Carpet rug cleaning is a little bit different than regular wall to wall carpet cleaning. It is an inevitable chore, of course, but we must do what we can do to keep our houses clean. Fortunately, it is not something that you have to do very often, as no matter which way you look at it, it is a troublesome and cumbersome job. Rugs are just unwieldy to work with, so you really have to work yourself up to doing the job, or pay to have a professional do it. The good news is that once you’ve done it, it won’t have to be done again for a while.

While you might be able to put small foot rugs, such as door mats, in the washer and dryer, you won’t be able to do this with area rugs or anything larger. Wall to wall carpeting certainly can’t be washed in a washing machine as it is attached to your floor. With carpet rug cleaning for large area rugs, your only real choice is to wash it by hand in a large tub, perhaps even your bath tub. You’ll need to gently scrub it with a mild detergent and rinse it thoroughly, then hang it out to dry outside until it is totally dry throughout. If you put it back inside on your floor before it is completely dry, you may find that it gets a bit musty and even moldy. If there are any particular stains on your rug, you will need to pre-treat these with a stain remover that is appropriate for the material that your rug is made from, so be sure to read the instructions on the bottle of cleaner before using it so you don’t inadvertently damage your rug.

If you have an old, heirloom rug that was made by hand by an ancestor, chances are that you won’t be using it to walk on. However, it will need to be cleaned periodically just as any other rug, because it will collect dust and get a musty smell no matter how carefully you store it. A good cleaning once a decade or so will keep it in good condition. The important thing to remember with these rugs is that they require a very special, careful type of cleaning. You can’t use harsh chemicals on them, or even soap, and washing them by hand might ruin them, so you really need to bring these rugs to professional rug cleaners who are trained in archival carpet rug cleaning to keep your heirloom in the best possible condition.

Carpet rug cleaning is a little bit different than regular wall to wall carpet cleaning. With rugs, you have to handle them a bit more delicately, especially if they are old. Plenty of people have antique or heirloom rugs that they still use for decorative or even utilitarian purposes, and you simply can not clean these rugs in the traditional way. Their age and delicacy makes it too easy to ruin them if you are not careful, especially if the rug was hand made. So, how do you clean a dirty heirloom rug without destroying it?

Well, first of all, avoid all modern carpet cleaning chemicals when performing carpet rug cleaning on an old rug. You want to go as totally natural as you can. Take into consideration the condition the rug is in. Is it very delicate, or does it still have some hardiness left in it? This will determine how much scrubbing, if any, it can take. If it still has some strength left in it, you will probably want to wash it by hand, and then hang it up to dry. Don’t do too much scrubbing, so you don’t fray the carpet fibers or cause any weaving to come undone. Just a gentle swish around in some warm water with a mild detergent and then a good rinse in cold water is all you need. Never put the rug through the dryer or it could shrink. Hang it up to dry, just like our ancestors did.

If the rug is in fragile condition, you may need to take it to a professional cleaner. You could get it dry cleaned, but if it is made with certain fabrics, such as silk, this could end up destroying the material. Your best bet for carpet rug cleaning for very delicate old rugs is to take them to a professional carpet cleaner who is experienced in dealing with heirloom pieces and will know exactly how to clean it right while preserving its integrity and not damaging it in any way. Most professional carpet cleaners are trained in these methods, and if they are not, they can usually refer you to someone who is. This is your best choice if you want to preserve an old rug that may have been in your family for many generations.

It usually doesn’t cost too much to get your carpet rug cleaning done, even with very old rugs. After all, it is just one rug, and it will usually be a small one. While it may cost a few extra dollars for archival type cleaning, it still won’t cost nearly as much as it would to clean your entire wall to wall carpeting throughout your house. So, try a professional rug cleaner and see what they can do for you and your special heirloom rug. You just may be surprised.