Rugs are the most used furnishings in your house and the ones that experience the most wear and tear. And with all this foot traffic and use, Area rugs and Oriental rugs can quickly accumulate dirt, dust, pollen, pet hair, and other allergens. Not only can this make them appear dull and dingy, it can also begin to affect people’s health. Even with regular vacuuming, you won’t be able to remove all the dirt and debris.
In fact, most homeowners have no idea how dirty their rugs are until they have them professionally cleaned and see the dramatic difference in their rug. And with summer upon us, now is the perfect time to have your rugs cleaned. Your house will have a fresh look when you invite friends and family over.
Benefits of Professional Rug Cleaning
Over time dirt and debris can build up in and become embedded in the rug fibres. Woven rugs form tiny little pockets, like fish scales, that hold dust, dirt, and other debris from your home environment. This is why a rug can hold kilograms of dirt before it even starts to look dirt. That means it could be holding a wide variety of allergens that are making children, elderly family members, and immune compromised family members sick, without anyone know. Not to mention that this build up of dirt can cause the fibres to split, damaging your rug beyond repair. Professional cleaners, like Woods Rug Laundry, use patented cleaning products and commercial cleaning machines to properly remove the dirt from your rug. Having rugs professionally cleaned can prevent damage and extend your rug’s life.
Rugs and High Traffic Areas
If your rug is in high traffic areas, like hallways, bedrooms, and living rooms, it will tend to get dirtier, faster. This is because people tend to walk through these areas more often, making the rugs dirtier and wear out faster than others – this is why we call it a high traffic area. Rugs in high traffic areas wear out and get dirty, detracting from the look of the entire space.
And with school holidays nearly on us, children and pets are going to be spending more time outside, running in and out of the house, tracking dirt, mud, and goodness knows what else through the house and into your rugs. With that comes lots of foot traffic, which can lead to a build up of germs and dirt in your rugs. Having your rug professionally cleaned by cleaners, like Woods Rug Laundry, can remove the dirt from these rugs so the rug is refreshed and looks cleaner and fresher!
Stains and Pet Urine
Rugs are often victims of spills, especially during the warmer months. And many of these spills are a staining risk, which and irreversibly damage your rug. It is important not to rub or scrub at the spill as this can spread the stain even further. And DIY and off-the-shelf cleaning products can actually make the situation worse, especially with old rugs as the dye used in their design is very unstable. Having your rug professionally cleaned means your rug can be dye stability tested to ensure it is treated properly.
Further, cat and dog urine is not only smelly, it can actually burn and stain your rug. And while professionals can get the smell out, they might not be able to get the stain out. It all depends on the diet of your pet, the type of fibres in your rug, and stability of the rug dye. This is why it’s important to always seek the advice of a professional rug cleaner, like Woods Rug Laundry, who can inspect your rug and give you an honest estimate on how much of the stain they can remove without further damaging your rug.
The 7-Step Professional Rug Cleaning Process
By having you rug professionally cleaned before summer, you contribute to a healthier indoor environment. Professional cleaning removes dust, dirt, and allergens can be beneficial for your family and friends who are at risk of allergens lurking in dirty rugs. And getting your rug cleaned also removes bacteria that ultimately cause awful smells throughout your home.
Your rugs are statement pieces in your home. They not only make you comfortable, they often pull the whole room together. As a result, you want to make sure they look beautiful and stay in good shape for a long time. Below is the 7-Step Rug Cleaning Process Woods Rug Laundry follows to ensure your rug is fully cleaned and dried!
Step One: Inspection and Analysis
First and most importantly, we carefully inspect all rugs to note the exact cleaning requirements of each rug. As a result, we take into consideration the type of fibre the rug is constructed from. Rugs are tested for the colour fastness of the dyes, and specific stains and odours are noted. If urine is detected you will be contacted with a quotation for urine treatment (this is an additional cost on top of the cleaning cost for your rug).
Step Two: Dust and Dirt Removal
Prior to cleaning, all rugs are thoroughly vacuumed and agitated to remove as much dry soil as possible.
Step Three: Pre-Spray
All rugs are pre-treated for stains and odours. Our cleaning solutions are water based and bio-degradable, and as close to ph-neutral as possible.
Step Four: Rotary Shampoo
Our technicians then apply shampoo which is gently massaged into the rug using a rotary machine. This step assists in the removal of dirt and stains.
Step Five: Rinsing/Wringer
Once shampooed, the rug is then passed through our state-of-the-art rinsing machine. Soft jets of cold water wash away the dirt particles and shampoo. The wringer then removes the excess moisture from the rug.
Step Six: Drying and De-Humidifying
Rugs are then hung in our climate-controlled drying room. All rugs are moisture tested using moisture meters before being removed from the drying room. Drying may take up to 48 hours depending on the composition of the rug.
Step Seven: Final Phase
Fringes are hand-cleaned, and rugs are inspected for any other areas requiring attention. Rugs are then vacuumed and groomed (silk rugs are treated in special proprietary ways to ensure that the genuine silk finish and feel is retained). Finally, they are then rolled ready for your collection or delivery.
If you would like to find out more information about our Rug Cleaning services, request a quote or book a pick up, today!