How to Clean Rugs

Rugs receive a lot of traffic and can become dirty and trodden quickly. Just like carpet and upholstery, area rugs act like giant air filters in your home. They trap dirt and allergens, keeping them out of the air you breathe. Rugs do this best when they’re clean! While professional cleaning is best for your rug’s upkeep and function, at home cleaning can make professional results last a little longer between services. Remember to always look at your rug’s care tag before doing any sort of cleaning to prevent stains, bleaching, and damage. 

Where to Find Care Tags

Before cleaning can be done, it’s important to know what your rug’s manufacturer recommends to prevent damage to the rug. Care tags are often printed squares on the back of the rug or sewn tags on the edge that outlines the composition, size, and care. If your rug is handmade, the care tag could be on a slip paper or a card that came with the rug. In the event that a care tag cannot be found, look for the original listing from when the rug was purchased or call a carpet and rug cleaning professional to identify what the care would be. 

Removing Loose Dirt

The first step in cleaning a rug is removing the loose dirt, dust, and anything else that can be tracked across your home or office. Bring your rug outside and shake it out, mind the wind so that it carries the dirt away instead of blowing it into your face and/ or back into the rug. If your rug is too heavy to shake, place it over a sturdy, secure railing and carefully hit it with your hands or a broom to knock out loose soil. 

Deeper Dirt

Once the rug is back inside, it should be vacuumed if it’s not delicate. If your rug is delicate, consult the care tag or your local Chem‑Dry for best at home cleaning tips between services. Vacuuming is a good way to get some of the deeper dirt and keep your rugs cleaner for longer between cleans. 

Stains

When you find a new stain on your rug, first identify the stain and how old it may be. Older stains will be more difficult to clean and could require professional help depending on the care required for your rug and the stain itself. 

If using a cleaning product, test for color fastness in an inconspicuous area before use and follow the instructions carefully. Never rub the stain as it could set it further or damage the rug, always dab. If you want the power of professional stain removal at home without having to make an appointment, contact your local Chem-Dry and inquire about Chem-Dry’s Spot Remover. In a pinch, a little club soda and a rag can lessen a stain’s presence on a rug. 

Homes with pets often find pet urine on their rugs unexpectedly. A pet urine cleaner without enzymes will not work and many fall short on proper cleaning. Due to the crystalline nature of urine, enzymes are required for proper stain and odor removal. As mentioned before, always test for color fastness and follow instructions on the cleaner and most importantly, dab the urine as soon as you find it, never rub. Chem-Dry is an expert at removing even the most stubborn pet urine and odor, call us anytime you have pet urine troubles on your rugs!

Wear and Tear

To prevent uneven rug aging, Chem-Dry professionals recommend rotating your rugs to even out the amount of pressure placed on them by furniture and foot traffic. If your rug is exposed to sunlight, rotating them will reduce the potential for uneven fading due to UV ray exposure. 

Chem-Dry

Your local Chem-Dry is here to help and equipped with both the technology and experience to clean your carpets, rugs, and upholstery to perfection. Let us take the guess work out of rug cleaning! Chem-Dry is a highly rated, industry leader due to our commitment to excellent cleanings and customer service. Our carpet cleaning solutions work effectively, even on the toughest odors and stains, but are gentle for you, your workplace, and family. Our core cleaner, The Natural, is EPA Safer Choice certified! If you’re happy with your experience and results, leave us a Google review! We love to hear your feedback and share with our community.

Book your rug cleaning service online today! Proudly serving Kapolei, Makakilo, HI and surrounding areas!

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