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How to Properly Care For Your Rug

How to Properly Care For Your Rug

Rugs are a great asset to any space in your home. They protect your flooring and add an instant burst of style and personality to a room.There are so many different types of rugs out there that all require different types and levels of care so it’s important you know exactly how to maintain and clean your rug to make it last a lifetime. Follow these tips below to ensure that your rug is being treated with the same love and attention it deserves.

Wool Rugs

When caring for your wool rug it’s important to keep in mind that they are extremely delicate. Wool rugs are made from natural fibres that require gentle care and lots of attention. Unfortunately, they tend to be quite thick and their fibres attract and trap a lot of dirt and grime. On the other hand, too much cleaning can lead to shedding, fading and abrasion. This means that they can be quite difficult to clean, because you need to be both thorough and delicate.

The best way to clean a wool rug is to vacuum the rug with a head that does not have any bristles, as the bristles tend to fuzz and fray the fibres. If there are stains or spots on the rug, it’s best to blot it away gently with water instead of using any kind of alkaline cleaner that can severely damage and discolor the rug. You should also be careful not to wipe or scrub as that can sometimes push stains in deeper. After cleaning, rugs should be dried immediately so as to avoid moulding. Just remember to never let it dry in the sun as that can cause the colours to fade.

Cotton Rugs

Cotton is another soft, natural fibre and so the same gentle care should be taken to maintain and clean a cotton rug as a wool rug. An important difference between the two types of rugs is that cotton is extremely absorbent. This means that they dry out very slowly and can develop mould and microbial growth very easily. To avoid this from happening, avoid cleaning with any kind of moisture when possible, instead use a vacuum or a dry powder to remove everyday grime and stains. When vacuuming, you can apply slightly more pressure than you can on a wool rug.

As with a wool rug, you need to be careful about the products you are using to clean your rug. It’s best to check and see what type of dye is used and what finishes have been applied to the rug before you choose your cleaning product. As always, avoid alkaline products and try to prevent the dirt build up before it happens to avoid having to clean it often.

Polypropylene Rugs

Polypropylene rugs have more resilient fibres than natural rugs like wool or cotton which means that they are more convenient for general cleaning and maintenance. While it is easy to clean off everyday dirt and grime, polypropylene fibres make it difficult to remove oil-based stains. Most people rely on a vacuum to clean their polypropylene rugs as it draws out the dirt quite effectively. Cleaners are also fine to use, because the fibres aren’t as delicate as natural ones. If you do get an oil stain on your polypropylene rug apply a dry cleaning solution, let it absorb the oil and vacuum the solution up.

Polyester Rugs

Polyester rugs are very similar to polypropylene rugs in terms of care and attention. They are relatively low maintenance rugs that don’t tend to hold a lot of grime. Thankfully, cleaning them is also quite simple. Dirt and grime can be removed with a scrubbing brush and warm water and they can be vacuumed regularly to avoid build up. Cleaners can be used but harsh chemicals should be avoided. If you want the best clean for your polyester rug though, you can’t go past a professional steam clean.

Acrylic Rugs

The great thing about owning an acrylic rug is that they are quite resilient and so maintaining and cleaning one is a breeze. Surface debris can simply be removed with a vacuum cleaner with any kind of head. If grime or dirt is built up in and on the rug, simply mix up some soap and water and use a scrubbing brush to dislodge the dirt. When drying the rug, roll it up and squeeze it to speed up the drying process, but be careful not to twist it as it may damage the fibres. From there, simply dry it out somewhere out of direct sunlight.