Habits to abandon for cleaner rugs: Eliminate these habits promptly to keep your rugs spotless and extend their lifespan
In our homes, rugs serve as a warm and inviting touch to our living spaces. However, they can quickly become a hub for dirt, stains, and grime if we're not careful. Here are seven bad habits that are making your rugs dirtier and how to break them.
- Wearing Shoes Indoors
Tracks of dirt and debris from the outdoors are the first culprits in soiling your rugs. By wearing shoes indoors, you're inadvertently bringing in bacteria, pollen, tiny rocks, and oils from sidewalks that can grind into rug fibers and break them down over time.
- Neglecting to Vacuum Under Rugs
Dust and dirt can easily accumulate unseen under rugs, making them dirtier and reducing their lifespan. Regular vacuuming, including underneath rugs, is essential to maintain their appearance and longevity.
- Using the Wrong Type of Rug for the Environment
Using non-durable materials for outdoor rugs or placing high-pile or shag rugs under dining tables can trap crumbs, spills, and pet hair deep in the pile where regular vacuums can't reach.
- Skipping Doormats
Doormats act as the first line of defense, catching the worst of the dirt before it hits your indoor floors and rugs. Not using doormats is a bad habit that makes indoor rugs dirtier, especially if shoes are worn indoors.
- Overlooking Deep Cleans
Regular vacuuming is vital, but deep cleans are necessary to remove embedded grime and contaminants. Quarterly deep cleans using a carpet extractor or hot water rinse are recommended to refresh and prolong the life of your rugs.
- Overusing Cleaning Solutions
Using the wrong cleaning solution on delicate rugs can bleach or fade colours and break down fibers. A small amount of a pH-neutral cleaner or a mix of vinegar and water should be used for cleaning rugs. Walmart offers an orange-scented cleaning vinegar for fresher fragrances without harsh chemicals.
- Ignoring Regular Maintenance
Ignoring regular maintenance, such as spot cleaning and vacuuming, allows stains and dirt to build up and wear out the rug. Lifting and flipping rugs once a month helps release packed-in debris, and vacuuming high-traffic areas a couple of times a week is recommended, especially if there are pets or a lot of movement.
By implementing better cleaning routines, such as always removing shoes before entering carpeted areas, vacuuming thoroughly, choosing appropriate rugs for specific rooms or outdoors, placing doormats to catch dirt before it reaches rugs, scheduling periodic deep cleaning, cleaning spills gently, and performing regular spot cleaning, you can keep your rugs cleaner and extend their lifespan.
For treating spills and stains on rugs, Folex Instant Carpet Spot Remover is recommended. Having shoe storage cabinets or a multi-functional storage bench can also help keep shoes off the floor and clutter concealed. Steam cleaning carpet can sanitize and loosen debris, making it easier to vacuum out without taking up much home storage or blowing the budget.
Repeat treatments can help remove dirt and debris from the fibers of a rug that looks dirtier after cleaning due to carpet wicking. A simple shoe-free rule or offering guests clean socks or slippers can significantly help in maintaining clean floors.
[1] Home Stratosphere [2] The Spruce [3] Good Housekeeping [4] Rug Doctor
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