The Ways to Get an Area Rug Clean

Vacuum area rugs regularly.

Placing area rugs around the home not only gives you an added design element and quality but also provides protection to the underlying flooring. An area rug can quickly soften the look of a hard tile or wood floor, and these rugs work well in kitchen and bathroom areas to capture liquids and food crumbs.

Regular Dry Cleaning

To remove dust and loose buildup from the area rugs, sweep with a soft broom or use a vacuum cleaner. Either will get rid of dirt, crumbs any any loose buildup without harming the area rug. If using a vacuum cleaner, make sure you stay away from embroidery and fringe. Many times the suction power of the vacuum is too strong and can tear apart and damage trim. For smaller rugs, you can also roll the rugs up and take outdoors. Unroll and shake off to get rid of loose residue.

Deodorizing Area Rugs

Baking soda works perfectly for freshening and deodorizing any type of area rug. To use, sprinkle a light dusting of baking soda over the entire rug and let it sit for about 30 minutes. For stronger odor, let the baking soda sit on the area rug overnight. Vacuum the rug the following day to get rid of the baking soda.

Stain Removal

To remove stains, blot area rug with a cleaning rag or handful of paper towels soaked with club soda. Use a fresh area of the cloth or paper towel with each blot so you don't spread the stain to other areas of the rug. For food stains, blot with a wet cleaning rag drizzled with dish soap. Follow either cleaning routine up with a damp rag to remove club soda or dish soap residue and let air dry. Vacuum the rug afterward to restore the shape and pile of the rug.

Machine Washing

Some smaller area rugs may be machine washable. Read your care instructions label and follow the directions on the tag. Machine washing should typically be done using a large load size and cold water with your regular detergent and then tumble dry.

Steam Cleaning

Steam cleaning is an option for many rugs as well. Again, read the care instructions label and don't try this technique on delicate rugs. Fill the steam cleaner's water compartment with water and cleaning solution compartment with a steam cleaning solution. Push the steam cleaner over the area rug as you would a vacuum, pulling the steam trigger every minute or so for a thorough cleaning.

Cautions

Never use any type of bleach on the area rugs. This will immediately cause discoloration to most rugs and often the damage is not able to be repaired. Also stay away from fringe, embroidery and delicate rug borders. These can all be damaged and torn apart by the powerful suction of a vacuum cleaner.

References

• Mrs. Clean USA: Cleaning Area Rugs