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Home > How To Clean and Care For Wool Rugs
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How To Clean and Care For Wool Rugs:
Wool area rugs are recognized for their quality and beauty, as well as exceptional durability. Modern and contemporary rugs made of wool are sure to complete any room in a house, and to preserve this beauty and durability a little annual cleaning may be needed. Most area rugs are placed in trafficked areas, prone to accidents, spills, or the occasional dirty shoe.Wool rugs gather stains, grime, and smells, unfortunately. Wool rugs look like they would be difficult to clean; however, cleaning wool rugs is much easier than you think !Here are some guidelines that may help you clean your wool rugs in the comfort of your very own home;
Imported and or designer rugs sometimes call for special care, so check with your rug’s manufacturer for details on whether it needs a professional cleaning. You may want to skip this clean-at-home recommendation if you do in fact own a more delicate rug.
First things first, get the big debris off. Take your rug outside and shake it off. A gentle shake should be all that is necessary. To get the rest of the sitting dirt and dust, you can use a vacuum. Again, there's no need to get rough with the rug - this cleaning need not be vigorous at all. With the majority of the dirt and dust gone, check the rug over for more permanent stains. These accidents can be spot cleaned with an appropriate stain remover. You may want to start by testing the cleaning agent on a small section of your wool rug first, if you are not completely sure it is safe.
While you are continuing to enjoy the outdoors, lay your wool rugs flat on a clean spot of pavement. Turn on your hose and wet the rug down. In a bucket full of water, mix in about two capfuls of mild detergent. Woolite works fine, using a whisker or similar type tool works great to mix it thoroughly. Wipe the rug down with your created solution and a clean sponge, following it with a thorough rinse from the hose. Make sure to wash all the suds away.
Next, wrap some towels or other absorbing material up in the rug. This will help soak up the majority of the excess water.When you feel that most of the water has been soaked up, unroll the rug and lay it flat again. You can gently use a wet/dry vacuum as well. Your rug is now clean, it just needs time to completely dry. Time in the sun works great, but don't leave it out too long - the sun will fade its color, or even cause it to shrink.
You just cleaned your rug at home! Congratulations.
Now, let's keep those wool rugs clean. Full cleanings like this are probably best done every 12 to 18 months. There are simple things you can do between these major cleanings, to keep your rug looking like new. Vacuum your them regularly - this will help keep the dust buildup to a minimum. When accidents happen, try to clean them immediately.Blot stains, and treat if necessary with approved chemicals. Do not scrub though! Keep all your cleaning gentle, and you won't ruin the pile. With any cleaning you do, be sure your rugs get thoroughly dry as well. A rug that remains wet has a good chance of growing mold or other bacteria.
Regular cleaning will help keep your wool rugs looking like new, but if these steps seem like too much work, feel free to have them professionally cleaned on a regular basis. Keep those vivid colors alive!
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