Home-grown Tips on Cleaning Rugs

If you’re a pet owner or have children, you would know how difficult it is to keep your home clean. Kids and pets drag in all sorts of dirt and contaminants. If you have expensive rugs and carpets in your home, with kids or pets around they would get dirty quite often. Regular vacuuming does help in removing surface dust and grime, but stains and mildew cannot be removed by vacuuming alone. Without routine cleaning and vacuuming, dirt, soil and grime can settle into the fabric of your carpet or rug. Professional cleaning experts can be consulted once in a while for a thorough cleaning, sanitising and deodorising treatment. Professional cleaners use products that extend the life of your Persian silk or Oriental rugs.

Household cleaning products and kitchen ingredients like club soda, baking soda, household bleach, ammonia, vinegar and dish detergent are sometimes all that are necessary for removing light stains while cleaning rugs. Stains from infant and pet urine can be removed by using water and mild detergent at the spot. Organic stains from vomit, urine and faeces can similarly be removed. Food stains can be treated in the same way.

You should takes special care of expensive Oriental rugs that you spend hundreds of perhaps thousands of pounds on. Do not keep your expensive heirloom piece in a damp place.  Humidity and damp are the worst enemies of a hand knotted rug. Vacuuming from time to time would remove surface dust and loose dirt. Antique rugs have vibrant colours, designs and can last for years and years without deterioration. By wiping the surface with a dilute vinegar solution, you can revive the colour and shine of the fabric. Any stain should be treated immediately with mild detergent solution, rinsing with cold water and drying. Do not rub or brush against the direction of the pile. When washing your rug at home, do not soak it entirely in water. Silk carpets and rugs should not be washed or cleaned at home. Only professionals with expertise in cleaning rugs would be able to refurbish your silk carpet. Chemical and ammonia can never be used on silk to remove stains.

A unique way that nomads used to keep their carpets and rugs clean was by keeping them face down in snow and allowing snow to accumulate over them. Melting snow is effective in removing stubborn dirt and grime. When you want proper cleaning of your antique rug you should consult the services of dry cleaners that specialise in cleaning rugs. Middlesex residents can find reliable cleaners in the London area.