subject: How To Take Care Of Your Area Rug [print this page] A rug should last for years but without the right care it won't. There are several ways to take good care of your rugs so they can last for years. It's important to start taking care of them from the beginning.
When you are ready to place your rug down on your floor be sure to first add a rug pad that is between 3mm and 6mm in thickness. This should allow enough support throughout the rug and help wear and tear on your floor. When the padding starts to wear down you can replace it completely and still get several years of enjoyment from your rug. Because rug padding helps protect your floor and help your rug stay in place it can easily wear down quickly, especially in high traffic areas.
Depending on your rug design you need to turn your rugs on a regular basis. Over time, rugs can show sun fading as well as traffic wear. If you can turn your rugs around often you can increase the life of your rug. But only do this if the rug design allows.
Cleaning your rug is very important. It saves on the life of your rug. If you cannot clean the rug yourself it's a good idea to hire a professional to come into your home and clean it.
Vacuuming your rug can wear down the fibers and weaken the rug. This can make it more prone to tearing and weakness. Avoid vacuuming whenever possible. When you want to dry a rug don't hang it. This can also cause damage to the rug. Instead lay the rug flat on the floor or ground and allow the rug to dry naturally. If ends fold upward after it's dry simply place a heavy object, such as a book, on each corner for a few days. Once it is set it won't fold upward anymore.
Don't let sunlight fall on your rugs directly. Use a curtain if you must, because bright light will fade the colours of your rug.
Avoid pulling on your rug when you are moving it. Instead roll up the rug then transfer it. You will also want to avoid folding the rug before moving. When you fold a rug it can cause the fiber holding the rug on the back to tear. This can also cause creases that will not come out. If you are moving a rug out of the home it's best to place the rug that is rolled up on top of your furniture pieces instead of setting furniture on top of the rug. When you are ready to unroll the rug note any corners that fold up. Place a book or other heavy object on each of the rolled up corners to help anchor them down for a few days. If you see any creases they will fade away the more you walk on them.
