite pleased at how is looked, but was expecting a commercial cleaner to be essential the next day.
I had another shock the next morning. I knew where the paint had been, and it was a lot of paint, maybe two litres or so. I approached the lounge with trepidation, waiting to see how the damage looked in daylight. I never did find that stain; not a sign of it.
In that case the combination of quick action, high quality modern carpet, and the best water based emulsion paint, were enough to save our carpet, and my embarrassment. My wife returned, and I did confess, but she could not find a stain either.
With many stains, though, professional cleaning may well be essential. After all, carpet cleaning is what they do for a living, and they are highly trained in all types of fabrics and stains. you may find all sorts of hints online, some of which may work, others not.
With such expensive items, though, it is better to be safe than sorry. So when caring for any type of area rugs, whether in a preventative way, as maintenance, or after an accident, it is a worthwhile investment of your time and money.
If you buy your area rugs from a reliable source, you should have instructions on cleaning, and it is important to follow those if you want to maintain the rug in good condition. Regular vacuuming, at least once a week, is usually a good basis. However, at regular intervals it is advisable to have your rugs and carpets professionally cleaned. It is best to choose a company or technician with an industry standard certification, such as IICRC.
We all have accidents, so sometimes you have some emergency cleaning to to. I remember many years ago I had kept putting off decorating our bungalow in England, so I decided it was best to take a full week off work, and for my wife to take our 2 year old son away. From 7am to 10 or 11 pm every day I was painting, finishing with the lounge on the last day. Close to 11pm, it was all done, and the last brush stroke had been made.
On the lounge floor was a brand new and very expensive carpet. I removed all the covering which I had put down to protect from paint spatter. During the whole week, I had not put any paint in the wrong place. Everything had gone to perfection.
I had forgotten though, that I had left a large pot of paint on the step ladders, which I had not yet put away. With tiredness set in, I clumsily knocked down the pot of paint. The lid was not on it, and I watched in horror as the paint spilled out across the new carpet. I will never forget that moment.
Remarkably, I did not mutter a word, remained calm, and went to get cloth and a good supply of water. I had no hope of avoiding a stain, but wanted at least to clear up the mess. I set about mopping up and then cleaning as best as I could. When I went to bed, I was quite pleased at how is looked, but was expecting a commercial cleaner to be essential the next day.
I had another shock the next morning. I knew where the paint had been, and it was a lot of paint, maybe two litres or so. I approached the lounge with trepidation, waiting to see how the damage looked in daylight. I never did find that stain; not a sign of it.
In that case the combination of quick action, high quality modern carpet, and the best water based emulsion paint, were enough to save our carpet, and my embarrassment. My wife returned, and I did confess, but she could not find a stain either.
With many stains, though, professional cleaning may well be essential. After all, carpet cleaning is what they do for a living, and they are highly trained in all types of fabrics and stains. you may find all sorts of hints online, some of which may work, others not.
With such expensive items, though, it is better to be safe than sorry. So when caring for any type of area rugs, whether in a preventative way, as maintenance, or after an accident, it is a worthwhile investment of your time and money.
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