Cleaning Rugs That Are Handmade Vs. Machine Made
Rugs tend to present a unique challenge when it comes to keeping them clean. Modern materials and manufacturing techniques have made it much easier to clean them with less effort, but materials and manufacturing techniques can add an element of difficulty to their proper care. Instead of doing it yourself, rely on our professional rug cleaning in Media, PA. In the meantime, here’s a look at what to expect when cleaning machine-made and handmade rugs.
Cleaning a Handmade Rug
A handmade rug features knots or weaving that aren’t uniform across each row. These signs mean your rug is handmade and needs to be cleaned using gentle washing techniques to prevent the fibers from coming loose. It’s true that handmade rugs are intended to tolerate wear and tear, but they should be cleaned using appropriate techniques to prolong their life. Techniques for cleaning a handmade rug include:
- Shaking it out until all loose debris stops falling
- Beating the rug with a broomstick as it hangs on a line
- Vacuuming the back of the rug before vacuuming the top
- Spot clean with a gentle cleaner and blot the rug
- Clean the rug in sections with a sponge and a mild detergent and water mixture
If you opt for cleaning the rug with soap and water, always be gentle to avoid damaging its fibers. Always use a sponge, apply gentle pressure, and don’t spend a lot of time in any area.
Cleaning a Machine-Made Rug
Most machine-made rugs are made to be durable and easily cleaned. In fact, many are designed to withstand going through a washing machine, although you’ll need to check the care label to be sure. All of the techniques that are used for cleaning handmade rugs are applicable to machine-made rugs. However, you can be more aggressive with its cleaning, especially if it’s a rug made with synthetic fibers.
A machine-made rug can be cleaned using the following techniques:
- Applying a power washer on a light setting
- Soaked with a garden hose
- Rug shampooing machine
- Saturated with soap and water and agitated with a broom
If your rug has fringe, be gentle with the fibers. Even though the rug is machine-made, the fibers that make up the fringe are prone to damage. Soak the fibers, then gently work in the soap, then rinse thoroughly with gentle water pressure.
You may find that you need to repeat these processes more than once to thoroughly clean your rug.
Call Us at East Coast Rug Care to Find Out More About Our Rug Cleaning Services
At East Coast Rug Care, we’re experts at cleaning and repairing rugs to make them look new again. If you’re looking for antique rug cleaning services in Main Line, PA, or have a modern rug that needs special care for cleaning, we can help. Get in touch with us today to learn more about the rug cleaning and care services we offer, and the types of techniques we use to take care of your favorite rugs.