RUG CLEANING ARTICLES

How to Blot the Stains from Your Rugs

Keeping your rugs clean and removing stains from them can be tricky. This is particularly true if your rugs are handmade such as Oriental rugs. Handmade rugs cannot be machine-washed or cleaned using chemicals or steam. Experts say that if you clean your rugs using these processes, they will remove the natural oils of the material thus making them brittle and deteriorate easily.

The best way to handle spills and stains is learning how to blot them out from your rugs immediately. Do not wait for the spills to dry before attempting to remove them. This will cause more problems since the stain will seep in deep into the fibers of your rug.

How to blot the stains from your rugs?

First you have to equip yourself with some basic materials: a clean cloth or towel (paper towels can do the job too) and a mixture of cold water and white vinegar. You should check first that your rug will not bleed if you use the cleaning solution on it. Try the solution on one small part of the rug to make sure.

Next is to tackle the problem at hand: remove or scrape any solid substance and then blot the liquid by pressing the cloth or towel hard on the rug using the tips of your fingers or the heel of your palm. Remove as much liquid as possible before using another cloth soaked with the water and vinegar solution to clean the rug. Rub the surface of the rug lightly towards the middle of the stain and in the direction of the nap.

If the stain is difficult to remove using the water and vinegar solution, you may use some mild detergent with it. However, you must check first if this will not cause your rug to bleed. Still using towels or cloth, rinse the area with cold water then blot dry. Let the rug dry completely but not under direct sunlight. This might cause discoloration or wear on the rug. Afterwards, brush or vacuum both sides of the rug.   

If this first aid spot cleaning doesn’t work, the next best alternative is to deep clean your rugs.

Things You Need To Do Before Cleaning Your Rugs

Cleaning rugs could be a chore unless you know the things you need to do before cleaning them.

First is to make sure if the rug is dirty. Why? You might think the rug is dirty when you shake it and some dust will fly out of it. However, this is normal. So how would you know if the rug is dirty enough to need cleaning? Ask yourself the following questions:

1. Does a screen of dirt fly out of your rug when you hit or kick it sharply?
2. Do your hands become dirty after rubbing the pile of the rug vigorously?
3. Do you see dirt at the base of the pile?

If you answer “yes” to any of these questions, then YES your rug needs cleaning.

After making sure that your rug needs to be cleaned, the next step is to know the best way to clean your rug. Make it a point to ask the weaver or retailer of your rugs on how to clean them properly. Some rugs need special cleaning procedures. However, do the following first to make sure that you will not damage the rug while cleaning it:

Step 1: Check if the rug will bleed upon contact with any liquid substance. You can test this on a small spot on the rug. If it does not bleed upon getting wet, check if the detergent or shampoo you will use will cause discoloration on the rug. Again do this on one tiny area of the rug. If everything goes well with your tests, then go to the next step.

Step 2: If the materials you will be using for cleaning will not damage your rug, then the next step is to check whether your rug has any stain or spot that needs special attention. These may include ink, acid, alcohol, gum, mud and oil among many others. Do the necessary procedures to remove the stains or before cleaning the whole rug. This might cause even more problems if the stain will spread throughout the rug.

If you have checked the given steps and nothing seems wrong, then you are ready to clean your rug.

Dos & Don’ts of Cleaning Oriental Rugs

Oriental rugs are painstakingly crafted by hand. They can be very striking interior accents on your floors or even function as works of art when hung on your walls. Unfortunately, they can also quickly get soiled, stained, or damaged.

While professional cleaning will certainly keep your oriental rugs in spotless condition, you can also clean and maintain them yourself. Keeping your oriental rugs immaculate is a breeze when you know the “Do’s” and “Don’ts” of cleaning oriental rugs.

The “Dos”

Whether it is a weekly or monthly undertaking, you can do the following to clean and maintain your oriental rugs.

• Vacuum your rugs thoroughly on both sides, not just one.
• Check if your rug’s color will bleed when wet by testing one small (preferably unnoticeable) area with water first.
• Use a mild detergent or rug shampoo and rinse thoroughly with cold water
• Make sure to remove all excess water and dry both sides of the rug.
• Brush or vacuum the rug after drying.
• Use a cloth or towel to blot out stains before they seep into the fibers of the rug and make a permanent mark.
• Use a water and vinegar solution to even out a spot.
• Use rug detergents to eliminate hard to remove spots.
• Prevent bleeding by combing the rug’s pile, which is the rug material, before it dries up.
• If all else fails, bring it to a professional to clean.

The “Don’ts”

• Don’t vacuum your rug’s fringes since the material on the edges will likely loosen up and might cause the rug to tear.
• Using concentrated detergents or chemically treated water on your rug might cause bleeding.
• Don’t leave your rug wet for too long a period of time.
• Don’t clean your rug with chemicals or steam.
• Never machine wash your rugs!
• Don’t wring out or squeeze your rug after wash.
• Don’t dry out your rug after washing by leaving it under direct sunlight.
• Don’t rub or scrub stains on your rug since this might cause further damage.
• Avoid stiff brushes when cleaning your rug since it might pull the fibers from it.

Since oriental rugs can last for several decades and even centuries, it pays to know how to care for them. They can be treasured heirlooms and may become even more attractive and valuable with age. Of course, this is as long as you show it the proper care. Proper care will preserve your rug to be lovingly passed onto the next generation in your family.