Rug Care Maintenance

Like everything else today, rugs need special care to insure long life. Regular cleaning using adequate treatments will help extend the life of your area rug. To prevent hard to remove stains, it is highly recommended that all spills be cleaned immediately. Our resources report that the majority of spots and stains from spills can be prevented if cleaned right away.

Regardless of whether your rug is a cut pile or loop rug, vacuuming is the basic and primary step for caring for your rug. Rugs are exposed to endless mistreatment, such as treading feet, dirt, dust, oil and spills of all sorts. Vacuuming regularly can prevent soil build up. Vacuums with good suction are recommended to lift surface dirt. This especially applies to looped rugs, where damaging the loops is possible. Cut pile rugs on the other hand, require rougher treatment. Besides removing surface dirt, it is necessary to agitate the pile to loosen the dirt which may have seeped into the core. These rugs require a vacuum with a beater or brush bar to lift the residue imbedded in the rug.

Basic cleaning steps for typical everyday stains are as follows:

  • Scoop up as much of the stain as possible.
  • Absorb as much of the liquid that is left with a dry cloth or paper towel by blotting.
  • Apply warm water to the stain and then blot again. If the stain remains visible, mix warm water with a mild non-bleach laundry detergent. Using a clean cloth, apply some of the mixture to the stain and let it soak for five minutes.
  • Rinse the stain with warm water and blot it well to extract the residue. Repeat until there is no detergent on the rug. When satisfied and the rug is completely dry, vacuum the rug.
  • To avoid altering the rug's texture, DO NOT RUB AS FUZZINESS MAY RESULT!

In reference to specific stains, many require different treatments. It is important to identify the source and nature of the stain. We will be happy to refer you to the manufacturer for their reccomendations with this information. Or, by clicking on the CRI logo below, you can check out the Carpet and Rug Institute's web site for valuable information regarding the removal of all types of stains.