Area rugs are beautiful and functional additions to any home. Rugs add warmth to living spaces, complement home décor, and reduce noise levels. Unfortunately, like carpeting, area rugs hold dirt, dust, and other contaminants that can contribute to unhealthy indoor air quality. That’s why it’s important to keep your rugs clean and fresh. One way to do this is by using a carpet cleaner.
This blog will explore whether carpet cleaners are safe and effective for cleaning area rugs.
Difference Between Carpet and Area Rugs
Before we dive into carpet cleaning, it’s important to distinguish between area rugs and carpets. While they’re both made of fibers, they differ in several ways. The first noticeable difference is size, as carpets are typically larger and cover the whole floor, while area rugs are smaller and placed in specific areas of the home. Carpets are typically mounted to the floor, while area rugs are decorative and may move around.
More importantly, carpets are built to withstand frequent vacuuming and rigorous cleaning, while area rugs must be handled with care. While carpets are made to endure the impact of heavy foot traffic, area rugs use more delicate fibers. This means they may not be able to withstand the same cleaning methods as carpets.
The Importance of Professional Rug Cleaning
It’s worth investing in professional rug cleaning to extend the life of your rugs and ensure they’re cleaned properly. Often, a rug may look perfectly clean, but beneath the surface, thousands of dust mites are trapped, polluting the air quality of your home. Professional rug cleaning is the best way to ensure your area rugs and carpets are clean.
Can You Use Carpet Cleaners on Area Rugs?
Professional cleaners use state-of-the-art technologies to clean area rugs, but what about carpet cleaners made for home use? Can you use carpet cleaners on area rugs? The answer is not straightforward – it depends on the type of area rug you have.
If you have a synthetic area rug, you can clean it with a carpet cleaner. However, it’s best to avoid using a carpet cleaner if you have natural fiber rugs such as wool, silk, jute, or cotton. Using a carpet cleaner on natural fibers can cause the colors to bleed or the rug to shrink and become misshapen. If you insist on doing it yourself, it’s important to do a patch test in an inconspicuous area before applying any cleaner to the whole rug.
How to Clean Area Rugs Safely
If you have a natural fiber rug, the best course of action is to have it cleaned professionally to avoid any mistakes that might damage it. On the other hand, if you have a synthetic area rug you’d like to clean, here’s how to do it safely.
Step 1: Vacuum
First, vacuum the entire rug to remove any loose dirt and debris. Dirt and dust clog up the fibers and may dull the rug’s colors.
Step 2: Shampoo
After cleaning with the vacuum, you can use a carpet cleaner, such as rug shampoo. Rug shampoos are specially formulated to clean synthetic fiber rugs effectively.
Step 3: Rinse
After shampooing the rug, rinse it with clean water to remove any soap. Ensure all the soap gets removed, or the soap residue can act as a magnet to attract further dirt and make the rug dirty faster.
Step 4: Dry
Finally, properly dry the area rug. Do not use any heating equipment on the rug, as it can cause the fibers to shrink and lose their shape. Instead, lay the rug flat and let it air dry entirely. Don’t let it stay damp or wet for long.
The Importance of Choosing the Right Cleaning Method
When cleaning your area rug, the choice of cleaning method you use is essential. Using the wrong method can cause damage and discoloration to your beautiful rug. This is particularly true for natural fiber rugs, which are more fragile than synthetic rugs. Avoid using cleaning solutions containing bleach or other harsh chemicals, as natural fiber rugs are delicate and sensitive to chemical products.
Valley Carpet Cleaning Rug Cleaning Services
Professional carpet cleaners have the tools, expertise, and experience to effectively clean carpets and area rugs. Valley Carpet Cleaning is the best choice for area rug cleaning. We offer a wide range of services, including deep cleaning, stain removal, and water damage restoration. Our team at Valley Carpet Cleaning is dedicated to restoring your rugs using safe and effective low-moisture techniques. With years of experience, we will provide expert cleaning and make your area rug look as good as new.
Rug Cleaning Services Near Me
Choose Valley Carpet Cleaning for all your area rug cleaning needs, and rest easy knowing your beautiful home centerpiece is in the right hands.