Area Rug Care
Spills, stains, scratches, and more! We understand that purchasing new area rugs is an investment for the average homeowner and chaos can happen at any time. However, there’s no need to worry about the activity that can take place in your rooms when you have the right rug care steps to follow. In addition to being the Bay Area’s carpet experts, Gil’s Carpets are your area rug experts as well: From preventative steps and regular routines to proper spill and stain treatment, you can be prepared for every situation that your rugs will see.
Follow these preventative care steps to help reduce the everyday wear and tear that your area rugs will face:
- Place mats at all entrances to prevent tracked-in debris from entering the home.
- Ask guests & residents remove footwear to reduce impact on your rugs.
- Use area rug pads underneath to better resist foot traffic and help the rug surface wear evenly over time.
- Keep pet nails trimmed to prevent snags and brush pets to reduce pet dander. Also, ensure your pets are house-trained before spending time on your rugs.
When knocked-over glasses or plates of food occur, treat spills on your rugs as promptly as possible:
- Use warm water to prevent permanent stains from forming and moisture absorption into the rug pile.
- Remove solid material with a spoon, starting from the outside of the spill and working in.
- Blot liquid stains with paper towels or a white towel, using warm water or a manufacturer-approved gentle carpet cleaner.
To prevent wear-and-tear to your rug surface, it’s extremely important to remove abrasive particles on a regular basis:
- Vacuum daily or weekly to remove dirt particles, dust, small food particles, and pet dander.
- Invest in a proper vacuum model that suits your specific rug type and construction.
- Avoid vacuums with beater bars on delicate silk or wool rug fibers and check your rug-maker’s warranty before using a robot vacuum cleaner.
- If your rug is not suitable for vacuuming, take it outside and shake loose as many particles as possible.
As a part of your long-term care plan, we recommend a periodic professional rug cleaning if:
- If your area rug care routine does not remove a stain.
- If you notice an odor that is not going away that could be coming from your rug.
- If your family suffers from allergies or sinus irritation.
- If you feel your rug does not appear as pristine as you prefer after regular vacuuming.
