There's nothing quite like arranging brand new area rugs in your living room, family room or another part of your house. When an area rug is new, it enhances the look and feel of a room in a dramatic and appreciable way. Over time, though, wear and tear can mute the stunning effects of even the priciest rug. Of course, it doesn't have to be that way; by performing a little routine maintenance, you can keep the rugs in your home looking fantastic for several years to come. The following guide provides the best tips for taking care of the rugs in your home.
Whether you're placing area rugs on carpeted, tiled or wood floors, there's one thing that you should never forget: padding. Most people think that padding's only needed to avoid slips; it's definitely true that rug pads help to keep such mishaps at bay. However, that's not their only function. Pads work to protect the structure of area rugs. Rug padding creates a buffer between the rug and the floor. Without padding, an area rug will wear thin a lot more quickly. Rug pads are really affordable and easy to use, so make sure to buy them for all of the rugs in your home.
The single most important way to take care of an area rug is to vacuum it regularly. Just after being vacuumed, an area rug looks especially attractive. As long as you pass the vacuum over your area rugs on a relatively regular basis, you can keep them looking as nice as they did on the day that you brought them home. However, vacuuming an area rug is a little different than vacuuming wall-to-wall carpeting; a few things to keep in mind include:
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Beater Brush Height Adjustment - Most modern vacuums include a feature that lets you adjust the height of the beater brush, which is the brush that spins around on the bottom of the vacuum. An area rug tends to be a lot more fragile than everyday carpeting; therefore, it's essential to adjust the height of your vacuum cleaner's beater brush so that it doesn't give your rug a literal beating! The best rule of thumb is to adjust the brush so that it just skims over the surface of the rug. While vacuuming, you should be able to move the vacuum cleaner with ease; if you can't, the beater brush is probably set too low.
Using the Right Method - There's only one way to vacuum, right? Wrong! When it comes to area rugs, you should vacuum in a straight back-and-forth motion; follow the same direction all the way across the rug. This will ensure that every last speck of dust is removed and that your rug isn't damaged during the process.
Vacuuming the Back of the Rug - Many times, people forget to vacuum the backs of the rugs in their homes. While you don't need to vacuum the back of each area rug every time, you should try to do so on occasion. After all, grit, dirt, dust and debris can slide beneath an area rug; over time, those things can damage the structural integrity of a rug from below.
Tips for Using Vacuum Tools - If you choose to use a vacuum tool attachment in lieu of the actual vacuum cleaner itself, take care not to use excessive suction. Many vacuum cleaners allow you to control the amount of suction that is used in such situations; set yours so that it's not sucking too hard on your area rug.
Watch Out for the Fringe - The fringed border of an area rug should be avoided when vacuuming. Fringe can fray or even get wrapped up around the beater brush of a vacuum cleaner. Nothing detracts from the appearance of a gorgeous rug quite like stray pieces of fringe, so always use caution.
Rotate Your Rugs
It's a good idea to get into the habit of rotating the rugs in your home from place to place. This serves many purposes. First, it spreads the wear and tear a lot more thinly. When one rug is kept in an especially high-traffic area, it's a lot more likely to wear out fast. By rotating your rugs, you can spread out the effects of footsteps so that they all keep looking incredible. Furthermore, sunlight can fade the colors of a rug. By rotating your rugs, you can reduce the risk of noticeable sun damage. For best results, rotate your rugs once every one or two years.
Taking care of the area rugs in your home doesn't have to involve a lot of time or expense. By keeping these common-sense tips in mind, you can enjoy the fabulous benefits of stylish rugs for a very long time.
Gina H Hopkins writes about different home renovation tips and the latest on area rugs for design, out of St. Louis, MO. Always looking for the best bargain on renovation materials, she tends to end up shopping at http://www.flooringamerica.com more often than not.
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