How to clean large area rugs?

For many of us, large-area rugs are a great investment in decoration. They are warm and add color to our rooms. They provide lovely places to play, watch movies, and party. But an area rug must be maintained properly to make it long-lasting. And a lot of that maintenance is regular cleaning.

Fortunately, even though you may want to vacuum twice a week, you only need to clean a rug when it's dirty thoroughly. If the rug is not visibly dirty (or visibly smelly), try this test: drop the rug to the floor and do it from just a corner. If a small cloud of dust is floating around, cleaning is required.

Buying an easy-to-clean rug online can be a great way to save money and find the perfect design for your home. Just be sure to research the options before making a decision and remember that warranties may be available on select items.

Basic rug maintenance:

Size, construction, and material determine the best way to clean a rug. Take care of large rugs as you would a wall-to-wall rug. So, this means that most rugs will benefit from the following grooming routine:

Vacuum to remove dirt:

As with an area rug, regular vacuuming is the most important step in cleaning rugs. If a rug is reversible, vacuum both sides. So, this removes sand and dirt that can prematurely wear out your rug. Be careful not to suck the bangs.

Brush Pet Hair:

A vacuum cleaner sometimes leaves pet hair behind. Use a stiff brush to remove the bristles, brushing in the direction of the rug's pile.

Change the floor mats every year:

Foot traffic and the sun can put additional pressure on the floor mats. Rotate them once or twice a year to even outwear.

Shake the rugs:

If the rug is small enough, you can take it out and shake it or tap it vigorously to remove dirt and sand. Some areas have ordinances regarding shaking outdoor rugs. So, check local codes first.

It is not necessary to clean the rugs on a schedule. Instead, you should simply clean rugs when they are visibly dirty or when they smell. Furthermore, you have to buy rugs online which should be easy to clean and maintain.  Read on to find out how to freshen up these worn rugs, so they look as good as they did when you first unrolled them.

Gather your tools and supplies:

Here is exactly what you will need for a successful rug cleaning:

• An area rug shampoo (or mild dish soap)
• Bucket
• Soft bristle brush or sponge
• The water

Optional:

• Rubber gloves
• Garden hose
• Wet/dry vacuum

Remove dirt and debris:

Carefully vacuum the large area rugs on both sides. You want to make sure all the debris is gone. If you have pets, use the brush to remove a stubborn stray hair.

Mix your cleanser:

As for the cleaning solution itself, you can use rug shampoo like this one from Bissell. Whichever shampoo you choose, follow its specific instructions for mixing.

You can also use mild dish soap mixed in a bucket with warm water. Do not use hot water as it may shrink the rug or cause discoloration. 

Do a color test:

Before you start scrubbing, make sure the cleaner doesn't run off the colors. So test the solution on the corner of the rug to make sure it is color stable. 

Wash the area rug:

Using a soft-bristled sponge or brush, lather the cleaning solution onto the rug. Let the cleaner sit on the rug for five minutes before you begin rinsing. Nothing less, and you will shorten the cleaning process. So, give him those five minutes to settle down and start removing the dirt. 

Rinse the rug:

Ensure all the cleaning solution is completely removed from the rug and that the running water is clear.

Remove excess water:

At this point, we recommend that you remove as much excess water as possible from the rug to make it dry faster. So, you can use a wet vacuum if you have one or use a squeegee in the direction of the pile.

Let the rug dry:

The penultimate step in cleaning a rug is to let it dry. Lay the mat flat and let the top dry completely. Then turn it over to let the underside dry. So, Fans can help speed up the process. Make sure the rug is completely dry before putting it back in the room.

Vacuum or brush the rug:

During the cleaning process, the yarns and fibers can be compacted and crushed. Brighten them up by vacuuming the dry rug or brushing them with a soft-bristled brush. You are now done and can enjoy your freshly cleaned rug. So, you know how to clean a rug yourself, and you can finish the job whenever you want. 

Conclusion:

Rug cleaning is a project you can easily undertake on your own. You don't need to hire professional rug cleaners for this task. So, unless your rug is extremely delicate, an area rug can join a room. 

So, they also withstand knocks, from foot traffic to pets and spills. After a while, vacuuming is no longer enough to make it clean, and that's when knowing how to do it yourself comes in handy.