RUG CLEANING GUIDE
HOW TO REMOVE STAINS
Learn how to remove stains from a rug and the process to follow for cleaning and maintenance to keep your rugs and carpets clean and pristine for longer.
HOW TO CLEAN A RUG?
Perform regular cleaning to keep your rug as good as new.
Light sweeping in the first few months
After purchasing a rug, brush lightly in the direction of the pile to remove any excess lint left over after production. Never use brooms that are too hard and could damage the surface.
If certain threads appear longer than the rest, cut them with scissors to leave them at the same height as the rest and remember to never rip them off.
Sweeping and hoovering from the third month
In addition to the light brushing mentioned for the first few months, once the lint has been removed and the rug has been well laid, it will be cleaned weekly using a hoover.
Remember to perform the hoovering in both directions of the pile and ensure that the power is not too high.
In depth annual cleaning
For 10 out of 10 rug maintenance, it is advisable to carry out a professional or thorough cleaning once a year. If you choose not to take it to a rug cleaning company, follow these steps:
- Perform rug sweeping and hoovering as you do regularly.
- With a neutral detergent, preferably dry foam. If using a liquid, to ensure that there is no danger of colour transfer or soaking the rug too much, use a white cotton cloth.
- Leave it in a ventilated place so that all the moisture goes away. It will take several hours for it to dry completely. Try not to step on the rug so there are no marks left behind.
- Finally, when it's completely dry, brush and hoover again as usual and you'll have your rug ready to enjoy again.
Remember that products such as benzine, due to its flammability; ammonia, due to the possible alteration of colours or alkaline soap, are RUG CLEANING PRODUCTS THAT SHOULD NOT BE USED.
HOW TO REMOVE STAINS FROM A RUG?
If your rug has been stained, the sooner you clean it, the better the chances are that you will be able to completely remove the stain. The treatments are different depending on the type of spillage, see below how to act.
Follow the steps below to remove stains from the rug:
Press with a paper towel to prevent the spillage from being absorbed
Use a white cloth or paper towel to remove as much debris as you can to prevent the rug’s fabric from being soaked with them. For spillages involving solids, you can use a scraper, knife or spoon to remove them.
Choose the type of stain to know how to clean the rug
The cleaning products for the rug or the action required are different depending on the spilt product. Choose the type of stain that has appeared to know what steps to follow.
Remember, if there are several steps between one treatment and another, the rug must be completely dry, so wait until there is no moisture left before applying the following recommended cleaning agents.
Coffee, liquid chocolate or tea
- Petrol or other light fuel, white spirit or solvent for dry cleaning. As they are inflammable products, carry out the treatment in a ventilated area and with no fire or lit cigarettes nearby.
- Cold water.
- Apply the following mixture: in one litre of warm water, add a teaspoon of detergent for sensitive fabrics such as wool, and another of white vinega.
Advice on the application of treatment for cleaning stains on rugs
Try the treatment on an inconspicuous spot
In order to ensure that it does not fade, it is advisable to carry out a test of the treatment to be used in a corner or area of the rug that is not very visible.
Apply the treatment inwards from the outside
When you are carrying out the treatment, apply the product from the edge of the stain to the centre. In this way you will prevent the stain from getting bigger.
Never rub the pile of the rug
When applying the treatment or rinsing, rubbing the rug too much can damage the fabric.
The rug must be dry before the next step
In treatments in which several steps have to be carried out, the rug must be allowed to dry completely between each one in order to avoid damaging it.
Use warm water for rinsing
Once the treatment has been applied, you should rinse with warm water using a sponge or white cotton cloth if possible
After removing the stain
Press down with a white cotton cloth or paper towel, as you did at the beginning, to remove moisture and let it dry without stepping on the rug.
All the instructions in this guide are tips to follow which, depending on the speed and form of application, may not obtain the expected results. Act at your own risk and, if the stain is not removed, contact a professional rug cleaning service.
WHAT DO YOU NEED TO KEEP IN MIND TO STORE A RUG?
Rugs that are to be removed until the next season or stored until next use, should be stored taking into account some guidelines for proper storage:
- Clean and dry as indicated in the maintenance section
- Cover it with a cotton cloth, or a sheet, and roll it up compactly.
- For proper storage, store in a place without moisture or direct light.
