Regular habits damaging your rugs: Eliminate these habits promptly to preserve your floor coverings
In our homes, area rugs serve as a decorative touch and provide a comfortable place to rest our feet. However, maintaining their cleanliness and longevity requires a bit of care and attention. Here are seven common mistakes to avoid to keep your area rugs looking great and lasting longer.
- Overuse of Water or Soaking the Rug
Excess moisture can lead to a host of problems, such as loosening glue, mold growth, and damage to fibers, particularly in wool or handmade rugs. It's essential to use the right amount of water and avoid soaking the rug when cleaning.
- Using Harsh or Bleach-Based Cleaners
Harsh chemicals and bleach-based cleaners can break down delicate fibers, discolor rugs, and cause irreversible damage, particularly to handmade rugs. Opt for pH-neutral cleaners instead.
- Aggressive Scrubbing of Stains
Vigorous scrubbing damages rug fibers and can spread the stain further. Instead, gentle blotting is the way to go.
- Over-Cleaning or Vacuuming Too Frequently or Roughly
Excessive cleaning can wear out fibers prematurely. Balance and gentle vacuuming are key to keeping your rugs clean without damaging them.
- Dragging Heavy Furniture Across Rugs Without Protection
Dragging heavy furniture can cause permanent wear, tears, or distortion of rug fibers. Always use a rug pad or protective cover to prevent this damage.
- Allowing Pets to Chew or Damage Fringe Edges
Pets can ruin delicate fringes and edges, weakening the rug structure. Keep an eye on your furry friends to prevent them from causing damage.
- Failing to Dry Rug Quickly After Cleaning
Walking on damp rugs or leaving them wet invites dirt adhesion, odors, and mold growth. Make sure to dry your rugs quickly after cleaning to prevent these issues.
By avoiding these common mistakes—appropriate water use, gentle cleaning products and techniques, limiting cleaning frequency, protecting against furniture damage, and ensuring quick drying—you can maintain your area rugs’ appearance and durability over time.
In addition to these tips, there are several good habits to adopt for keeping your rugs clean. The best doormats act as the first line of defense, catching the worst of the dirt before it hits your indoor floors. A simple shoe-free rule or offering guests clean socks or slippers can significantly help in maintaining clean floors. Regular vacuuming of high-traffic areas, especially if you have pets or a lot of movement through one space, is recommended.
For high-traffic doorways, a 18"x30" jute door mat is a great option. Using a drip tray under indoor plants is also recommended to prevent overwatering, which can make rugs dirtier and stain them forever. Carpet rakes are efficient for removing pet hair from carpet and rug fibers.
Remember, not cleaning beneath a rug is a common mistake that makes rugs dirtier and reduces their lifespan. So, make sure to clean the area under your rugs regularly.
Lastly, not putting an outdoor mat and only relying on indoor rugs or mats is a bad habit, making indoor rugs dirtier. Consider investing in an outdoor mat to catch the dirt before it enters your home.
By following these tips and habits, you can keep your area rugs clean and extend their lifespan, ensuring they continue to add warmth and beauty to your home for years to come.
- Maintaining the health of your 'indoor plants' can also contribute to your home's overall lifestyle and 'home-and-garden' aesthetic, but using too much water when watering them can create a damp environment on your area rugs, leading to mold growth and possibly damaging the rugs.
- To enhance the cleanliness and longevity of your area rugs, it's recommended to use an 'indoor plant' drip tray to prevent overwatering that may make the rugs dirtier and potentially cause permanent stains.
