Rug Cleaning?

Maintianing your Investment

With the increase in hard surface flooring, homeowners are purchasing more area rugs for thier homes. Did you know that 64% of American homeowners have rugs in thier homes? However, only about 40% of those hoeowners have their rugs properly cleaned. Cleaning ensures that this little piece of comfort and decor in a home will last significantly longer. Below are several tips provided by IICRC on cleaning and maintaining your area rug:

Tips:

Vacuum rugs on a regular basis. Fringe should be hand-vacuumed only.
When spills occur, scoop or blot-up the excess. Then dilute the area with water and blot - don't rub - until no more color is visible on your clean, white towel.
Ideally, rugs should be removed from the home or office to be professionally cleaned.
Rotate your rugs once a year to ensure even wear.

Do It Yourself

Sometime having your investment cleaned professionally isn't an option, whether you ran out of time, Fido left a suprise in the middle of the night, or maybe you're just tight on cash. Bob Vila has comprised some helpful directions should you decide to clean your rug at home. It is important, however, to only deep clean your rug when it's dirty. In order to determine whether or not it's time to clean, just lift a corner of the are rug and let it fall back down to the floor. If a small cloud of dust "poofs" up, it's time to pull out the buckets and soap.

Directions:

1. Prepare the Rug. First, thoroughly vacuum the rug on both sides to remove any loose dirt.

2. Test for Colorfastness. Follow the mixing instructions on a store-bought rug cleaner/shampoo, or add a couple of capfuls of mild dish detergent to a bucket of warm water. Do not use hot water, as it may shrink fibers or fade color. Test the solution on a small corner of the rug to make sure it doesn’t make the colors run. If it doesn’t, proceed to the next step.

3. Wash. Using a sponge or brush, work a lather of shampoo or detergent deep into the rug. Allow the solution to sit on the rug and work for several minutes before rinsing.

4. Rinse. Thoroughly rinse the rug with a garden hose, making sure the water is clear of soap suds before you finish.

5. Remove Excess Water. Squeeze as much water out of the rug as you can with your squeegee, being careful to work only in the direction of the rug’s nap.

6. Dry. Lay the rug flat to dry. Once the top side is dry, flip it over so the bottom can dry as well.

7. Loosen Fibers. Use a vacuum or soft-bristled brush to loosen up the fibers of the rug, as they may have compacted during the washing/drying process. Return your rug to the room and enjoy!

Why Should You Call an Expert?

As mentioned above, it is important to only clean your rugs when they need to be cleaned. If it is placed in an area with higher foot traffic or if you have pets, chances are it will need to be cleaned more often. If the rug is in a room that you hardly visit, it may only need to be cleaned a couple of times to once a year. If you would like to have more information about cleaning schedules or to have us professionally clean your area rugs, contact us!

Sometimes, rugs can be comprised of delicate fibers, dyes, or carefully woven designs. These are things that can easily be damaged by do-it-yourself techniques. You can rest assured knowing that ServiceMaster by Bailey is IICRC certified, which means our technicians are trained to understand how chemicals or water extraction will react with certain fibers and dyes. Not only do we have the experience, but we also carry top-of-the-line products for your specific cleaning needs.