Rugs can be beautiful additions to any room, but they often require more care than the floor beneath them. To keep your rugs looking their best, you should clean them regularly and maintain them to prevent any damage or fraying from occurring. Here are some tips on how to keep your rugs clean.

Basic rug care
The best way to care for your rug is to avoid things that will damage your rug. Keep pets and children off it, and don’t put furniture on top of it. You may be tempted to hide a stain with a heavy piece of furniture—don’t do it! Instead, take care of any stains right away by blotting them with mild soap and water; if you need a bit more elbow grease, use a soft-bristled brush to work up some suds. Afterward, wipe off any excess moisture with a dry towel or paper towels before it dries. When you’re done vacuuming, always flip your rug over so that one side can dry while you vacuum (or sweep) its other side. And when it comes time to launder it, wash your rug only when necessary. Check how often different carpets are recommended for washing—most are fine every three to five years. Just make sure you have room in your home for a wet carpet once it’s out of the washer/dryer! If washing isn’t an option, consider having someone else clean your rug professionally instead. They’re experts at removing dirt from delicate fibers without risking color loss or ruining the texture, which means rugs cleaned by pros tend to look even better than new ones after each cleaning.

Rug care tips

1. Regularly sweep and wash your rug with a vacuum cleaner or, if necessary, a wet sponge.
2. If you have hardwood floors, put down runners between rooms and outside doorways to protect them from drips and dirt from shoes.
3. Clean spills immediately because they can permanently stain some rug fibers.
4. Apply non-skid pads under area rugs that might slip on smooth floorings like tile or wood.
5. Vacuum regularly, but if you have pets, you’ll probably need to spot-clean more often; use a commercial pet cleaner made for carpets and upholstery on stains and odors.
6. Spot clean with water and mild soap if necessary, then blot dry with a towel. Let air dry thoroughly before replacing it in its original position—this can take several days—because prolonged moisture may cause mold or mildew growth.
7. If your rug is really dirty, consider hiring professional cleaners because they’ll use stronger soaps that can damage some rug fibers.
8. Clean stains right away with cool water and mild detergent—hot water will set them—and let dry; sometimes you’ll need to repeat this process a few times for tough stains.

Best ways to clean your rug
Washing a rug may sound like a chore, but with a few simple steps, you can do it yourself. First, vacuum it with an attachment that will move in every direction. Next, take your rug outside and brush off as much debris as possible. Then fill up a tub or bucket with cool water and some mild soap; use special cleaning products if necessary. Dip a mop into the solution and wring out excess liquid so that it’s barely damp. (It should not drip when held vertically.) Mop slowly over each section of the rug for about 15 seconds. Hang dry or dry flat on a towel for best results. If a stain persists, place baking soda on it and leave overnight before brushing or vacuuming it away. Repeat these steps as needed until your rug is looking its best! Don’t hesitate to contact a professional rug or carpet cleaner for advice on tougher stains.

How to remove stains and spills
How can you easily remove stains from rugs? It’s important to be proactive and follow a few simple steps in order to preserve your rug. First, always blot up liquids as soon as they occur, using paper towels or a towel (do not rub!). The sooner you catch it, the better! Try using mild dish soap and warm water for stains that have dried, just make sure it’s completely dry before walking on it. And finally, use an enzymatic cleaner once a month to remove tough stains like pet accidents or foot traffic patterns.

Usually, different stains require different treatments. Here are some of the most common stains and how to get rid of them:

1. Coffee and tea
   These two beverages are known for their ability to help you stay awake, but they’re also notorious for leaving unsightly dark stains on your carpets. Removing coffee and tea stains requires plenty of elbow grease, but it can be done with time and effort. Start by blotting up as much of the stain as possible using a clean cloth or paper towel, then follow these steps: 1) Soak a clean white rag in either cold water or white vinegar and apply pressure to the stain. 2) Sprinkle a small amount of baking soda over the top of just a few drops of hydrogen peroxide (3/4 cup hydrogen peroxide should do). Be sure not to use too much hydrogen peroxide as this can discolour your carpet. 3) Scrub at any remaining staining with a scrub brush or old toothbrush before rinsing thoroughly. It is important to remove the stain as quickly as possible as the tannins (the compound that gives tea and coffee it’s colour) can be very hard to remove once there for a while.
2. Red wine or juice
   Don’t try to remove wine or juice stains by soaking them up with a towel. Instead, pre-treat these spots right away by pouring some club soda on them. Leave it there for an hour, then wash as usual. The chemicals in red wine are likely what is causing your carpet to turn yellow; here, you can use club soda’s ability to remove those discoloring chemicals from your carpets. Make sure to test a small spot first if you have any doubts about whether your carpet is colorfast.
3. Greasy stains
   If you have a grease spill, be sure to scrape it off as soon as possible. If some of it has sunk in already, gently rub a mild detergent into it with a damp sponge. Once you’ve worked that into a lather, rinse and then blot dry with a clean towel or paper towels. Repeat until it looks good as new. Be careful not to overwork these stains or use too much force—you don’t want to push more of the oil deeper into your carpet! Instead, gently pat with a clean, absorbent cloth until there is no more color on your cloth. Finally, if you are treating rugs, leave rugs out on sunny days for several hours so they can air out—the heat will help evaporate lingering odors.

Professional rug cleaning
For tougher stains, it’s best to contact a professional rug or carpet cleaner. Here at Ivey’s Carpet Cleaning and Pest Control, we’re here to help with all your rug cleaning needs. We offer professional carpet cleaning services throughout the entire Fraser Coast including Maryborough, Hervey Bay, Tiaro and surrounds. We’ll take care of your rugs so you don’t have to worry about them. Contact us today on 0428 420 667 or fill in our FREE quote request form here.