Area Rugs and Carpet Care and Cleaning

Area Rug and Carpet Care and Cleaning

After you buy rugs online at Modern Rugs.com and put them on your floor, you will want to keep them looking their best for years to come. To get the longest wear out of your new area rug, you should know how to clean and take care of it. Most of the rugs you can buy online at Modern Rugs.com are wool rugs, which have a natural resistance to stains and soil, but regular cleaning is necessary to prevent the breakdown of the natural fibers. The following information has been compiled from the knowledge of rug manufacturers and experts, covering almost every possible scenario from grape juice stains to grease stains and mud. Simply scroll down to the area rugs and carpet chart brelow and learn more about caring for your new area rug.

Area Rug Stain

So you just bought a new rug? It's beautiful. And we are sure you couldn't wait to get home with it and roll it out. You probably didn't sweep up the dirt on the floor before you rolled it out, and we are sure you'll never consider taking your shoes off before you walk on it. And when it snows and there is salt all over the place, you probably don't realize the rug is acting like a sponge soaking up all of that salt and road oil.

In the spring, more rain, more mud, more dirt, more grit acting like sandpaper on the wool in your prized possession. And the moths that you never treated are now hatching, possibly in the back of your rug. Never being one to deprive animals of food, you've provided that moth larve with a veritable foodfest in order to feed the moth larvae until adulthood. When the moth is old enough to fly away, and you see it, the damage is done! You vacuum your carpet and the pile comes out. Initially you think you bought a cheap carpet - but in reality those little, harmless moths that you saw fly away, have eaten the backs of the knots in your carpet. There is nothing holding the pile onto the foundation.

You have a great party! Lots of people, red wine, cheese, dip, shrimp, cocktail sauce. Some doesn't get eaten, some feeds the guests, and some ends up feeding the carpet. You don't even realize this until the next day.

And pets. You love cats and dogs. And they're great house pets, 99% of the time. That other 1%, when they're sick and can't help themselves, they have biological accidents. If they have these 1% of the time, they're going to give your prized possession an alkalyn bath 3.5 days a year! It is the same as dropping a yellow dye on your rug 3 times a year.

In short, if you ever asked how often should I clean my rug, the answer is at a minimum every 3 years. But you should treat spots at home with the remedies I prescribe as soon as the spot occurs.

When you get your rug cleaned, ask the dealer if he has 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 he doesn't have a "beater", you must insist on the thorough vacuuming of the carpet on both sides before the rug is cleaned.

This issue of removing dry dirt is critical! The dirt acts like sandpaper and wears away the fiber. If it is not removed before getting wet, you now have the doubly difficult task of removing mud! The Carpet and Rug Institute suggests that a "beater" will remove 4-9 pounds of dry dirt from a 9 x 12 rug. That's a lot of dirt!

Stain Removal

Stain Removal Chart

Listed below the chart are 7 Stain Removers, that can be used singly or in combination to combat a stain. When you apply these agents, blot or dab, the agent onto the spot. Don't Rub! That will only make the stain bigger. Try to work from the outside of the stain in towards the center.

AREA RUG AND CARPET STAIN REMOVAL CHART

STAIN WOOL ACRYLIC NYLON OLEFIN POLYESTER
Animal Glue F F A,G F F
Argyrol A,G A,G A,G A,G A,G
Ball Point Ink B,C,then A,G B,C,then A,G B,C B,C B,C
Beer A,G A,G A,G A,G A,G
Catsup A,G A,G A,G F,A,G F,A,G
Carbon Black Vacuum A,G Vacuum A,G Vacuum B,C Vacuum B,C Vacuum B,C
Chewing Gum C C C C C with steam
Clay Vacuum A,G Vacuum A,G Vacuum A,G Vacuum A,G Vacuum A,G
Cola A,G A,G A,G A,G A,G
Coffee(B,C&S) A,G A,G A,G A,G A,G
Colored Paper A,G A,G A,G A,G A,G
Crayon B,G B,G B,C B,C B,C,A,G
Duco Cement B,C B,C B,C B,C B,C
Egg A,G A,G A,G A,G A,G
Enamel B,F,A,G B,F,A,G B,F,A,G B,F,A,G B,F,A,G
Food Dye A,G A,G A,G A,G A,G
Fruit Juice A,G A,G A,G A,G A,G
FurnitureDye B,C,F,A,G B,C,F,A,G A,B,C B,C B,C,A,G
Furniture Polish B,C,F,A,G B,C,F,A,G A,G,C B,C B,C,A,G
Grape Drink A,G A,G A,G A,G A,G,C
Gravy A,G A,G A,G A,G A,G,C
Grease,car C C C C B,C
Ice Cream A,G A,G A,G A,G A,G
India Ink B,C,A,G B,C,A,G A,G A,G B,C,A,G
Iron Rust Vacuum D,G Vacuum D,G Vacuum D,G Vacuum D,G Vacuum D,G
Latex Paint B,F,A,G B,C A,G B,C B,C,A,G
Linseed Oil C C C C C
Lipstick B,C B,C B,C B,C,A,G B,C,A,G
Merthiolate A,G A,G A,G B,C,A,G B,C,A,G
Milk B,C,A,G A,G A,G A,G A,G
Mustard A,G A,G A,G A,G A,G
Nail Polish     E F,B,C F,C
Oil, Car C C C C C
Oil, Paint B,F,A,G B,F,A,G B,C B,C B,C,A,G
Permanent Ink A,G A,G A,G A,G A,G
Plaster Vacuum A,G Vacuum A,G Vacuum A,G Vacuum A,G Vacuum A,G
Rouge         A,G
Rubber Cement B,C B,C B,C B,C B,C,A,G
Shoe Dye       B,C C
Shoe Pol.(Liq) B,C,A,G B,C,A,G A,G,C B,C C
Shoe Pol.(Wax) B,A,G B,A,G C B,C,A,G C
Tar C C C C C
Tea A,G A,G A,G A,G A,G
Tobacco       A,G A,G
Urine A,G A,G A,G A,G A,G
Washable Ink A,G A,G A,G A,G A,G
Water Colors A,G A,G A,G A,G A,G
Wax Candle Steam,C Steam,C Steam,C Steam,C Steam,C

Code of Recommended Stain Removers as Listed in Chart

A. Detergent solution - one teaspoon of a neutral detergent ( a brand used for washing lingerie such as Lux, Dreft, or Vel) and one teaspoon of white vinegar in a quart of warm water.

B. Paint Remover - should not contain any oil. Lacquer thinner may also be used.

C. Dry Cleaning Fluid - any common brand used according to manufacturer's instructions.

D. Rust Remover - (brands such as Erusticator or Rust Go are recommended.

E. Acetone - common drugstore brand or nail polish remover WITHOUT LANOLIN or lacquer thinner.

F. Alcohol - rubbing, denatured, or isopropyhl.

G. Water

NOTE: If there is no recommended procedure for removing a stain on a specific pile fiber, call a Professional Carpet Cleaner and give him the information pertaining to the staining problem.

 

General Rug Care

So you just bought a new rug? It's beautiful. And we are sure you couldn't wait to get home with it and roll it out. You probably didn't sweep up the dirt on the floor before you rolled it out, and we are sure you'll never consider taking your shoes off before you walk on it. And when it snows and there is salt all over the place, you probably don't realize the rugis acting like a sponge soaking up all of that salt and road oil.

In the spring, more rain, more mud, more dirt, more grit acting like sandpaper on the wool in your prized possession. And the moths that you never treated are now hatching, possibly in the back of your rug. Never being one to deprive animals of food, you've provided that moth larve with a veritable foodfest in order to feed the moth larvae until adulthood. When the moth is old enough to fly away, and you see it, the damage is done! You vacuum your carpet and the pile comes out. Initially you think you bought a cheap carpet - but in reality those little, harmless moths that you saw fly away, have eaten the backs of the knots in your carpet. There is nothing holding the pile onto the foundation.

You have a great party! Lots of people, red wine, cheese, dip, shrimp, cocktail sauce. Some doesn't get eaten, some feeds the guests, and some ends up feeding the carpet. You don't even realize this until the next day.

And pets. You love cats and dogs. And they're great house pets, 99% of the time. That other 1%, when they're sick and can't help themselves, they have biological accidents. If they have these 1% of the time, they're going to give your prized possession an alkalyn bath 3.5 days a year! It is the same as dropping a yellow dye on your rug3 times a year.

In short, if you ever asked how often should I clean my rug, the answer is at a minimum every 3 years. But you should treat spots at home with the remedies I prescribe as soon as the spot occurs.

When you get your rugcleaned, ask the dealer if he has a "beater". This is a mechanized method of hitting the back of the rugwith straps in order to remove as much dirt as possible before the ruggets wet. If he doesn't have a "beater", you must insist on the thorough vacuuming of the carpet on both sides before the rugis cleaned.

This issue of removing dry dirt is critical! The dirt acts like sandpaper and wears away the fiber. If it is not removed before getting wet, you now have the doubly difficult task of removing mud! The Carpet and Rug Institute suggests that a "beater" will remove 4-9 pounds of dry dirt from a 9 x 12 rug. That's a lot of dirt!

 

Wool or Silk-Wool Blend Rug Care

Due to its composition, wool rugswill produce shed fluff for a considerable period of time. Frequent vaccuuming is recommended. Do not let stains dry and apply the most suitable products to eliminate them [a list of stain removal methods follows]. We recommend not to bring rugsto a laundry too often as they could become damaged. In case it is absolutely needed, care should be taken that it is a specialized laundry in rugcleaning. As with any rugwith a latex backing, hand tufted rugsshould not be dry cleaned. If any doubts remain as to the cleaning of your wool rug, please contact a professional carpet cleaner.

  • Remove glue stains with Rubbing Alcohol.
  • Remove beer, catsup, mustard, ice cream, soda, tea, coffee, food dye, fruit juice, grape drink, gravy, pet stains, washable inks, plaster, and watercolor stains with a Detergent Solution[made of a teaspoon of neutral detergent and a teaspoon of white vinegar in a quart of water] and Water. Vaccuum the carpet first and apply the solution with a damp sponge. Clean with a cloth and leave to dry.
  • Remove grease, oil, tar, and wax stains with Dry Cleaning Solvent. Be sure to test the solvent on a corner for colorfastness before using. Candle wax stains may also require the use of steam.
  • Remove mud and general dirt or soil with a mild Ammonia Solution. Let any mud dry, then brush and apply the ammonia solution with a damp sponge. Then clean and leave to dry.
  • Remove paint, lipstick, shoe polish, India ink, furniture polish, enamel, crayon, and ball point ink with Paint Removerand Dry Cleaning Solvent. Rubbing alcohol and/or the detergent solution may also be necessary for enamel and polish stains, accompanied by water.

 

Acrylic Rug Care

Generally speaking, the same rules of rugcare apply to acrylic rugsas wool rugs. Clean acrylic rugsas follows:

  • Remove glue stains with Rubbing Alcohol.
  • Remove beer, catsup, mustard, ice cream, soda, tea, coffee, food dye, fruit juice, grape drink, gravy, pet stains, washable inks, plaster, and watercolor stains with a Detergent Solution[made of a teaspoon of neutral detergent and a teaspoon of white vinegar in a quart of water] and Water. Vaccuum the carpet first and apply the solution with a damp sponge. Clean with a cloth and leave to dry.
  • Remove grease, oil, tar, and wax stains with Dry Cleaning Solvent. Be sure to test the solvent on a corner for colorfastness before using. Candle wax stains may also require the use of steam.
  • Remove mud and general dirt or soil with a mild Ammonia Solution. Let any mud dry, then brush and apply the ammonia solution with a damp sponge. Then clean and leave to dry.
  • Remove paint, lipstick, shoe polish, India ink, furniture polish, enamel, crayon, and ball point ink with Paint Removerand Dry Cleaning Solvent. Rubbing alcohol and/or the detergent solution may also be necessary for enamel and polish stains, accompanied by water.

 

Care And Cleaning For Your Flokati Rug

Like all fine home products, a Flokati area rug requires care and attention. Because of its construction and fine quality, a Flokati rug deserves more attention than your basic hand tufted and even hand knotted area rug. Since the size and weight (grams) of your flokati may vary, you may need the assistance of another person to complete the cleaning details, such as shaking your flokati rug. Please use caution for yourself and others when moving a flokati rug which can be quite heavy.

The basics of caring for your flokati should include: metal (dog) brush, cold water, fresh air or outdoors. We recommend you DO NOT VACUUM your flokati rug!

We recommend following these 3 easy steps in order to maintain a lively and full Flokati Rug for years to come!

For Smaller Size Flokati Rugs (Up To Approximately 24 Sq. Ft.):

  • Step 1: Shake Your Flokati. Take your Flokati rug outdoors, and shake it to eliminate much of the dirt that collects inside the wool hairs of the Flokati rug.
  • Step 2: Air Your Flokati. Make sure to let your Flokati rug breathe. Leave it outside for a few hours to eliminate any of the indoor odors. This will help the wool regain its original oxygen and enhance the wool fibers of the Flokati rug. Try to avoid exposure to direct sunlight.
  • Step 3: Wash Your Flokati. To help revitalize and rejuvenate your Flokati rug's thickness, place your Flokati in a washing machine. Set your machine to a delicate cycle. Feel free to add a touch of mild soap generally used for woolens. You can also add a bit of liquid softener as desired. Once the cycle is complete, hang dry your rug until completely dry. DO NOT place your Flokati rug in a dryer. And remember to try and avoid direct sunlight when possible. Once dry, brush the Flokati rug with a metal (dog) brush, beginning at the center of the rug and working your way outward. This will help to "fluff" the Flokati rug and keep it looking and feeling full and plush!

*Please note that you may notice wool hairs from your Flokati rug get caught in the brushing process. This is completely normal and not is not detrimental to your Flokati rug whatsoever.

For Larger Size Flokati Rugs (Generally Larger Than 24 Sq. Ft.):

  • Step 1: Shake Your Flokati. Take your Flokati rug outdoors, and shake it to eliminate much of the dirt that collects inside the wool hairs of the Flokati rug. Larger sized Flokati rugs may require the assistance of another person. Please use caution when shaking your Flokati rug and do so in a safe environment. If your Flokati rug is too large to shake with the help of another person, you can hang your Flokati from a line, and shake your Flokati rug from the corners or sides to help eliminate any dirt or debris that may have collected.
  • Step 2: Air Your Flokati. Make sure to let your Flokati rug breathe. Leave it outside for a few hours to eliminate any of the indoor odors. This will help the wool regain its original oxygen and enhance the wool fibers of the Flokati rug. Try to avoid exposure to direct sunlight.
  • Step 3: Wash Your Flokati. To help revitalize and rejuvenate your Flokati rug's thickness, sprinkle the Flokati rug ith cold water. This can best be achieved with a spray bottle. Then, brush the Flokati rug with a metal (dog) brush, beginning at the center of the rug, and working your way outward. After brushing, shake the Flokati rug at the corners. This will allow the water to resurface and form a bit of a mist. Allow the rug to dry before taking it back inside and walking on it.

We hope that you find the above info useful.

Rug Care

Common issues

Although we stand behind our product 100% and will always return defective merchandise, there are common issues inherent in our product that needs to be explained to consumers, The issues below are not considered defective and nor reasons for the product to be returned.

 

Shedding

All wool rugs will shed.

Hand knotted rugs will shed less than tufted.

Sprouts

Loose fibers are common in hand made rugs.

Clip with scissors.

Creases in rugs

Should disappear in a week or two.

Try reverse rolling.

Fading

Rugs in direct sunlight will fade out over time.

Rotate your rug.

Wear

Rotate rugs every 3-6 months due to traffic.

Odor

Rugs recently removed from bag may have odor. This will dissipate in a week.

General care and cleaning

Like any investment, if you want it to last you must take care of it properly. We have listed some tips to help you take care of your product and make it last longer.

Vacuuming

The most damaging effect on area rugs is vacuuming. Extra care must be taken when vacuuming your rug.

High powered vacuums will pull threads out of the back of tugs and cause sprouts. These include the bagless Dyson and Oreck. If a vacuum can pick up a bowling ball imagine what it can do to a rug. Solution: Use the handheld attachment to vacuum your rug.

Beater bar will pull fibers from the face of the rug or they can cause the face of your rug to fuzz Solution: Turn the beater bar off on your vacuum, or if it can not be turned off have it on the highest setting.

The serging on the edges of rugs are very sensitive. Running the vacuum over the edges will cause the serging to deteriorate and fibers will come loose around the edges. Solution: Carefully place your vacuum on the edge of the rug.

The fringes on the ends of rugs will be destroyed by all vacuums. Solutions: Use the handheld attachment to clean fringes.

Brooms and sweepers are a great, gentle way to clean your rug.

Canister vacuums without beater bars are the most effective.

 

Spot Cleaning

If you spill on a rug, clean it immediately. Once the stain is set in it becomes more difficult to clean.

Never rub a spill as it forces the spill deeper into the rug. Blot with a clean white cloth.

On wool rugs, use lukewarm water or a Stain Remover or a wool cleaning liquid to remove any residual stain.

On synthetic rugs, use a Stain Remover, Fantastic or 409 can be used to remove grease and stubborn stains.

On natural fiber grass rugs, use lukewarm water to remove any residual stain.

Always use clean water to remove any residual cleaner, and dry towels to absorb any remaining moisture.

Professional Cleaning

Always use a professional area rugs cleaning expert. Cleaning a handmade rug is a different than cleaning wall to wall carpet.

Inspect the rug with the cleaner before it is cleaned. Get a signed receipt and guarantee of work before the work is done.

Extend the life of your Rug

We recommend a rug pad underneath every area rug.

Rug pad extends the life of your rug as it absorbs wear and tear from the friction between floor and rug.

They help avoid accidents from slipping on moving rugs and tripping on turned up edges.

They provide extra cushion on hard surfaces for your feet

 

Specific cleaning guidelines

Synthetic Fibers - Olefin / Polypropylene / Nylon:
  • With a dry cotton towel or white paper towel, blot out stain as much as possible.
  • Scrape off any food or debris with a dull instrument.
  • Mix a very small amount of dish soap with a cup of cold water.
  • Bloat area with dry towel.
  • Fantastic and 409 can be used to remove grease and stubborn stains.
Wool Rugs:
  • With a dry cotton towel or white paper towel, blot out stain as much as possible.
  • Scrape off any food or debris with a dull instrument.
  • Mix a very small amount of dish soap with a cup of cold water.
  • With clean sponge and soap mix, gently remove remainder of stain. Avoid using excessive water.
  • Bloat area with dry towel.
  • Avoid excessive heat or agitation, We recommend using a professional rug cleaner on an annual basis. Wool rugs are more prone to bleeding and staining than their synthetic counterparts, thus requiring extra prompt and careful cleaning.
Indoor/Outdoor Rugs:
  • With a dry cotton towel or white paper towel, blot out stain as much as possible.
  • Scrape off any food or debris with a dull instrument.
  • Mix a very small amount of dish soap with a cup of cold water.
  • With clean sponge and soap mix, remove remainder of stain.
  • Allow area to dry.
  • For all-over cleaning, spray with mixture of soap and water and rinse with a garden hose.
Natural Fiber Rugs - Jute/Hemp/Coir/Sisal:
  • Natural fiber rugs have an inherent quality of having loose fibers and knots. Regularly vacuum the rug on a low-power setting. Vacuum the rug from different angles.
  • If you see any loose threads on the face, they should be trimmed with a household scissors. Do not pull the threads on the face to avoid unraveling or damage to the rug.
  • Spills should be blotted with a clean, undyed cloth to absorb as much of the spill as possible. Work from the outer edges of the spill towards the center. Gently blot small amounts. Do not saturate. If applying cleaning solvents, test on a small area first. For stubborn stains use a professional cleaning service that specializes in wool rugs. Do not dry clean. String cleaning chemicals may damage or fade the rug.
Shag Rugs:
  • Spray extraction, with the use of wool approved products, will help in solving the cleaning issue.
  • Shedding is a normal feature in a wool product and decreases over a period of time. Do not pull the yarn out as this may result in damage to the rug.
  • Canister vacuums without a beater var are most effective in cleaning shag rugs. Vacuums with beater bar and brushes, or those that are set too low may abrade the face of the rug.