Protecting rugs from furniture

Rugs can get damaged by any furniture you place on your rug. Common damage occurs from furniture weight and when furniture can be displaced. In either case the carpet pile is ruined. Most damage can be prevented using simple methods.

The most direct way to take the weight of furniture off your rugs is get an underpad. Pressure bearing underpad will even out weight distribution so that it is not centered on a small area. Another thing to do is get padding cloth for under furniture legs and corners. This will also remove weight pressure.

If your rug is damaged from furniture there are possible corrective methods. Wool rugs can benefit from steaming the area and lightly brushing the pile. If the rug fibers are thinned or worn, rug repair will be necessary.

Overall, it is good practice to rotate your furniture and have your rugs professionally cleaned annually. This will allow weight bearing areas on your carpet to breathe.

Candles and rugs don’t mix

So you happen to get candle wax in your rug? Have you made the stain worse with home remedies? Don’t panic there’s still hope for your beloved rug.

Wax removal isn’t easy but it’s still manageable. Wax based candles are easier to remove. It is advised that the area be chilled with an ice bag first. Using a dull knife lightly chip away at the stain. Remove the wax debris with a vacuum. Repeat until most of the stain comes out.

For the next step you will need paper and an iron. Place the paper over the stain and lightly iron it. Wax should come out gradually. Repeat for as many times as necessary.

Keep in mind that results may vary depending on carpet fibers and wax colour. Vegetable oil based candles may need a different treatment to come out of the rug. It might even require a professional stream cleaning.

Take care to treat the carpet fibers gently. Too much stress can thin the area and need repair.    

Getting smells out of carpets

Unpleasant smells trapped in carpets will affect the quality of your living space. The first step is identifying the type of smell. Is it chemical, food based, pet oriented or mold? If you can’t identify it is a good idea to seek out a professional rug cleaner. They will be able to identify it and give your rug the appropriate treatment.

Chemical based smells usually come with new carpets and cleaning done with harsh chemicals. Some smells will disappear over time. Others need to be aired out to dissipate the chemical. To avoid smells from carpet cleaning make sure that the cleaning services uses eco-friendly detergents.

To avoid smells all together, it is important that you get your rugs professionally cleaned once a year. The deep cleaning will get out dust mites and other allergens as well.