A little effort and a good dose of common sense is really all it takes to keep areas rugs looking great for the years and decades to come. Nevertheless, thousands still insist on leaving their rugs to their own devices and wondering a few years down the line why they've lost their luster. These can of course represent a quite lofty investment to say the least, therefore in the spirit of protecting investments as we all of course should, the following consists of a few dos and don'ts to keep area rug health:
What to Do
First and foremost, area rugs should be vacuumed or gentle swept on a regular basis, just as would be done with any standard carpet. It is however essential to be careful not to suck up and risk damaging corners and edges, therefore a hand-tool may be sensible.
Never forget to rotate all of them 180 degrees every few months, or 90 degrees on a more frequent basis if it is square or round. This is essential not only to make sure that foot-traffic is distributed easily across the surface area, but also to ensure that all areas of these pieces are exposed to equal concentration of light, dark, heat, moisture and so on. This is paramount for keeping them even in their detail and finish.
Always dry spills of water as quickly as possible using a gentle blotting action with a clean towel, followed by the use of a hairdryer set to a low temperature - leaving the rug overly wet can lead to miss-shaping or rot.
Call in the professionals to carefully and thoroughly clean all area rugs at least once a year if possible, as there is no way of carrying out such an extensive clean safely the DIY way. Not only will professional cleaners be able to keep the rug looking, smelling and feeling brand new, but will also apply special preparations to extend its life exponentially.
If considering putting any of these into storage for any long period of time when it isn't to be used, always be sure to give it a thorough vacuum or ideally a professional clean before doing so. In addition, consider the use of mothballs and de-humidifying elements to prevent damage.
What NOT to Do
Don't go spending a small fortune on your ideal area rugs only to avoid walking on them in effort to preserve their beauty. Contrary to popular belief, there are thousands of types of area rug which actually take on a smoother, shinier and generally more balanced appearance only through proper usage. In fact, some rugs have been known to skyrocket in value simply for having been properly used and worn-in.
Never be tempted to speed up the drying of a water spillage by increasing the temperature of the hair-dryer - you risk doing permanent damage to the affected area that could prove to be irreparable at any cost.
Be careful not to attack any dirt, dust or debris with anything other than a gentle blotting or dabbing motion and a clean, perhaps very slightly damp cloth. Abrasive rubbing only stands to drive dirt deeper into the rug, or worse still cause physical damage in its own right.
No matter how tempting it may be, never have a go at removing old, large or serious stains yourself. Almost each and every time you will only make things worse, therefore if there is an offending areas to deal with, take it to the area rugs professional.
Last but not least, never entrust your area rugs to any carpet cleaning companies not specializing in these particular furnishing - the chemicals and processes they use will most likely prove unsuitable, ineffective and damaging.
