Adding area rugs is a great way to style your home and keep it clean. Rugs accentuate the room, keeping your interiors stylish and cozy. However, due to their nature, they can easily accumulate dust and dirt. As such, you’ll need to clean them to keep them neat and in pristine condition.
Benefits Of Cleaning Your Area Rugs
Vacuuming your area rug may not be everyone’s favorite chore, but it’s something you should incorporate into your cleaning routine. Below are some benefits of cleaning them regularly:
- Extends their life: Considering your rugs are exposed to dirt and grime, cleaning them allows you to preserve their condition. Whether dealing with stubborn stains or removing odors, cleaning your rugs from time to time can help ensure you still get to use them for years to come.
- Maintain a clean environment: Over time, your area rugs collect dust and dirt. This can affect the indoor quality of your home’s interior, posing health risks to members with asthma or allergies. Cleaning them and getting rid of bacteria and allergens can promote a healthier living environment for you and your family.
- Removes odor: One of the benefits of cleaning your rug is removing the unpleasant odor that a dirty rug may cause. Sometimes, odors can also be due to pet mishaps or accidental spills. Fortunately, cleaning your rug can help you maintain the freshness and cleanliness of your home.
How Often Should You Clean Your Area Rug?
When cleaning your rug, you can either do it yourself or hire a professional like Rug Wash Specialist to do all the work for you. And to help you care for your area rugs, knowing how often you need to clean them can be a good start.
Ideally, it’s best to give your area rugs some deep cleaning annually. However, cleaning your rug usually depends on factors like where you place them or how you are using them. That said, the following situations may require more frequent area rug cleaning:
- If You Have ‘Shoes-On’ Policy At Home
Wearing shoes around your home can easily stain and soil your rugs. This is especially true since you’re bringing in the dirt and grime your shoes collected from the outside. In such cases, it may be better to vacuum your area rugs two to three times per week and perform a deep cleaning every three to six months.
- If The Rug Is In A High Traffic Area
If your rugs are located in high-traffic areas like the foyer, entranceway, and living room, it’s recommended to vacuum them two to three times a week. Whether you have a shoes-on policy or not at home, rugs in high-traffic areas usually collect dirt and dust since many people pass through them. In some cases, you may also notice that your rug’s appearance is slowly changing, indicating that it’s time to clean it.
- If You Or Your Family Has Allergies
Pollen, dust mites, and other allergens can also accumulate on your rug. And as mentioned earlier, this can pose health risks. As such, if you suspect allergies, then it may be time to clean your area rugs.
Consider vacuuming your area rugs daily or at least twice a week. Getting rid of irritants and microbes can help prevent allergies and other health-related complications.
- If You Have Pets and Kids
If you have pets and kids, it’s recommended to vacuum your rug daily. When pets go outside for a walk or to play, they’re likely to collect dirt or mud, quickly making your rug dirty. The same goes if you have young kids. They can bring home contaminants that can soil your rug.
How To Clean Your Rugs
Apart from deep cleaning or calling professionals, there are ways you can maintain and clean your rugs that won’t take too much effort from your end, and these include:
- Do regular vacuuming: Using a vacuum regularly is one of the most straightforward ways to ensure your area rugs remain dirt-free. Being diligent when vacuuming allows you to manage the buildup of dirt, dust, and other particles on your rug.
- Take care of spills immediately: If your pet had an accident on the carpet or you accidentally spill liquid on your rug, clean it up right away to avoid permanent staining, odor, or matting of rug fibers. When dealing with stains, avoid rubbing them, as this can cause a bigger stain. Instead, dab the affected area with liquid and a cleaning agent. However, ensure you first test the cleaning solution to avoid accidentally fading your rug.
Wrapping Up
As a homeowner, among your many responsibilities include maintaining your home. And part of this task is caring for appliances, furniture and furnishings, and floor coverings like area rugs. This post has outlined some helpful tips you can keep in mind to help ensure your home’s area rugs remain in their best shape, including how often you should clean them.
