Rug Cleaning Tips

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Rug Cleaning Services

  • Rugs should not be cleaned on location in the customer's home unless there are extenuating circumstances such as size, weight or furniture that makes bringing the rug in for cleaning in a plant difficult.  In-home cleaning in much cheaper but leaves soap and dirt residue in the rug that causes the rug to re-soil quickly.  On location, the fringe cannot be cleaned and the rug may mildew on the floor because of inadequate drying.  Always have your area rugs taken out of the home and cleaned by a professional company that specialises in Oriental rug cleaning.  If the company does not know what type of rug you have or the fibre content, they probably know very little about cleaning area rugs.
  • The Oriental Rug Importers of America recommends that hand-made rugs be cleaned every 2-4 years.  Rugs used in heavily trafficked areas such as an entry hall, may need to be cleaned every year.  Because some rugs are so thick, waiting too long between cleanings makes the deeply embedded soil impossible to remove completely.  Moths can be found in rooms that are seldom used, in dark spaces under furniture and are more likely to attack wool rugs that are dirty.
  • Vacuum Rugs Regularly.  80% of soil in rugs is dry particulate matter.  It acts as sandpaper and wears out the rug.
  • Beware of any rug seller who says the rug you have just bought from them should not be cleaned.  What this really means is the rug will not withstand cleaning due to condition, foundation "painting", of other hidden defects.
  • Help Protect Your Wool Rugs from stains and soil.  Wool rugs are generally sold without any type of stain protection.  We use Bridgepoint Maxim fabric protector for your wool rugs.
  • Spills and Accidents should be addressed immediately.  Over the counter spotters found in grocery and home improvement stores are a No-No!  These spotters are too aggressive and can leave irreversibly discoloured areas.  Cold water or club soda work best as an emergency measure until the rug can be cleaned by a professional.
  • Rug Padding provides a protective layer between your rug and floor.  It helps minimise slippage, increase the life of the rug, makes the rug feel thicker and more luxurious, smoothes out irregularities in the floor, and absorbs noise.  All pads are not created equal.  The best pads for hardwood floors have a layer of synthetic felted material with a rubber coating.  The surface that the pad will be used on determines the type of pad we recommend.  To determine what size pad you need, measure the length and width of the rug, not including the fringe.  The pad should be cut 2 inches shorter than the length and width of the rug.