Carpet Hacks to Keep Your Rugs Like New
Rugs have always been one of the most popular types of flooring for homeowners. A good rug can completely transform the look and feel of a room, and it’s much cheaper than getting wall-to-wall carpet.
A stylish, patterned rug can bring a room together and let you bring out your inner designer. Alternatively, a low pile option with muted colors is ideal for those heavy trafficked areas. There’s a perfect rug for every type of room, but keeping them looking fresh can be a challenge.
Follow these simple carpet hacks for inexpensive and quick ways to breathe new life into your flooring.
Use a Squeegee to Pull Trapped Hair
Even the best vacuum cleaners will struggle to pick up trapped pet hair and compacted dust. A cheap squeegee brush (used for cleaning windows) will easily pull up stubborn clumps of hair, dust and lint which have become entwined in the fibers of your rug. Without using too much pressure, simply drag the squeegee toward you in a raking motion. You’ll be surprised by how much is living under the surface.
Treat Spills Fast
The longer you leave a spill on your rug, the harder it will be to get out. It is much easier to remove a stain when it is still wet and before it has had a chance to dry. Never rub a spill as this will work it deeper into the fibers. Instead, first blot the area to remove any excess liquid. Then prepare a mixture of mild dishwashing liquid and warm water at a ratio of 1:4. Alternate between dabbing the mixture onto the spill and blotting it up with a clean cloth. When the stain has been removed, blot away the cleaning solution with a separate wet cloth. Dry the area with paper towels and fluff up the dry fibers with your fingers.
Use Baking Soda as a Deodorizer
Powdered carpet cleaners may give your rug a nice perfumed scent for a short period of time, but baking soda is a much easier (and cheaper) cleaning solution. Baking soda is a proven odor absorber and a staple in most kitchen cupboards. Simply sprinkle the baking soda straight out of the box to cover your rug. If you have a deep-pile or shag carpet, make sure that it has worked its way into all of the fibers. Leave the baking soda for at least a few hours, and then vacuum your carpet thoroughly. Any musty, stale odors will be lifted straight out and into your vacuum cleaner.
Rotate Your Rug to Heal Well-Worn Areas
Rugs are often the focal point of a room, so it’s only natural that certain areas will experience more foot traffic than others. To avoid well-worn pathways developing, simply rotate your rug every few months. This will help reduce areas of your rug looking more worn out, even though it will still be experiencing the same number of footsteps as before.
Use Ice Cubes to Remove Furniture Indentations
Moving furniture around can make a room feel brand new and cosy, but heavy coffee tables and sofas will leave a pesky indentation in your rug for weeks, even months. A simple hack is to place an ice cube in the centre of the indentation and leave it to melt. Then either use your fingers or lightly scrape with a fork to fluff up the fibers back to where they stood before. Leave it to air dry and then vacuum afterwards.
Avoid Sun Fading
A busy household means lots of foot traffic, but walking back and forth on your rug isn’t the only thing that will wear down the fabric. The UV rays from direct sunlight will fade even the most vibrant colors on your rug, and it won’t be long before it looks dull and washed out. Even worse, if your rug is placed on top of hardwood, you’ll find it difficult to move because the surrounding area will be more faded than the flooring underneath. Think carefully before placing your rug in rooms like this which catch the sun all year round. If this can’t be avoided, roll up your rug and store it away when you are planning to be out of your house for long periods of time. Even if you are only away for a two-week holiday, this will preserve the colors of the rug (especially if you’re going away during those sunny months) and will even out any color distortion on the wood flooring underneath.
Cleaning Hacks for Shag Rugs
Few flooring options can beat the warmth and comfort of a shag rug. These thick, high piled rugs have made something of a comeback in recent years, thanks to updated ranges which incorporate contemporary designs and styles. However, they can easily lose that comfortable feeling underfoot if they are cleaned too regularly with vigorous vacuuming or brushing. A smaller shag rug can quickly be refreshed by taking it outside and shaking it down. If you have more outdoor space, hang it up and beat it with something solid like a broom. It may seem like an old school method, but it’s an easy way to get rid of crumbs and dust. If you have a larger rug which can’t easily be taken outside each time for a clean, first flip the rug over and vacuum the back. This helps loosen up and shake out any debris onto the surrounding floor. Next, flip the rug back over and use a small brush or hose attachment to vacuum the entire area. The motorised rollers found on most modern vacuum cleaner heads can be too intensive for high pile carpets, and they may damage or tangle the thick fibres. Shag carpets can easily lose their plushness, so it’s worth taking the extra effort when cleaning to ensure they stay fluffy and comfy.
