How Often Should You Clean Your Area Rug? Expert Recommendations

Area rugs lend warmth and color to plain, hard floors. However, they can become dirty quickly if you don’t care for them properly. Deep-cleaning area rugs on a schedule is a great way to keep them in good shape, and there are additional things you can do weekly to preserve the rugs’ color and softness.

Factors That Influence Cleaning Frequency

You don’t have to have your rug cleaned that frequently if you don’t walk over it much and don’t have pets. But you will want the rug cleaned more frequently if there’s a lot of foot traffic, especially if you wear outside shoes in the house and if you have pets or kids. If you live in a rather dusty area (e.g., lots of construction going on nearby, with the dust getting into the house) or if it’s allergy season, you’ll want to call our rug cleaning service in King of Prussia, PA, more frequently.

Weekly Maintenance Tips

One of the best ways to keep the rug in better condition is to vacuum it at least once a week and more often if you’re dealing with allergy season, have pets, or have another situation that would make the rug dirty quickly. If you spill something on the rug, clean it immediately, even if the spill is something that’s solid. Food can leave oils or other debris on the rug fibers, and you don’t want anything sinking to the bottom of the pile.

Seasonal Deep Cleaning Recommendations

You’ll want to typically deep-clean the rug at least every year. If the rug is truly in a spot where it doesn’t see much foot traffic, and you have no pets, you might be able to let the rug go longer between deep-cleanings as long as you vacuum it regularly. However, if you live where the rug gets dirty more easily, such as in a household with pets, then every six months may be a better frequency.

Signs Your Rug Needs Cleaning

Are there times when you can tell the rug needs to be cleaned before six or 12 months have passed? Yes. If you see visible dirt that the vacuum can’t lift off, if the rug starts smelling bad, or if a stain appears that won’t go away, don’t wait. That’s when you really need to get a cleaning company in there because if you wait, the dirt could settle further down in the pile (and become difficult to lift), and anything that’s stained the rug could become much harder to clean.

Professional vs. DIY Cleaning

Now that you know when you need area rug cleaning in Montgomery County, PA, you can decide whether to do it yourself or call a professional. Doing it yourself allows you to clean the rug on your schedule, and you wouldn’t be paying anyone. However, you’d still have to pay a rental fee to rent a carpet cleaner, or you’d have to pay to buy one and pay for more cleaning solutions as the months went by.

Plus, people need to realize that rug material and pile height, not to mention the amount of fringe at the ends, can affect how the rug needs to be cleaned. Age and overall condition also play roles. Older antique rugs need special care, and your average carpet cleaner machine could be too rough on that material.

East Coast Rug Care offers cleaning services for antique, wool, and oriental area rugs. Contact us if you think your area rug is starting to look dull or if it’s been several months since you last had it professionally cleaned.