Many homeowners have at least one area rug in their home, especially with the trend of hard surface floors continuing to grow. Area rugs are also a great way for apartment dwellers or other renters to add color and personality when they can’t change the flooring or wall colors. If you have an area rug or have considered purchasing one, you know that these can be an investment. Some of those area rugs get pretty expensive! But, whether you have an expensive area rug or even found one for free, you probably want to know if it can be professionally cleaned, like carpeting and upholstery. The short answer is, most likely! We will break down some of the factors related to area rug cleaning to more fully explain.
Why Should You Have an Area Rug Professionally Cleaned?
Sure, you vacuum your area rug regularly and spot clean the occasional stain, but did you know that dust, dirt, pet hair, and other allergens but buried deep in the fibers? So deep, in fact, that vacuums simply can’t pull them out. Professional cleaners have the tools to deep clean your area rugs, ridding them of pollutants, allergens, and irritants, and keeping your rug fresh and colorful, therefore extending its life for years!
How are Area Rugs Cleaned?
There are different ways to professionally clean an area rug. Sometimes the method is determined by the fiber or fabric and sometimes it comes down to personal choice. One of the most common methods is hot-water extraction that, you guessed it, uses hot water to extract all that yucky stuff from deep in the area rug. The right equipment pulls enough water out during the process that the area rug also dries more quickly. Although many people do DIY their area rug cleaning, some rugs just need a professional touch – like handmade, Oriental, wool, and silk. It is too easy to use the wrong solution and damage your beautiful rug permanently!
Did you know that some area rugs even need to be handwashed? Professional cleaners will inspect the rug to determine the best method for cleaning to protect it. Other methods for cleaning area rugs include dry cleaning with a specialized chemical compound and machine and carpet shampooing that uses a high foam shampoo and a special brush to extracts dirt.
What are the Benefits of Professionally Cleaned Area Rugs?
When an area rug is in an busy part of the home, it can quickly become stained and you may not even realize it. The colors begin to look faded and dingy and it is because of the dust and dirt from shoes and feet. As mentioned previously, professional cleaning carefully removes dirt and stains to protect the life of the area rug, helping to keep its shape and restore the softness of when you first laid it out on your floor. Remember those allergens mentioned earlier? Professional cleaning will get rid of the germs and dust mites that make you sneeze and cough, make asthma worse, and help you feel better. Also, you may or may not have noticed an odor or a musty smell coming from the area rug, but if it is there a professional cleaning will make it smell like new!
For most of us, many decisions come down to “what does it cost?” This is a completely understandable question and although we won’t delve into that too deeply here, keep in mind that the type of fibers or fabrics, the size, and level of soiling will ultimately determine the total cost. Give us a call today to schedule a quote!
