{"id":29281,"date":"2023-07-21T20:20:07","date_gmt":"2023-07-21T20:20:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.reliablecounter.com\/blog\/?p=29281"},"modified":"2023-07-21T20:20:07","modified_gmt":"2023-07-21T20:20:07","slug":"can-area-rugs-be-steam-cleaned","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.reliablecounter.com\/blog\/can-area-rugs-be-steam-cleaned\/","title":{"rendered":"Can Area Rugs Be Steam Cleaned?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Area rugs are a wonderful way to add texture and color to a room. They\ncan also serve as a focal point.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, with regular use, they can get dirty and smelly. Steam cleaning\ncan help remove stubborn stains and disinfect the rug. However, the hot\nmoisture can damage hardwood floors beneath an area rug.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>What to Expect<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>According to <a href=\"https:\/\/valleycarpetcleaning.com\/\">Valley Carpet Cleaning<\/a>, the best way to get a deep clean on your area rug is to steam it. This\nis because a steam cleaner can remove dirt, grease, and grime from the carpet, which\ncan often be hard to get rid of with other cleaning methods like shampooing.\nThe best part about steam cleaning is that it doesn\u2019t leave your carpet with\nexcess moisture like shampooing does, which can lead to the growth of mold and\nmildew.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Following the steam cleaner manufacturer\u2019s instructions is important when\nusing it. Then, fill the tank with distilled water and add any cleaning\nsolution that is recommended for your specific machine. Start the steamer in\none corner of the room and work slowly toward the door as you move the cleaner\naround the area rug. You\u2019ll want to make sure that you\u2019ve covered the entire\narea rug before moving on to the next section of the room.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When you\u2019re ready to switch to a new section of the rug, pull the steamer\nbackward until the area is completely clean, and then push it forward again.\nRepeat this process until all areas of the rug are completely cleaned. This\nwill help prevent any color or texture fading from over-saturation with the\ncleaning solution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019re unsure whether your rug is safe to be steam cleaned, always do\na spot test first in an inconspicuous area of the rug. It\u2019s also a good idea to\ndo a general dusting of the area before you steam clean. This will remove any\ndust that might fall onto the floor as the steam cleaner passes over it and can\nhelp keep your home dust-free.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The only downside to steam cleaning is that stains aren\u2019t usually\ncompletely removed. If you have a stubborn stain, it may be necessary to use a\nchemical detergent in addition to the steamer. This will help to lift the stain\nand prevent it from reappearing after the area is dry. This is especially true\nfor older stains, which can become set deeply into the fibers of your rug.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Preparation<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Area rugs are a wonderful addition to any home and can help keep floors\nwarmer in winter, add some style, and offer safety when someone trips or falls\non hard flooring. Unfortunately, like wall-to-wall carpeting, area rugs can\npick up odors and stains and collect dirt and dust just as easily. Regular\ncleaning with a rug steamer can help reduce these issues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To prep your area rugs for steam cleaning, vacuum them thoroughly and spot-treat\nany areas of concern with a quality stain remover. Then, hang your rugs\noutdoors on a sunny day over a clothesline or patio beam. Be sure to shake them\nwell to force loose dirt elements to come out and help beat any dust mites hiding\nin the weave.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Once the rugs are back inside, you can use your home or rental rug\nsteamer to steam them. Be sure to follow the directions for your steamer and\nuse any cleaning solution that the manufacturer recommends. If you want to add\nsome extra cleaning power, try adding a small amount of vinegar to your\ncleaning solution. Vinegar has a lower pH value than many commercial cleaners\nand will often perform just as well at breaking down and removing dirt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Before you finish cleaning, comb through your area rugs to look for items\nyou may have missed with the vacuum or steamer, such as bobby pins, jewelry,\nand rogue toys. Once the rugs are dry, it is a good idea to put up signs in\nyour home or office to ask people to avoid the area until it\u2019s fully dried,\nwhich can take up to a full day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While steam cleaning does a great job at removing surface dirt, it can\u2019t\nfully unsettle and dislodge the germs and contaminants that have been settling\ndeep within your rug for years. This is why it\u2019s important to regularly dust\nyour rugs and clean them with a good carpet cleaner and deodorizer between\nsteam cleaning sessions. These products can kill the bacteria and odors that\nhave been building up in your rugs, making them feel fresher and healthier to\nlive with.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Cleaning<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Area rugs can be beautiful additions to your home decor, and they do a\ngreat job of defining rooms and adding warmth underfoot. Unfortunately, they\nalso tend to pick up a lot of dirt, stains, and unpleasant odors over time.\nGetting them cleaned regularly can help keep your home looking good and\nsmelling great.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Steaming an area rug is one of the best ways to clean it. This process\nsanitizes the fibers and helps to eliminate or reduce odors, stains, and other\ndamage. This can help extend the life of your rugs, and it is relatively simple\nto do at home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>First, you will need to vacuum your rugs to remove any loose dirt and\ndebris. This will also help to remove the dirt from the cracks and crevices\nwhere it can hide. It is a good idea to vacuum your area rugs at least once per\nweek and several times weekly in high-traffic areas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Next, you will need to rinse your area rugs in the sink or bathtub. You\nwill need to use hot water for this and a mild dishwashing liquid or carpet\ncleaner. Consult your rug\u2019s care instructions for a recommendation on the\nsafest cleaner to use. Always test a small corner of your rug before using any\ncleaning product to ensure it is colorfast.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Once your rug is rinsed, you will need to let it dry. This can take\nanywhere from a few hours to a day. Place a fan in the room to speed up the\ndrying process if you can.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In between steam cleaning your rugs, you can try to deodorize them with\nspray cleaners designed for area rugs. These cleaners can help eliminate odors\ncaused by foods, stinky feet, and pets. Just be sure to rinse your rugs well\nafter using these products so that the excess moisture can be removed as\nquickly as possible and you do not risk mold or mildew problems. It is also a\ngood idea to vacuum your rugs regularly to keep them as clean as possible and\nprevent them from becoming matted and damaged.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Drying<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Area rugs help define spaces, add color, and provide warmth underfoot.\nHowever, they can also attract and hold stains. And, like carpeting, they need\nto be cleaned on a regular basis. The most effective method is steam cleaning.\nUnlike carpeting, which can be shampooed, a rug\u2019s natural fibers do not react\nwell to harsh chemicals and heat. So, it is important to follow the care\ninstructions that came with your rug or consult a professional to determine if\nsteam cleaning is safe for your area rug.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Remove all the furniture from the room before you steam clean your area\nrug. This will allow you to reach the entire surface of your area rug. If you\ncan\u2019t move the furniture, place squares of wax paper, foil, wood blocks, or\nplastic film under the legs of the furniture to protect it from damage by the\nsteam cleaner\u2019s hot moisture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Next, vacuum the area rug to remove any dirt and debris that may be\ntrapped within the fibers. You can also use an enzymatic stain remover that is\nsafe for your area rug\u2019s fibers. If a stain is especially stubborn, you can try\nscrubbing it with a soft brush or a rag. But be sure to blot rather than scrub\nto avoid causing permanent damage to your area rug.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Once your area rug is clean, let it dry in an open area outside. If this\nis not possible, place the rug over a clothesline or laundry rack in a warm,\nsunny spot where air can move freely. You can also try placing the area rug in\nfront of a fan to help speed up the drying process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When the area rug is completely dry, you can put it back in its place.\nHowever, checking the rug every six hours for dampness is a good idea. If you\nnotice that certain areas of the area rug are still wet, you can run a steam\ncleaner over it again using an extraction-only setting to pull out the\nremaining liquid and help your area rug dry faster.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Area rugs are a wonderful way to add texture and color to a room. They can also serve as a focal point. However, with regular use, they can get dirty and smelly. Steam cleaning can [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[79],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-29281","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-everyday-life"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.reliablecounter.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29281"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.reliablecounter.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.reliablecounter.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.reliablecounter.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.reliablecounter.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=29281"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.reliablecounter.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29281\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":29284,"href":"https:\/\/www.reliablecounter.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29281\/revisions\/29284"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.reliablecounter.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=29281"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.reliablecounter.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=29281"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.reliablecounter.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=29281"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}