KIDDS QUALITY CLEANING
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ORIENTAL AND AREA RUG CARE
ORIENTAL AND AREA RUG CARE
The most important step in caring for Oriental and area rugs is the same as for installed carpet. Vacuum regularly to remove dry soil so that it does not wear down the fibers. This is especially important because area rugs tend to be placed in high traffic areas, such as by the front door. Second, clean up spills when they happen. Blot up liquid spills immediately. You can use your Kidds spotter kit to spot clean, but follow the directions and test it in an inconspicuous area first. Many area rugs are not color fast, so their colors will bleed into each other if you get them moist. Third, rotate your rug every few months to even out the wear. Dhurries can even be turned over to wear both sides evenly. Fourth, have your rug professionally cleaned on a regular basis. The frequency of cleaning depends on the amount of traffic the rug gets and how close it is to the outside entries of your home where dirt comes in. Rugs at entryways should be cleaned more often than those in a guest room. In fact, if you are placing a nice rug in the entryway to your home, be sure to have a large walk off mat outside the door to help remove soil before it gets to your rug. Outside mats should be made of polypropylene (also called Olefin), because they will not mildew or fade and they actually attract oily soils, so that they will pull things like asphalt residue off your shoes.
AREA RUG Q & A
WE HAVE HAD OUR AREA RUGS FOR THREE YEARS NOW AND HAVE NOT CLEANED THEM. THEY ARE DARK COLORED AND DO NOT LOOK DIRTY. WHEN WILL THEY NEED CLEANING?
A – Just like installed carpeting, you can prolong the life of area rugs by having them professionally cleaned on a regular basis. Leaving your sand and other dry soil in your rugs wears them down, because the soil acts like sandpaper on the fibers when you walk across the rugs. Regularly removing that soil will help them to last much longer. Often a rug will need cleaning before it looks dirty.
The best rule of thumb is to have rugs that get heavy traffic, such as entryway rugs, cleaned every six months to one year. Rugs that do not get such heavy traffic can be cleaned every one to two years.
WHY DOES IT COST MORE TO CLEAN AREA RUGS THAN INSTALLED CARPET?
This is one of our most popular services available. It’s made a big difference for many of our customers, and is provided with the highest level of excellence. With this service, we ensure all details are simple, seamless and handled in a timely manner. Whenever you work with Kidds Quality Cleaning, you can trust that you’re in great hands.
Area rugs have enjoyed increasing popularity in the recent years. This is due in part to the popularity of hard surface floors such as tile, stone and marble. Many times a homeowner will get tired of carpet and have it ripped out and replaced with tile or stone. After a few weeks, the homeowner almost invariable decides to add an area rug to the room. Area rugs serve the important functions of absorbing sound, cushioning feet and tying a room together beautifully. But how do you choose the perfect rug for your room?
SOME TYPICAL DIFFERENCES BETWEEN HANDMADE AND MACHINE MADE RUGS
Here, we have included a chart that can help you tell the difference between handmade and machine made oriental rugs.
HANDMADE RUGS
There are several basic types of area rugs. Handmade Oriental rugs are the oldest type of area rug used today. They are made using techniques that have remained unchanged for centuries. Each rug takes months to years to make. These rugs are beautiful as well as durable and often appreciate in value over time. Many factors determine the cost of a particular rug, including the material used, country of origin, types of dyes, number of colors, and number and type of knots used to make the rug. Most important to a buyer planning to put the rug in their home, is the beauty of the rug.
Most handmade Oriental rugs are made of wool, but it should be noted that silk is occasionally used to make rugs coming from China. These tend to be very expensive and also very beautiful.
Dhurrie rugs are another type of rug that is sometimes made by hand. These flat woven rugs come from India and are usually made of cotton or wool
MACHINE MADE RUGS
Also available are machine made Orientals. These are made of wool or nylon, while less valuable than handmade rugs; they can be very beautiful too.
SCULPTURED CARPET
In recent years, sculptured rugs have become popular. These rugs are made by cutting and re-piecing plush or Saxony style carpet. They come in an unlimited array of designs from simple borders to wildlife scenes. There are several companies in town that will custom make a sculptured rug to fit your exact specifications using colors that match your decor. These are often a less expensive alternative to Oriental rugs when you need a large area rug for your home. Another relatively economical alternative is to have ordinary carpet bound. Most carpet retailers will bind it for you. Some of the new textured carpets look fantastic this way. That is often a good choice for a floor that already has a pattern such as marble.
FIBER TYPES
Wool rugs are more durable than nylon, and better at hiding soil. But wool is very absorbent, which causes wool rugs to stain more easily than nylon rugs. Nylon rugs are given stain resistance during the manufacturing process. We recommend adding fiber protection to any wool area rug you purchase to help prevent permanent stains. It is also important to clean up spills as quickly as possible with a wool rug.
Silk, Another fiber that is sometimes used to make Oriental rugs is silk. These beautiful rugs are strong, yet light weight compared to wool. Silk is naturally flame resistant. And while it is more difficult for us to clean, and we recommend having fiber protection applied, it is not a high maintenance rug to have in your home.
Nylon is frequently used in machine made oriental rugs. It is a less expensive but still beautiful alternative. Nylon wears well and is low maintenance. It normally has stain resistance built in when it is manufactured.
Cotton is used in Dhurrie rugs, rag rugs and other specialty rugs. It is only rarely used in wall to wall carpet. Cotton is very absorbent like wool, so it tends to hold onto stains. It is also susceptible to mildew and shrinkage. Cotton also tends to turn brown if it gets wet and does not dry quickly enough. Cotton would not be our choice for anything but a throw rug that you put in the washing machine.
