Plan to Vacuum Regularly
Many homeowners tell us they vacuum regularly but can’t quite say how often. The saying goes, “If you fail to plan, you plan to fail,” so it’s important to create a vacuuming schedule for your rugs and carpets. This keeps you on top of what is needed.
We recommend vacuuming your rug at least once a week. If you have pets, kids, or if the rug is in a high-traffic area like an entryway or hallway, you may want to vacuum even more frequently.
Stop Dirt Being Tracked Into Your Home
One of the main ways dirt gets into your home is on your shoes (with pets being another culprit). One of the easiest things you can do for the health of your rugs is to avoid wearing shoes inside. If you’re used to wearing shoes indoors, this might take some getting used to. To help, place a shoe rack near each entrance as a reminder for you and your family. Consider getting house slippers for everyone, but make sure they’re not worn outside to keep them clean! If you absolutely need to wear shoes indoors, set up mats at every entrance and wipe your shoes each time you come inside.
Wear Socks
While shoes can be harmful to your carpets, socks can actually be beneficial. Our feet naturally produce sweat and oils, which can damage the fibers and dyes of your rugs over time. Wearing socks or house slippers indoors helps protect your carpets from these substances. Just be sure to keep your socks clean and replace them after wearing them in shoes!
Rearrange Your Furniture
Many people already rearrange their furniture every so often to create a fresh, new feeling in their home. Not only is this good for your feng shui, rearranging the furniture can redirect the traffic paths in your home. This spreads the wear and tear of your rugs out, instead of concentrating all of the foot traffic in one spot. If you can’t rearrange your furniture, at least make sure to rotate your rugs. Otherwise, you will start to see your rug wear out much quicker in the places you walk on most, like in front of furniture.
Dab Up Spills Right Away
Accidental spills are a common cause of spots and stains on rugs. If you drop something that could stain your rug, grab a white cloth or paper towel and absorb as much of the liquid as you can. Use gentle pressure and a dabbing motion—avoid scrubbing, as this can push the stain deeper and damage the rug.
These tips will help keep your rugs clean and healthy in between area rug cleanings from Delta Chem-Dry. If it’s time to schedule that regular rug cleaning in Santa Monica, give us a call at (818) 651-0707 and we’ll be happy to help!