Designer Rugs: How To Deal With Some Common Rug Issues

Designer rugs are easily the centerpiece of any room in your home. Floor coverings often set the tone for the entire room, and many people (you may be one of them!) actually choose their area rugs or smaller rugs first, then design the rest of their room around them. They have a huge influence over how your room looks and feels, and of course how comfortable your room is.

Of course, since you've spent so much time and effort in choosing rugs that are just right for your home, you want to make sure that you are caring for them properly. Keeping your rugs looking their best not only keeps your entire home looking nice and neat, it can actually extend the life of your rug as well.

Most rugs sold now can simply be vacuumed, which makes things much easier. Of course, you want to be sure that you are vacuuming properly. Many rugs, especially more delicate or older rugs, do not like the beater bar! This can damage your rug, or cause permanent lumps and wrinkles. Use a vacuum that allows you to turn off the beater bar. Better yet, use a carpet sweeper (sometimes called a floor sweeper or sweeper brush). This will pick up dirt and debris without bashing and beating the fibers. Either way, sweep or vacuum in the same direction of the pile. Be aware of any fringe, because your vacuum will yank them right out.

Every so often, you want to flip your rug over and sweep or vacuum the underside. You can use the beater bar on this side... you won't damage anything. This will get all the grit and bits to loosen and fall out from deep within the pile, so you can then flip the rug back over and clean it all up. You should do this every few months, more often if the rug gets a lot of foot traffic and less if it is in a room that isn't used as often.

If your designer rug is made of wool, then washing it will replace some of the moisture. Wool rugs need moisture to stay looking beautiful, and to remain durable and strong. Live wool rugs, with wool sheared from a live animal, will retain more natural oils and moisture than dead wool, wool that has been removed chemically from a dead animal. In most cases, it is advised to hire a professional cleaner to come in and take care of things, especially if your rug is antique or very delicate. You can, however, do it yourself if you prefer.

Get the rug in the tub, and use a wool shampoo/detergent along with a cup of vinegar. Use a soft brush to scrub the wool, and dunk it in and out of the tub to get all the dirt out. Rinse it well several times to get all of the soap out, and then lay it out to dry flat in the sun. Go over it to make sure it is completely dry, and use a hair dryer on any remaining damp parts... never ever leave it damp!

As you can see, caring for your designer rugs is a fairly simple process. Vacuum or sweep, clean the underside, and wash them once a year and your rugs will last you a lifetime.