Daily care & maintenance
Taking proper care of your area rugs is straightforward & easy. If you vacuum regularly, blot spills promptly, and do an occasional deep clean, you’ll find that your rug’s beauty stands up for many years to come.
Start by having guests and family members remove shoes before walking across your rug. This will minimize the amount of dirt brought in and dragged across your flooring. Dirt particles damage rug fibers over time! Place carpet protectors under all furniture legs, limit exposure to direct sunlight, and take caution when relocating furniture. Vacuum your rug a couple of times a week with a manufacturer-approved appliance. Twice a week should be sufficient, especially if your rug is in an area with light to medium traffic.
When cleaning shag rugs, take special care to protect the long, cable-like yarns. These tend to wrap around beater bars and get damaged by vacuum brushes. Disconnect your machine’s beater bar and set it to the lowest height setting for best suction. You can also use a carpet rake to loosen soil before you vacuum.
An occasional deep cleaning is highly recommended. Once or twice per year, have a professional clean your rugs using the hot water extraction method. Never dry clean or bleach your rugs!
Clean all spills immediately by blotting them up with a clean, dry cloth. If needed, you can spot clean with clean water, then blot dry. Be sure not to rub or scrub, as this can simply cause stains to get ground in further.
Dealing with spills & stains
If you spill something on a rug, treat it as you would carpet: clean it up right away. Use a dry, clean cloth to pick up any solids. Then, rinse the area with warm water and then soak up as much as possible. Never bleach your rug.
After the area has dried, you can pass a vacuum over it to help restore it to its original appearance. If you have questions or concerns about stains, contact us at Carpets by Otto and we can provide recommendations on cleaning products and professionals.
