Area Rugs Care and Maintenance

Your new area rug’s quality fibre provides exceptional wear, and the fine detail makes it beautiful. But remember, no rug will last without special care.

Keep a good rug in a low-traffic area. If the rug is in a traffic area, rotate it every year so it wears evenly. Removing dry dirt is critical. The dirt acts like sand paper and wears away the fibre.

Keep your rug out of direct sunlight. Sunlight, especially ultraviolet rays, can do more than fade colours. UV rays actually breakdown the fibers at a molecular level and they become brittle and break.

Vacuum weekly. On a cut pile area rug, use a vacuum with a rotating beater bar to agitate the carpet pile and loosen dirt for removal. On loop pile area rugs, use a vacuum with suction only to avoid damaging the loops.

Quality area rug pad can extend the life of your area rug. Use plastic guards under furniture legs, and periodically move the furniture around to change the pressure points on a rug.

A prize rug can also be hung on the wall. Sew a long, narrow fabric pocket and hand stitch it to the back of one end of the rug. Slide a rod through the pocket and attach the rod to wall hardware. The full-length pocket will distribute the rug’s weight evenly.

Repairs to the fringes and edges, which tend to wear first, should be attended to promptly to stop knots from unraveling.

When the appearance of your rug is no longer acceptable to your eye, that’s when you clean it. Do not have your rug steam cleaned. Your rug deserves a specialist. Area rugs are washed with a fine spray of mild shampoo and water, flushed with water to rinse, gently passed through a ringer, and finally hung in a  temperature and humidity controlled room to dry quickly.

When you get your rug cleaned ask the cleaner if they have a “beater”. This is a mechanized method of hitting the back of the rug with straps in order to remove as much dirt as possible before the rug gets wet. If they don’t have a “beater” insist on a thorough vacuuming on both sides before the rug is cleaned.

If you must store your rug, don't fold it. Roll it up against the nap, consider adding a few moth balls for extended storage, and avoid humid basements. Moths, silverfish and carpet beetles can destroy a rug left undisturbed.

With some loving care, your Area Rug will age gracefully and stay beautiful for years.