Rug

How To Maintain An Area Rug

Area rugs are a great addition to any busy household. They’re both functional and appealing to the eye, offering a touch of style.

Unfortunately, though, area rugs tend to be the kind of rugs that have the shortest lifespan. This is due to heavy foot traffic and lack of care, because, let’s face it – area rugs are often forgotten about.

If you care about your area rug, however, you’ll want to maintain it. So here’s how to do just that.

Become a spot clean master.

Stains are quick to develop. They waste no time ruining perfectly good carpets and area rugs, which is why spills should be attended to as soon as possible and with great care.

Gently blot spills with a dry cloth to dry them up – never rub! Avoid using soap, bleach, and other harsh chemicals. After blotting, you can use water to try and remove the stain, again, without rubbing.

If water doesn’t work, you may need professional help.

Rotate frequently.

Since area rugs are essential to the cleanliness of many homes, they’re very rarely ever not in position. This being said, it’s hard on your rug to be on constant use like that.

So, to give your rug a break so to speak, rotate it frequently so that both ends and all sides of the rug get even wear.

Make use of padding.

This might sound crazy, but adding a layer of padding under your area rug can do wonders.

Purchasing a layer of padding that sticks to both your floor are the bottom of your area rug does more than just make the rug comfy; it also serves as a protection against wrinkling and warping of your rug’s shape.

How? It adds stability, which means that your rug is less likely to move and get bunched up.

Don’t forget to vacuum.

It’s no secret that area rugs get dirty fast and are also frequently left that way. Area rugs are quick to get a build up of dirt, debris, dust, pet hair, and other danders.

This is why many area rugs seem perpetually dusty – even after a much needed clean. To ensure that your rug avoids this fate, make sure you vacuum it regularly. Try to vacuum it each time you vacuum the rest of the house.

Avoid direct sunlight.

Although dirt is the biggest problem to strike area rug owners, fading can occasionally be a problem too. Most of the time, fading is a result of age and of excessive exposure to sunlight, as the sun has bleaching properties.

To avoid parts of your rug getting bleached, you’ll want to try and avoid setting your area rug in an area that receives a lot of sun.

Despite being simple and serving a purpose that is usually purely functional, area rugs can and should still look good.

To keep them looking their best is simple: avoid sunlight, spot clean, vacuum, invest in padding, and be sure to rotate.

Remove carpets: natural remedies

The carpet , especially if precious, is a textile of the house that is difficult to maintain. Not only because it requires continuous suction of dust to prevent the proliferation of mites and dirt, but especially for the difficulty of washing. Not all carpets come into the washing machine – some with the appliance just do not disagree – and proceeding by hand is really tiring. Are there any easy methods, natural remedies , to remove a carpet?

It may happen that a carpet, be it in the living room or in the bathroom, is more than necessary: ​​a glass of inadvertently overturned wine, coffee, food such as sauces, chocolate creams and much more. And the damage is done: how to remove that encrusted halo, should you throw the carpet? The answer is simple: just resort to some grandmother’s remedies.

Ordinary cleaning

For the ordinary cleaning of the carpet, so in the absence of any kind of stains, you can rely on the binomial vacuum cleaner and steam. After carefully suctioning the entire surface, whisk the carpet and remove any residual dust accumulated on the back. Then, by using one of the many surface-cleaning appliances with steam, clean the entire surface. In case of sufficient space, the operation should be carried out by positioning the carpet vertically – perhaps hanging it on the clothesline or curtain bar – to allow the steam to pass through the fabrics from side to side. By doing so, you will be sure to eliminate any residue, reduce the presence of mites and achieve maximum hygiene.

Alone and smells

For a more thorough cleaning of the carpet, even valuable like the Persian, you can resort to bicarbonate , a truly irreplaceable remedy for the home. It is ideal for removing the accumulated dirt or those stains left after the removal of an important stain, like that of a food, given its strong absorbency. Just sprinkle the affected area – or even the entire surface – with baking powder and leave to stand for at least 60 minutes, then collect any residue with a vacuum cleaner. In the event of persistent stains, a mild mix of lukewarm water and bicarbonate can be created and the area directly dabbed, but checking the resistance of the color on a hidden part of the fabric.

Earth and dry residues

It can often happen that the carpet is stained with earth, mud and other plant residues, especially if there are pets in the house. Before making any attempt, let the stain dry completely: the mud, in particular, when it is solid can be easily removed with a clothes brush. If residues remain, you can try to sprinkle the affected area with coarse salt after having lightly moistened it, because it is able to absorb the watery spots by osmosis. In the same way you can also opt for vinegar , but the resistance of the fabric and colors must first be sifted in a hidden part.

How to clean the carpets in an ecological way, 6 DIY remedies

Do you want to clean the carpets at home but do not know how to do it in an ecological way? Here are 5 DIY remedies that will solve this problem.

They can be applied to all types of rug, from long-haired to synthetic , to wool . Here are some tips to refresh them without using any chemicals.

Cleaning the carpets with bicarbonate
bicarbonate, you know, is a real panacea for cleaning the house. Just spread a little on the carpet, let it work for a few hours (insisting where spots are present) and then vacuum it up or brush it off and your carpet will look like new. Moreover, thanks to its powers, bicarbonate is also able to absorb the bad odors that the carpet imprisons. Do you know which are all the domestic uses of bicarbonate? Find out 15 HERE >>

Cleaning the carpets with steam
Another way to clean the carpets is by steam. Use the appropriate appliances that produce the steam and pass them on your carpets to clean them. If you want to scent them, add a few drops of essential oil to the water of the machine that you like best – lemon, white musk or mint – and the house will smell (and clean) in a moment.

Cleaning carpets with baking soda and vinegar
. Vinegar is another natural product that is very useful for cleaning the house. If the stains you have on the carpets are very persistent, pour the baking soda over it and then over the vinegar. As soon as it stops sparkling, dry everything with a microfibre cloth. See how to remove the plasticine from the carpets with vinegar HERE 

Cleaning the carpets with salt and vinegar
Another effective compound against the dirt of the carpets is that based on salt and vinegar. Mix these ingredients to form a paste to be applied on the point to be treated. Leave for at least half an hour and then wipe off with a wet cloth or sparkling water. Discover 10 uses of salt for household cleaning HERE >>

Cleaning the carpets with hydrogen peroxide
An alternative to clean the carpets in a natural way is hydrogen peroxide. Pour it directly on the stains and let it act. Next, wipe and dry the treated part.

Cleaning the carpets with cornmeal
With the cornstarch you will not only make excellent chocolate creams, but you can also clean the stained carpets. Mix one cup with half a bicarbonate, then rub it all with a damp cloth. Leave to dry for half a day and then remove the residues with a vacuum cleaner.