As much as you would like to never have to step on or get your rug dirty,that is not likely to happen.Especially in a kitchen environment.Spills are a fact of life and so is cleaning your kitchen area rug.When done regularly cleaning will extend the useful life span of your rug allowing you to enjoy it for many years.

What do I mean by regular cleaning?To start with,regular weekly vacuuming.Both sides.I would suggest that you use either the attachment for hard floors or the one for furniture.That way you are less likely to catch a thread or frayed area and start to unravel your rug.

Regular vacuuming has the added benefit of helping keep down dust build up which some people are allergic to.

If like most people you,walk on the rug with dirty shoes or have kids and pets,brushing the rug before vacuuming will help considerably with removing ground in dirt.If the dirt happens to be mud,obviously let it dry thoroughly before brushing and vacuuming.

Of course in a kitchen setting there will be spills and learning some tips to combat that eventuality is a necessity.

The first thing to do in the event of a spill is to blot the area with a white towel or cloth.Obviously this is so that the dye in the towel won’t run and make a worse problem for you.Try using a spray bottle with plain water to help loosen the spill before blotting.Rubbing at the spill may only make things worse so I wouldn’t recommend it.Work from the outside of the spill into the center.

For most spills that would occur in a kitchen,like  beer,coffee,catsup and mustard,a mixture of a neutral detergent and white vinegar(a teaspoon of each)in a quart of warm water should do.

Drying the wet spot on the rug is equally important.You don’t want to leave the rug damp as that could cause mold and lead to rot.If the area rug is not large you may want to take it outside and lay it out to dry over some plastic chairs or anything that won’t stain the rug further.If it is too large you might want to try using a hairdryer on a low setting or a portable fan to circulate air around the wet spot.Try not to step on the spot until it is completely dry.

A bit of effort at keeping spills from happening in the first place is the best course of action.But we all know that is not always possible .
The final thought is to have your area rug professionally cleaned every two to three years.

Filed under: Area Rug Information

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