Rugs are more than just a way to spruce up a room or cover your hardwood floor – they’re investments and heirlooms that add warmth and character to your home. But no matter how well-made or durable your rug is, it will require proper maintenance and care to stay in its best condition. With over a century of experience, our expert tips will help you maintain your rugs and extend their lifespan, no matter the material or style.
General Rug Maintenance Tips
Before we dive into specific rug maintenance tips, let’s talk about general rug cleaning best practices for all rugs.
- Regular Vacuuming: No matter how clean your house, dirt and dust accumulate quickly in rug fibers – especially for those in high-traffic areas like living rooms and hallways. Best practice is to vacuum at least once a week.
- Rotating: Uneven wear can be easily prevented by rotating your rug about every six months. This is also important for rugs in sunlit areas to minimize color distortion or fading.
- Using Rug Pads: Investing in high-quality rug pads provides better grip – but it also reduces friction between the rug and floor, which can prevent premature wear.
- Handle Spills Immediately: If something spills, take action immediately. Blot (don’t rub) the stain clean with a cloth. Mild soap and water can help with gentle cleaning, but avoid harsh chemicals that may damage the rug’s fibers.
- Book Professional Cleanings: Even with routine care, all rugs need professional cleanings to release dirt and allergens trapped deep within the materials. Depending on the rug and its use, you may want to consider professional cleanings every one to five years. However, an expert will be able to tell you definitively how often you should bring your rugs in, based on their sizes, conditions, and types.
How to Maintain Different Types of Rugs
Each rug has its own best practices when it comes to upkeep and cleaning. Let’s break down the at-home methods for different types of rugs.
1. Handmade Rugs
Handmade rugs are often crafted from wool, silk, or cotton using traditional, tried-and-true techniques. These beautiful rugs require special care to preserve their intricate hand weaves and dyes. Here’s how to best care for handmade rugs.
- Avoid Excessive Sunlight: Prolonged, direct sun exposure can cause colors to fade over time. Rotating your rugs regularly can help mitigate and even out fading to minimize its effects.
- Vacuum Gently: Modern vacuums can be aggressive and too powerful for a hand-woven, antique rug. Use a vacuum with a suction-only setting instead to avoid beater bars, which can damage delicate fibers.
- Clean with Caution: Avoid using harsh scrubbers, as they can damage soft rug fibers or tear the structure of rugs. You also want to use only mild cleaners when necessary and avoid using carpet cleaning products, as many of them are formulated for synthetic fibers and can damage dyes or natural fibers themselves.
- Professional Cleanings: Handmade rugs are delicate. Due to their nature, these rugs should be professionally cleaned every two to three years to maintain their structure and vibrancy.
2. Machine-Made Rugs
Machine-made rugs are often crafted from synthetic fibers like polyester, nylon, or polypropylene, but higher-end examples can also be made from wool. Synthetic fibers have their own special considerations for cleaning and maintenance.
- Vacuum Frequently: Machine-made rugs attract dirt and dust in their synthetic fibers. Vacuuming twice a week can help keep them clean.
- Rotating: Rotate your rugs every few months to distribute wear evenly.
- Clean with Caution: Unlike wool or silk rugs, rugs made with synthetic fibers can tolerate mild detergent solutions for spot cleaning.
- Deep Cleaning: For synthetic, machine-made rugs, we generally recommend a professional cleaning on the same schedule as hand-made rugs.
3. Antique and Vintage Rugs
Antique and vintage rugs require specialized care tailored to their unique structure and designs. To maintain their beauty and value, follow these tips:
- Handle with Care: We recommend avoiding vacuums with rotating brushes when cleaning older rugs; they can rip the delicate fibers and lead to repairs.
- Avoid Moisture: Try to keep your antique rugs away from excess moisture, which can cause dyes to bleed or fibers to weaken. If something is spilled on your rug, make sure to dry it as much as possible right away.
- Expert Help: If you find frayed edges or holes in your antique rugs, ask for professional help. Professional restoration can prevent further damage; antique rugs should be professionally cleaned every three to five years.
4. New and Modern Rugs
Modern rugs are often made with wool, jute, viscose, or other natural fibers, with bold colors and contemporary patterns. These rugs, while stylish, can be tricky to care for.
- Shake Them Out: If you have a lightweight rug, consider shaking it out outside every couple of weeks. This will help to remove surface dirt.
- Shedding Risk: New wool rugs will often undergo a period of shedding when you first get them. Regular vacuuming – without a beater bar – can help to manage this.
- Spot Cleaning Promptly: Blot up spills immediately to avoid long-term damage or stains.
- Deep Cleaning: Every new rug needs occasional, professional care to maintain its original shine. Reach out to a rug cleaning professional to determine how often your rugs should be deep-cleaned.
5. Wool Rugs and Woven Rugs
Most people choose wool and woven rugs for their durability and softness. But with high quality and comfort comes specific care to prevent further damage.
- Handle with Care: We recommend vacuums with suction-only features on wool fibers to avoid damage.
- Avoid Moisture: Wool will absorb moisture extremely easily, which can lead to mold or mildew down the line. Make sure to keep your wool rugs as dry as possible.
- Professional Cleanings: To remove deep dirt and dust, get your rug professionally cleaned every one to three years.
6. Large-Area Rugs and Runners
Large rugs and hallway runners can be prone to heavy wear over the years. This makes routine rug care all the more essential.
- Vacuum Weekly: When placed in high-traffic areas, these rugs can see more foot traffic than most. Weekly vacuuming is essential to keep them clean and fresh.
- Use Rug Pads: Reduce friction and sliding by choosing a high-quality rug pad. This will help reduce the strain on the rug base and structure.
- Spot Clean Promptly: High-traffic rugs often have more spills than usual. Prompt cleanings are important to maintain the look of your rug.
- Professional Cleanings: Every six months to two years, consider getting a professional cleaning to remove deeply embedded dirt, dust, allergens, and bacteria.
Why Professional Rug Cleanings Matter
Routine maintenance can help preserve your rug, but nothing truly replaces a thorough, professional cleaning. Deep cleaning helps remove dirt, restores vibrancy, and overall extends the life of your rug, no matter the type.
Trust Bon Ton Rug Cleansers
With more than a century of experience, our family business is dedicated to providing you with expert rug cleaning and restoration services. From routine cleanings to specialized care, we treat each rug – and each customer – like they’re family.
Not sure if your rug needs professional care? We’re here to help. Reach out for a professional assessment to keep your rugs in their best possible condition.