how often should I vacuum?
Weekly (or more frequently if required) vacuuming is the most effective preventative maintenance you can do at home. Your rugs act as filters in your home. Environmental dust bounces and re circulates off the hard surfaces in your home but eventually settles and becomes trapped in the surface of rugs and other soft furnishings, removing it from the air and therefore improving the air quality. If not vacuumed out of the top few millimeters of the rugs surface regularly, the action of living and walking on a rug forces the dust deeper down into the pile beyond the reach if the vacuum's suction. There it accumulates and impacts, abrading the fibres and structure of the rug.
- Vacuum regularly, preferably with an upright style vacuum with beater brush.
- Vacuum in all directions but finish in the direction of the pile.
- Be careful not to suck the fringes into the vacuum head as they will wear prematurely.
My rug is wearing/fading more on one side!
Quality rugs age gracefully and can actually improve and become more attractive with some wear and softening of the colours. It is worth trying to even out this inevitable wear over the whole surface of the rug. Turning the rug around periodically or even shifting its location ensures that traffic lanes and fading do not become more pronounced in one part of the rug.
- Rotate or shift rugs periodically
- Draw blinds to prevent direct midday sun from shining on rugs repetitively
How do I spot clean spills and accidents?
It is a shame, but we see as much damage to valuable rugs from the well intentioned use of inappropriate spot cleaning methods and consumer products as we do from the accidental spills themselves. There are too many different dyes, fibers, constructions and staining substances to give a comprehensive guide to spot cleaning valuable rugs safely at home. Like first aid on people, you are more likely to be successful if you have learned the skills prior to the emergency rather than on the fly during the situation. We recommend getting to know your rugs as you buy them so that in the event of a spill you are confident in which products and methods can be safely employed.
Regardless of the rug type or spill, there are some basics that hold true for all situations and should be the first steps taken after an accidental spill. GO TO RUG FIRST AID.
My dog likes to pee on my rug and it still smells even after its cleaned up.
Whether of human or animal origin, urine, faeces and vomit can be very damaging because of their pH. It is also impossible to completely remove the residual odor causing contaminants with in home cleaning methods. Urine destabilizes even the most fast dyes causing them to bleed and colour shift if not rinsed out immediately after the accident. Complete sanitization, decontamination and odor removal while minimizing dye and fiber damage can only be achieved safely and effectively using specialist techniques in the controlled environment of our facility. Call us as soon as possible after the accident as urine starts to destabilize dyes within hours.
How often should I have my rugs professionally washed? How can I tell if they are soiled?
Rugs are great at hiding dirt. That is one of their great qualities but it also means that by the time they look grubby they are well overdue for a wash and may be deteriorating.
Here are some guidelines to use to assess your rugs health.
- If your rug has not been properly dusted and cleaned for 5 years then it needs washing.
- Rugs near entrances and in high traffic areas like living rooms, halls, dining areas and kitchens may need washing annually.
- If you have pets, regular cleaning will help control fleas and discourage the rugs use as a pet toilet.
#Useful TIP:
A simple test to see if your rug is hiding damaging grit.
Turn your rug (or part of it if it is too big) upside down and vacuum the back of it for a few minutes. If any dust or grit has fallen out onto the floor when you pull it back then your rug is overdue for dusting and washing.
Have a question that has not been answered here?
Email your question to us at info@perthrugwash.com.au and we will answer your question and add it to our FAQ.
