There are a few things you should always remember to do if you want your rugs to retain their newness, cleanliness, and pristine condition. Vacuuming should be a frequent part of your household routine, and any spills on the rugs should be cleaned up immediately.
Rugs are a great way to spruce up the look of a room, but they also have a bad habit of collecting dirt and dust. Microbiologists agree that millions of mold spores, pollen grains, and dust mites can call rug fibers home. Because of this, it’s crucial to clean rugs regularly a few times a year.
Knowing the Rug’s Composition
Understanding your rug is vital for a good cleaning. While machine washing may work fine for some rugs, a more thorough cleaning may be required for others. Certain chemicals can remove dye from natural fabrics, but others can only be used with caution.
When cleaning with baking soda or other strong chemicals, you risk damaging other fibers. Understanding the rug’s composition, including its absorbency, is essential. Absorbent rugs take more time to dry and are more susceptible to mildew if over wet.
Tips and Tricks in Keeping White Rugs Clean
One must first ensure that their white rug is well cared for if they want to avoid soiling. The amount of upkeep required depends on the placement of the rug. To maintain your white rugs clean, fresh, and looking brand-new, adhere to these suggestions.
1-Give Your Rug a Good Shake
If your rug is dirty, you may help get rid of it by lifting it up and shaking it, which is far gentler on the rug than on a vacuum. Area rugs under heavy foot activity should be shaken at least once a day. Place rugs in low-traffic areas and shake them out once a week.
2-Brush Your Pet’s Hair Off
Obtain a brush that is made specifically for removing hair from animals like cats and dogs. The pet section of any major retailer will have these. Once every two weeks or after each time you wash the rug, give it a good brushing to eliminate any stray pet hair.
3-Vacuum Often
Although it may seem simple, it’s important to regularly vacuum your rugs to remove dirt, dust, and other debris. As a result, grime won’t be ground into the rug fibers which makes the removal really challenging. Shake the rug before turning on the vacuum to release any dirt or grit that may be lodged in the rug’s fibers.
A rotating brush or household vacuum cleaner’s bristles can harm a rug’s fibers and cause them to shed, so it’s best to use the suction-only setting on your vacuum instead. Vacuum the rug gently with the nozzle attachment. Antibacterial powders can be sprinkled on rugs to kill germs, but it’s important to test a tiny area first in case the powder ruins the rug’s material.
4-Get Rid of Odors
It’s possible for rugs to smell over time. Sprinkle baking soda over your rug to help eliminate odors. After letting it sit for a day, you may then vacuum off the baking soda that has accumulated. Spraying a can of household odor eliminator on your rug is a fantastic additional method for odor removal. It is imperative to let it dry out for long hours period.
5-Clean Up Spillages Immediately
Quickly absorbing a spilled liquid will prevent it from seeping into the rug’s fibers. The first step on how to keep white rugs clean by getting off spillages is to apply water using a damp white cotton cloth. Dab the stained spot, taking care not to rub or risk damaging the rug’s surface.
Do repetition of this step till the point where the water has totally been absorbed. After the mess has been cleaned up, you should let the rug air dry before replacing it on the floor. Typically, you may expect this to take between three and four hours.
6-Spot Clean
It’s important to quickly wipe up any accidents. Make precautionary measures as needed based on the kind of spill you’re dealing with:
❖ Water
Use tissue paper or a dry white cloth to soak up the moisture. To extract the maximum moisture, turn it upside down and place a towel or cloth on the underside, then blot outwards from the top. A fan or hair dryer in the cold/warm setting can also help speed up the drying process (not hot).
❖ Food or Drinks
Take out everything that you can with a piece of blotting paper, a clean cloth, or even a spoon. Washing out any discoloration can be done through the use of water. You can either sponge it with salt water or place a tissue or piece of cloth underneath.
Also, you can put a plastic dishpan just underneath your white rug. Hollow out your floor over the dish drainer so the water doesn’t run everywhere, and pour water throughout your rug. Avoid overfilling your dishpan by not pouring too much.
❖ Oil Stains
When dealing with oil stains, rubbing alcohol might be an effective tool. Other stain remover products cannot break down the oil to adequately remove the stain, but this one can. Take a washcloth and soak it in rubbing alcohol. Dab the spill with the cloth to remove it! Rinse the rug with water or a wet washcloth while you remove the stain.
❖ Pet Stains
Dealing with pet stains can be annoying. Urine can ruin a rug’s structure, make the colors run, and even attract pests. It is also a little bit challenging to keep away from the odor.
To remove a urine stain, follow the same procedures as you would for cleaning up a food or drink spill. Only use white vinegar at a rate of one cup per gallon in the final rinse. Most rug dyes are resistant to acids, so this should help keep the colors from fading even if it is a white ones.
You can use a scraper to remove any foreign matter and then wash the area with rug shampoo or the DIY cleaning solution for feces and vomit. You can also buy a number of cleaning products tailored to this issue within your locality’s pet store. First, try the stain remover on a small, inconspicuous part of the rug to be sure it doesn’t damage the rug.
Different Spot Cleaning Methods for White Rugs
In the event of a spill on your rug, the best recommendation is immediate cleaning because this will make removing the stain much simpler.
★ Using Detergent Water
One cup of regular water and two tablespoons of detergent is all you need to get started with this technique. After that, moisten a sponge with some of the cleaning solutions. Remove extra water by ringing it out. Utilizing water and detergent, blot the stains as carefully as possible.
Be careful not to scrub your rug. Soak the sponge in fresh water to flush any leftover debris. Repetition of these actions will ensure that the stain is completely gone. As the last step, ensure that your rug has adequate time to dry. When it comes to natural rugs that can easily develop mildew and mold, this is crucial.
★ Hydrogen Peroxide
On white rugs, hydrogen peroxide works wonders to get rid of stubborn stains. You can remove the stain using peroxide by soaking a washcloth in it and blotting it dry.
7-Try a Washable Rug
Invest in a machine-washable rug if you value convenience when it comes to cleaning.
How to Wash Your White Rug
For the majority of people, using the washing machine as a cleaning tool is beneficial for the number of synthetic rugs and rugs made entirely of natural materials. If there is a tag, read it carefully for care recommendations. This is the most straightforward method if you have time to wash the white rug to get rid of the stain.
Start by washing your rug with standard detergent. Be sure to select the delicate cycle on your washing machine before starting the wash. The majority of bothersome stains will be eliminated by doing this.
In such a case, try using a commercial stain remover. Use any commercially available stain remover. Bleach is a fantastic idea for cleaning an all-white rug, but you need to make sure it won’t damage the rug’s fibers.
8-Look for Professional Help
An intensive professional cleaning may be in order if your rug is somewhat old. If you want to know if the time has come, consider these suggestions in order for you to keep white rugs clean and fresh.
- Massage your rug briskly with your finger in a brief arc. Any dirt on your finger indicates that the rug has to be professionally cleaned.
- If the rug’s thread and weft look dirty when you pull the pile apart, the dirt has settled deep into the rug, beyond the reach of a vacuum cleaner, and you’ll need to give the rug a thorough cleaning.
Final Words
Unmatched elegance, sophistication, and tenderness can be added to a space by a white rug, but as the owner, you could only see a giant white mess that needs to be cleaned up. Fortunately, it’s not as difficult as it would seem to clean a white rug.
Your rug may maintain its bright white appearance by receiving routine care, spot cleaning, and quick stain removal. If you’re unclear about how to remove specific stains, speak with a professional carpet cleaner. Often conduct a spot test before beginning to clean your carpets.