Considering the wide range of designs to choose from, area rugs can be nice decorative additions to a home. For those people who constantly move to a new place in search for their ideal home, investing in area rugs can be of really great bargain. Area rugs can also be an affordable asset since (unlike wall-to-wall carpets) area rugs do not require permanent installation. Thus, can be shifted for redecorating, kept for future use, or brought along when you move to a new home. With the proper care and maintenance, an area rug can last and be in good condition for many years.

To ensure that your area rug will keep hold of its original condition, proper and appropriate care is essential. Most often than not, some people would just send their rugs to a cleaning company rather than doing it themselves. But for those that choose not to send their area rugs to the cleaners for money saving purposes, it is very important to have the basic knowledge on how to properly clean and maintain your area rugs.

Vacuum. Most area rugs are probably bought to be placed on receiving areas particularly the living room and the dining room. If you’re a person that likes to entertain people or have guests for dinner and the like, it is not unlikely that your rug gets abused due to heavy foot traffic. Thus, it is most probable to accumulate dirt, dust, and perhaps even spills. Using a high-quality vacuum cleaner would help stop dry soil from building up on area rugs. Doing so would surely protect and sustain the beauty of your rug. Most vacuums can only do surface cleaning and leave imbedded dirt on the rugs that will probably cause damage in the long run. Try brushing the rug to loosen up the soil and dirt. This will help the vacuuming process easier.

Steam Cleaning. Most rugs are sent to professional rug cleaners for steam cleaning. Nonetheless, there are many equipments or machines, that can either be rented or purchased, that offer the same technique in the comforts of your own home. But there are also some risks in performing this method concerning what cleaning agent to use or how much you’re going to use. Hence, it is best to seek advice from a professional before doing so.

Spot Removal. Have you ever heard the saying "Accidents happen"? If you have kids at home or even pets, it is in all probability that your rug would have spills or pet stains. If you can, clean the spill immediately. By doing so, stains caused by house pets and liquid spills can be prevented by a large percent. Using a liquid cleaning agent can be very tricky. Some agents can cause the dye from the rug to bleed or can cause improper discoloration. First, test the liquid solution. Apply a few drops on a small-not-so-noticeable part of the rug to see if it is right for your rug. Use a paper towel or any of the like to absorb the liquid. To do so, hold the absorbent material against the treated area. Do not use rubbing or brushing technique to spot clean the rug as doing so would cause the stain to spread.

Cleaning and Maintenance of an area rug can be very complicated. In order for the area rugs to sustain its original state, one must be very meticulous. Considering the material of the rug is vital as it would have different effects towards different cleaning agents. Remember to consult a professional.

Vacuuming, Steam Cleaning, and Spot Removal are just some ways to take care of your area rugs. And though you can use these methods to clean your rugs during your everyday life, it wouldn’t hurt to send your area rugs to a professional cleaning company every once in a while. After all, with all the beatings your rug gets from all those foot traffic, it deserves the best cleaning treatment; and nobody does it better than the professionals.