Do you have a brand new area rug for your den or living room in your home but you are concerned about how long it will last and how long it will look so fresh? That is a valid worry because wear and tear are inevitable. However, if the area rug is properly maintained and cared for, then it will delay the wear and tear and keep it fresh and appealing at the same time.
As long as you follow these steps and are consistent with it, then you will be happy with the results and you will be able to enjoy your area rug for a long time. Let’s take a look at the tips that will keep your rug from aging too fast.
Don’t Consider Changing The Baby On The Rug
If you have a baby, then do not even consider changing the baby’s diaper on the rug. Yes, that even applies if you are intending to use a portable changing pad. In the middle of a changing even when the baby is on the pad, they can suddenly do #1 or #2 out of the blue (and #2 is even worse which you don’t even need to be told) and it will not only get on the pad, or on you! It will get onto the rug.
Yes. you can do a DIY cleaning job on the rug (you can hyperlink the post that I did yesterday if you choose) even after that, but it is ideal to keep the stains to a minimum because doing that type of DIY stain removal on the rug can wear it out quickly. Just find a designated area to change the baby that is nowhere near the rug.
With that said, it is best to keep the baby or pets out of the rooms where the area rug happens to be if it can be helped. Babies spit up and have leaky diapers, and pets can have accidents. That will also mean that there will be a lot of need for DIY cleaning for the rug which as you know, will be worn out quicker.
Be Careful When Vacuuming
You need to treat your area rug the same way you treat your carpets and other flooring and vacuum it on a regular basis. The fibers of the rug will trap microbes and allergens from cooking and opening and closing doors to the outside. They do fly in. However, when you are vacuuming the rug, be sure to be careful when you are nearing the fringes at the end. You don’t want them to get sucked up in the vacuum or else the beautiful rug will be ruined if it is. Just be very mindful when you reach the end.
Turn The Rug Around Every Few Months
This is a perfect tip to avoid wear and tear. If you have an area rug in a room where there is a lot of foot traffic and if one end of the rug gets more sunlight than the other, then you will want to rotate it every few months about 180 degrees. This way the side that is getting too much sun exposure and/or is walked on a lot will get a break from it if it is turned away from the sun and from those who have access to it to walk on.
Too much sunlight can cause a lot of fading and that will cause the color to become washed which is not something you want to happen to your rug. Additionally, too much foot traffic will also cause the rug to wear down and that is why it is best to alternate sides. In fact, you want to expose both sides of the rug to the traffic in an equal way so that there is no uneven wearing down of the rug.
Dry Water Spills Right Away
If a little bit of water ends up spilling on the rug, then you will want to pat it down dry with a cotton cloth or a paper towel and use a hairdryer to put it on the lowest setting. A high setting will make it too hot and can cause the rug to overheat which will do damage. And you want it to be dried up right away because water that is not soaked up right away will become a breeding ground for mold and mildew. And that is the last thing you want.
It is important to blot the spilled area with a cotton towel or paper towel and not rubbed because that will also not be good for the condition of the rug.
Get The Area Rug Professionally Cleaned
You need to have your area rug professionally cleaned every 2 to 5 years, which depends on how much exposure the rug as to foot traffic and to other pollutants. If there is a lot of foot traffic on the rug and if it is near the door that leads to the outside, or near the kitchen or bathroom when bacteria and other microbes can spill onto it easily – then you will want to have the rug cleaned every 2 years.
However, if you have the rug in the room where there is little foot traffic and is not exposed to dirt, then you can wait to have it professionally cleaned every 5 years. That also depends on how diligent you are when it comes to maintaining the rug. If you sweep it with a vacuum every few days, then you can wait for 5 years. If not, then you will need to have it cleaned sooner as dust accumulates.
If you take these tips given and utilize them, then you will be able to enjoy your area rug for a long time and save the money without having to replace them. It is much cheaper to have the area rugs professionally cleaned than to have them replaced every few years. And it is a lot less stressful as well. Enjoy your area rugs and you can do that as long as you take care of them well.