Cleaning a rugs is simpler than you might imagine.
Would a thorough cleaning benefit your area rug? You can always revive all of your floor coverings if you learn how to clean a rug on your own. Area rugs may unify a space, but they also endure wear and tear from spills, pets, and foot traffic. When vacuuming alone is no longer sufficient to keep a space thoroughly clean, understanding how to do it yourself will come in very handy.
You can simply take on the task of cleaning area rugs by yourself. Unless your rug is really fragile, such as an antique rug, Persian rug, or oriental rug, you don’t necessarily need to contact a professional rug cleaner.
Reminder: Routine rug cleaning is not necessary. The rugs should only be cleaned when they are obviously unclean or smell bad. Learn how to revive those worn-out area rugs so they look just as wonderful as they did when you initially unrolled them by reading on.
1. assemble your tools and supplies
To successfully clean an area rug, you’ll need to have the following items on hand:
- carpet shampoo (or mild dish soap)
- Bucket
- a sponge or soft-bristled brush
- Water
Optional
- leather gloves
- lawn hose
- Dry-wet vacuum
2. Remove the debris and dirt
Vacuum the carpeting well on all sides. Make sure every single piece of trash is removed. Use the brush attachment to collect any remaining stray hairs if you have pets.
3. Get Your Cleaner Ready
You can use a rug shampoo like this one from Bissell as the actual cleaning agent. Whatever shampoo you decide to use, make sure to mix it according to the instructions on the bottle.
As an alternative, you can also use warm water and mild dish detergent in a bucket. Avoid using hot water since it can cause the rug to fade or shrink.
4. Test colours.
Check to see if the cleaner will make the colours bleed before you begin to scrub. To see if the solution is colorfast, test it on a rug corner. It is okay to proceed to the following step if the colour does not bleed.
5. Scrub the carpet
Work the cleaning solution into a lather on the rug using a sponge or soft-bristle brush. Prior to beginning the rinse process, give the cleanser five minutes to sit on the rug. If you do anything less, the cleaning procedure will suffer. Give it five minutes to take effect and begin removing the dirt.
6. Thoroughly rinse the rug.
Using a garden hose or a pail of fresh water, rinse the rug to remove any remaining soap. Ensure that the area rug has been properly cleaned, and that the drainage water is absolutely clear.
7. Remove Extra Water
To help the rug dry more quickly, you should now remove as much of the extra water as you can from it. If you have a wet-dry vacuum, use it. If not, use a squeegee in the nap’s direction.
8. Dry the rug out.
Simply allowing an area rug to dry is the next to last step in cleaning it. Lay the rug down flat and give it time for the top to thoroughly dry. The bottom side should then be turned over to dry. Fans can facilitate a quicker procedure. Before bringing the rug back into the space, make sure it is completely dry.
9. Brush or vacuum the rug.
Threads and fibres may become squashed and compressed while being cleaned. You can revive them by vacuuming the now-dry carpeting or by giving them a little brushing. You’re done and may enjoy your freshly cleaned carpet at this point. You are capable of cleaning an area rug on your own anytime you want to.
