One of the things that we get asked a lot is – how do I care for my new rug?? So, we thought we’d pop together a little blog post as a guide to the dos and don’ts of rug care.

Vacuuming

Vacuuming – how you vacuum, how often you vacuum and what you vacuum with is all far more important than you might think, depending on the rug you have.

With a polypropylene/man made fibre rug it’s usually ok to give your rug a good, thorough vacuuming with whichever vacuum you have on hand – the fibres are more robust and aren’t likely to break or pull free from the base of the rug.

With wool and jute, on the other hand, it’s really important that you vacuum GENTLY, only once to twice a week (yes even if it’s shedding initially – shedding is annoying, but it’s the way of the fibre renews itself and usually calms down over time. Over vacuuming can actually make it worse!). It’s also important to use the gentlest setting and a non-rotating vacuum head to ensure you don’t matt the fibres or pull them loose from the base of the rug.

Don’t forget to flip your rug and vacuum the underside every so often!

Spills

Life happens, and so do spills – no matter how hard we try to protect our new floor coverings! Therefore it’s important to know how to do a quick clean up should the need arise.

Blot (never wipe or scrub at spills) with paper towel or a clean, white cloth.

When spills may cause a stain, one option is to immediately apply a small amount of mild soap and warm water, again blotting not rubbing (check rug cleaning instructions on the rug itself prior to taking any action and if unsure consult a carpet cleaning professional).

Blot excess liquid with paper towel or a clean white cloth, removing as much liquid as possible as residue can  attract dirt. Ensure the rug is completely dry again before use.

Should you choose to use a soap, make sure you choose a very mild soap, free from any bleach or hydrogen peroxide

In most cases, warm water (or warm water and a small amount of soap, should you choose to use it) will take care of spills if attended to quickly, however it’s very important to refer to any information that came with the rug (eg on the sticker on the back of the rug) and consult a professional rug cleaner if you are unsure. Ensure your rug is completely dry prior to using it again. Moisture attracts dirt!

General Rug Care Tips

Rug rotation – yep, it’s a thing! We encourage you to rotate your rug every 3-6 months to reduce uneven wear and tear.

Rug pads/underlay – we do recommend their use. A rug pad can prevent slipping, protect flooring and also hold the rug out of dirt and dust that can collect underneath a rug.

We hope this little guide proves useful in assisting you to care for your rug to ensure it’s looking its best for a long time to come.

(If at any time you are unsure – please refer to any stickers etc on the back of your rug, and if necessary seek the advice of a professional rug/carpet cleaner).