HOW TO CLEAN AN AREA RUG YOURSELF

CENTRAL RUG

1. Vacuum your rug regularly. To maintain an area rug, at least once a month flip it upside down and vacuum the back of the rug. Vacuuming the back with the beater bar/rotating brush helps push dirt trapped deep down toward the top of the rug. Flip it right side up and vacuum the dirt. Use only suction on the front of wool rugs, for synthetic rugs you can use the beater bar/rotating brush on the front and back.

   • Do not vacuum fringe or tassels. They are delicate material, and easily tangled in the vacuum’s beater bar or ripped by the suction. Fluffing them by hand is all they need. Anything else can cause damage to them.
   • Vacuum wool rugs only a few times a month. Vacuuming more often can pull out the fibers.
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   Rotate the rug to even out wear and tear. Foot traffic patterns can beat tracks into the pattern and fibers of a rug. This can be prevented by rotating your area rug regularly so as to avoid the formation of this unsightly wear. If your furniture is resting on a rug, consider moving your furniture regularly to avoid impressions or uneven fading on the rug. You can also turn your rug every other month to even out wear.

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   Use diluted white vinegar to restore carpet color and shine. Dilute the vinegar, 1 part to 3 parts water, and blot slowly and in the direction of the carpet pile with a sponge. Do not soak the carpet, merely dampen it. Allow it to air dry while avoiding exposure to the sun, which can bleach colors.
   
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   Sprinkle Borax on the rug to remove any insect infestation. Steam cleaning and shampooing are ineffective at controlling insect colonies. Borax naturally coats and degrades the exoskeletons of insects and destroys larvae and eggs. Sprinkle on the rug, wait approximately 20 minutes, and vacuum. Make sure there are no pets near the rug that could potentially inhale the Borax, which is a mildly toxic irritant.