love having an area rug in my home! It seems like I have them everywhere I can! Of course, there are certain spots that are important places to have an area rug, like the entrance of your home to prevent mud from being tracked in or outside the shower so you won’t slip. Now, I might be a little obsessed with area rugs because I add them wherever I can for both beauty and warmth. Knowing how to care for your area rug is very important because they are made with different fibers and weaves that are not cleaned by washing machines.
Rug History
The history and origin of rugs go back as far as 5,000 years ago when people wanted something to protect their feet from the cold dirt floors. The design of throw rugs has evolved drastically from those first rugs, but most materials used to make rugs have stayed the same. Many area rugs are still made from wool and are used to make the floor in your home warmer and more inviting.
Types
There are many types of rugs, as well as materials that are used to make them. An area rug can be made from natural materials such as wool,cotton, bamboo, synthetic materials like acrylic fibers, or a combination of the two. The dyes used for the area rug can also be light or water sensitive. That’s why it’s important to have a professional cleaner come in and examine your rug to determine the best cleaning process.
Area rugs come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. The more expensive types of rugs are the Persian and Oriental rugs. The difference between the two is important to note. Oriental rugs are made in Asia, while Persian rugs are made exclusively in Iran. Since a Persian rug is made in Iran, it’s also an Oriental rug. This means that a Persian rug is an Oriental rug, but an Oriental rug might not be a Persian rug.
When cleaning your rugs, it is important for the professional to examine numerous things. They look at how the rug was woven together, the glues used to hold the rug together (some rugs do not use a glue to keep the weave together), the fabric type, and the type of dye used for coloring the fabric. This allows a professional cleaning service to make sure they use the proper cleaning solutions. They want it to be tough on the dirt but not on your rug.
What you can do to care for your rugs
While you should have the scatter rugs in your home cleaned periodically by a professional, there are a few things that you can do to keep your rug looking great.
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First, just like carpets, vacuuming a rug at least weekly to keep dirt and grime from getting deep into the fibers.
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Vacuum the back of the rugs in your home a few times a year.
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Since most throw rugs are on a hard surface, sweeping the floor often reduces dust that could gather on the rug.
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Use a non-slip pad to prevent the rug from scratching and damaging the surface underneath the rug. This also helps with fall prevention.
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Lastly, if a spill occurs on your throw rug, make sure that both the floor underneath and the rug itself are completely dry before putting the rug back onto the floor.
Call your local Heaven’s Best Operator to find out more
At Heaven’s Best we can clean most rug types. There are certain area rugs that require other methods in order to be cleaned properly. Our professionals have the expertise to know what cleaning method is right for your rug. Rug cleaning may not be available in all areas, so please contact your local Heaven’s Best operator for details.