How to Clean a Rug Without Calling the Pros

I know what is wandering in your mind. “It’s not even possible to clean a rug without calling the pros.” Well, I will defer with you here. If you follow the upcoming steps suggested by Glimmr Edinburgh, cleaning even the dirtiest rug in your home will be smooth, like cutting through soft butter.

Or I should say, walking on the cleanest rug without hurting your feet.

What is a Rug?

A piece of woven fabric that is designed to cover a particular section of the floor is known as a rug. This should not be confused with carpet which, most of the time but not always, refers to carpeting that runs from wall to wall or is permanently affixed to the floor. This is a separate concept. There are many different cultures from which rugs and carpets originated, but the technique used to weave rugs is largely universal. 

Rugs are typically woven on specialized frames that are referred to as rug looms. Even though we frequently speak of carpets and rugs as if they refer to the same thing, there is a significant amount of difference between the two in terms of their construction. A piece of thick cloth that is typically woven by using organic fibers such as cotton, silk, or wool is referred to as a rug or a carpet. The terms rug and carpet are used interchangeably. 

Both rugs and carpets, which can also be made out of synthetic materials and are commonly used to decorate homes and offices all over the world, are examples of decorative floor coverings. There is an almost infinite number of ways to make a rug or carpet, and the appearance of these floor coverings is frequently determined not only by the region of the world from which they originated but also by the period in which they were woven. 

The phrase, running from wall to wall, is sometimes referred to as a carpet. This is about machine-made wall-to-wall carpeting, the kind that can be assembled and laid down in a hurry to cover an entire room of virtually any dimensions. It is common to refer to smaller items by the term rug, while larger items are referred to by the term carpet.

Brief History of Rugs

In terms of the history of carpets and rugs, many years ago, it was the tradition of the various tribes to make carpets from weeds and long grass to create the oldest carpets, which are only the primary structure for keeping the earth warm during cold days. 

In addition, the history of carpets and rugs also includes the practice of making carpets from weeds and long grass. In the past, nomadic tribes would make ancient rugs out of animal skins. This practice dates back about 5000 years. Rugs made of camel, sheep, and goat wool are typically hand-knitted by travelers. In addition to that, living carpets were utilized in the traditional gardens. 

Extensive research conducted by archaeologists has shown that rugs were widespread in Mesopotamia and Egypt as early as 4,000 years ago. Despite this, various regions of the world have made important contributions to the process of evolution in a variety of ways. As a direct consequence of this, there is a substantial amount of variety present among the rugs that are sourced from various countries. The reason for this is the evolution scheme, as well as the traditions and culture that are associated with them.

Get off the Loose Dirt

Loose dirt is the most irritating and difficult-to-deal-with parts of the rug cleaning process. So you need to handle them first. Vacuum the rug to get rid of anything loose and anything bigger. It will smoothen the rest of the steps for an ultimate makeover.

Run a Spot Inspection

How big are the stains and spots on the rug? You should have this query in mind while inspecting the rug surface. No wonder a coffee and pasta sauce will require different attention and cleaning attempts.

Locate the areas where the spots and dirt are heavier. It is always better to start the next step in those problematic areas.

Scrub them Off

Most of the food stains are caked-up on the rug. So you can easily loosen them with a soft cloth or a soft bristle brush. Create a lather using any regular carpet cleaner to get rid of the dried stains. Scrub a few more times if necessary.

Pick the Right Carpet Cleaner/s

It is the most essential part of the rug cleaning process. The right cleaner will give you back the same old rug that you bought from the supermarket. Otherwise, you will end up with dull and grim shades on it.

Delicate rugs need softer cleaners. Even dish soaps will work for them. But in the case of woven ones, you may need to get a commercial cleaner. I have a jute rug in my living room, and I prefer the baking soda-water duo for it.

Rinse the Rug with Water

After you apply the cleaner on the rug and make lather, the cleaning starts immediately. The waiting time may vary depending on the cleaner combo, but 20 to 30-minutes is a good ballpark.

Now rinse the rug with water to get rid of the excess cleaners. It is better to complete this step outside. It will give you more space to work on every inch of the rug. You can use warm water to have an instant cleaning to remove any quick splash on the rug. It will also prevent any discoloration.

Let there be Dryness Prevail

Now you have to wait. Let the rug dry up, and you will be surprised to see the transformation. If you know the rug material and which cleaner is appropriate for it, the outcome will be simply stunning. If you do not want to have any musty smell, keep the rug outside and let the sun do the rest.

Finish with Vacuum

Wrap up the entire process with a throughout vacuum over the rug. It will suck up any loose dirt that may still be there after scrubbing. This will work as the final polish on the surface to make your rug new.

I am sure you are now an expert on cleaning a rug without calling the pros. Because you are a pro now!

Could Washing Rugs at Home Ruin Them?

When you wash a whole rug at home, you always run the danger of damaging it. Always be sure to look at the care instructions before commencing, which can be found on a tag that is still attached or on the website of the manufacturer.  While the expense of a cleaning service can sometimes be costlier than the price of the rug itself, it is generally a good idea to clean thin rugs and inexpensive carpets at home. However, DIY projects with thicker carpets or rugs with greater monetary value are fraught with danger; thus, you should proceed with extreme caution or consult an expert. 

Not all carpets can be cleaned at home, especially ones that are large or thick, old, or a heritage. Wagner stressed that it is crucial to obtain as much information as possible about the material of your rug as well as the sort of maintenance it requires so that you do not unintentionally create any problems. The colors of low-pile wool rugs, especially multicolored ones, are likely to run when they are washed at home, especially if the rugs are multicolored.

How Much Time Will It Take to Clean a Rug?

The amount of time needed for active cleaning can range anywhere from fifteen minutes to one hour for spot-cleaning issues. The majority of the time you spend doing this will be spent doing nothing active, such as allowing the stain remover to work or waiting for your rug to dry. The time it takes for anything to dry out can range anywhere from a few hours to an entire day; however, using a fan or a cool blow dryer can assist speed up the process. 

If you think a rug is safe to clean at home, deep-cleaning the entire thing can take half a day. On the other hand, the time spent actively cleaning shouldn’t take more than a couple of hours. It may take a few days to dry a rug, which is one of the most crucial tasks, depending on the environment where you live and the thickness of the rug. It is a much simpler task to complete if you have some smaller flatweave carpets that you can clean in the washing machine. However, you will still need to dry the majority of them by letting them air dry.

How Frequently Should You Clean A Rug?

Because rugs tend to get dirty quickly, it is essential to vacuum them regularly to extend their lifespan. Ideally, you would vacuum a rug once per week, but the regularity of this task will change depending on factors such as your lifestyle, dogs, children, and so on. If they are maintained properly in the interim, large and heavy carpets can probably go anywhere from three to five years without being washed. 

If your rug has lost its sheen and appears gray in color, this is a solid indicator that it needs to be cleaned. When you have finished vacuuming a rug, run a moist white rag across it. If the rag becomes soiled, the rug likely needs to be washed.