Area rugs are a great way to make your Temecula house feel like a home. A Persian or Oriental rug can really tie a room together, and floor rugs trap and filter out dirt and allergens, actually improving the air quality in your home. These area rugs should be deep cleaned 1-2 times a year, or when they start looking visibly dingy, to ensure that they are looking and functioning their best.
When it’s time to clean your floor rugs, you have several options that will maintain the health and beauty of your home. Before you decide between cleaning your own rug or hiring a carpet cleaning service, double check the specific cleaning instructions for your rug. Quality rugs can be expensive, and it is important to protect your investment by caring for them in the way that was intended.
Additionally, antique or oriental rugs require special care. If you own one of these, it is necessary to call a professional carpet or rug cleaning service. Don’t risk ruining your valuables by attempting to clean them without the experience of a professional.
Do-it-yourself:
If a DIY area rug cleaning option is best for you, a few simple steps will make cleaning your area rug a breeze. First, shake away the excess dirt and grime from the rug. Then, vacuum away further dust, taking care to use gentle settings and avoid tearing/separating the rug from its rubber backing.
Next, select the proper cleaning product. In order to protect your rug, it is worth the time to research the safest and most effective cleaner for the rug type. For instance, a gentle laundry detergent can work well on wool or cotton rugs, and dish detergent can be used on synthetic fibers. Additionally, different carpet shampoos are made for different rug types, so take the time to find a good match for the rug in your home.
While doing-it-yourself is cost-effective and practical, nothing could be more disappointing than ruining your area rug by mistake. To avoid a potentially stressful situation, make sure to test your cleaner on a small, inconspicuous part of the rug. Once you are confident that the cleaner will not make the colors run together, you can move on to washing the rug.
Washing the rug itself will require lots of water, so we recommend using a garden hose (note: do not fully saturate a wool rug). Additionally, hot water is likely to make the colors bleed, so you should protect the fibers in your rug by using cold water. Once the rug is completely wet, use a gentle brush or sponge to work the cleaning solution into a lather and apply to the fibers. Be cautious and attentive while scrubbing; do not use excessive pressure, and stop immediately if you suspect that the rug is being damaged. We recommend using a patting or blotting motion, which is safer than rubbing. Once clean, use the hose to thoroughly rinse your rug– continue rinsing until all traces of soap/bubbles are completely gone.
The final (and potentially most important) step is to ensure that your rug is dried completely before returning it to its place. Drying might take several days, but it is vital because a damp rug is a perfect breeding ground for harmful dust. Set your rug out to dry in a well-lit, open area with good airflow to speed the drying process and minimize that threat. You can also help your rug dry faster by ringing it out or using a squeegee to remove excess water immediately after rinsing away the soap.
Professional Area Rug Cleaning:
Some professional rug cleaning services use steam-cleaning or other shampooing techniques to care for your rugs and carpets. These techniques can increase the risk of dust growth, because they use a lot of water. Whether you wash a rug yourself or call in a professional, you want your rugs to dry as quickly as possible. Hot Carbonating Extraction is a method which lifts dirt and grime out of the fibers of rugs and carpeting using a carbonated cleaning solution. This method utilizes less water and allows carpets and rugs to dry faster. Blue Sky Chem-Dry uses a tested Hot Carbonating Extraction method to clean carpets and rugs in a way that improves the health and safety of your home.