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Preventative Area Rug Maintenance
Even during a busy week, you can easily maintain your favorite area rugs looking fresh and plush! These preventative rug care measures will greatly help:
- Use entrance mats for guests to scrape footwear before entering the home.
- Keep a shoe rack by the entrance for footwear removal during inclement weather.
- Use area rug pads underneath all rugs to help the rug surface wear slower and more evenly.
- Trim pet nails regularly to prevent snagging the carpet fibers.
- Brush pets frequently to reduce the amount of pet dander in the home.
Dirt & Debris
Regular vacuuming is the most effective way to remove dirt, debris, dust, and pet dander from your rugs. This practice will keep particles from becoming abrasive and dulling the surface. If your area rugs cannot be vacuumed, take them outside regularly and shake loose as many particles from the rug as you can.
Spills & Stains
It’s important to treat spills on your rugs as soon as they occur, to prevent permanent stains from forming. Gently lift any solid material with a spoon and then blot the liquid spill with a dry, clean cloth and warm water. Start from the perimeter of the spill, work towards the center, and use a carpet-specific cleaner to spot-treat.
Bonus Tips
Keep a carpet-specific cleaner, such as Shaw’s Carpet Cleaner, on hand for spills, pet accidents, and dirty footsteps. We recommend an annual professional rug cleaning for more expensive pieces to remove residual stains and restore a plush pile. You can also shop for machine-washable rugs that make regular care even easier to complete!
