Accent rugs can add a lot of character to your space. They can also help protect your floors and keep people from tracking dirt past a certain point in your home. Of course, over time, accent rugs can get pretty dirty. Here are some steps you can follow to clean them.
1. Vacuum the rug.
It's a good idea to vacuum the rug before you move it. This way, you will suck up any larger pieces of dust and dirt so they do not get scattered through your home when you do move the rug. Also, by removing surface dirt with the vacuum, you make it easier to reach the deeper, more ground-in dirt with the cleaning protocols you're about to follow.
2. Take the rug outside.
Once you have vacuumed it, take the rug outside or into the garage — any space that you don't mind getting wet. Prepare a bucket full of warm water and a generous squeeze of dish soap.
3. Scrub the rug.
Use a stiff brush to apply the soapy mixture to the rug. Work it around, either in circles or by scrubbing back and forth. Back and forth motions tend to work best with rugs that have longer fibers, and circular motions work better on short-fibered rugs. Don't scrub so hard that you damage the rug, but do make sure you're applying enough pressure to get the soap deep between the fibers.
4. Hose off the rug.
Have someone else hold the rug up vertically, and then use your hose to rinse off the soap. Let the water run down the face of the rug, taking the soap and dirt with it. Use cold water, as this is less likely to cause the rug to shrink or cause any colors to run.
5. Assess for stains.
Once the rug has been rinsed clean, give it a thorough look-over to assess for the presence of stains. If you do notice any stains, apply a little more dish soap to them, along with a sprinkle of baking soda. The baking soda adds a little grit, which will help you scrub out the stain. Scrub, then rinse again.
6. Hang to dry.
The best way to dry a rug is by hanging it on a clothesline. Let it drip dry; the process will take about a day as long as the weather is warm.
Follow these steps every 3 to 6 months to clean your area rugs. If this seems like too much work, you can always leave the cleaning to the professionals instead.
For more information, contact a rug cleaning service like Superior Rug Services.
If your home was being appraised today, would you be alright with the condition of the property? Oftentimes, people don't think too seriously about how much they need to do to the space until problems start to occur with their home, which is why it is so important to stay up-to-date with cleaning.
Check out great tips and tricks about cleaning, and learn when it might be time to contact a professional cleaning company instead of taking care of things on your own. By making the right choices now, you could keep your property in great condition, which could save you money down the road.