If you own valuable rugs, then you know the importance of keeping them protected. However, all too often, that protection does not involve the right cleaning regimen, or the right cleaning products and methods. Too many rug owners actually suffer from serious misconceptions about rug cleaning that could lead to damage and the untimely demise of their rugs. We’ll explore six of the most common misconceptions below.
1.Rug Cleaning Should Be Cheap
Let’s start with one of the most common misconceptions out there – that rug cleaning should be as cheap as possible. Yes, we all want to save some money, but that should not come at the expense of your rugs. Going with a bottom-dollar provider may actually mean that your rug will be damaged during the cleaning process due to incorrect tools, products, or methods being used.
2. The Rug Cleaner You Hire Will Be the One Doing the Work
It’s natural to see how this misconception came about, but it’s one that we need to debunk. Yes, you would think that the company you hire will also be the one doing the rug cleaning. However, that’s not always the case, particularly when you hire a carpet cleaning company to clean your specialty rugs. Verify who will be doing the work before money changes hands and before any cleaning is done.
3. All Rugs Need to Be Dry Cleaned
Think that dry cleaning is the best option for your rugs? Chances are good that it’s not. Why? It’s because dry cleaning doesn’t really remove dirt and grime. The cleaning chemicals applied are dry, meaning that the cleaning company doesn’t actually rinse any of the dirt out of your rugs. It’s a surface clean, nothing more.
4.Rug Cleaning Is the Same as Carpet Cleaning
Let us put this as bluntly as possible – carpet and rug cleaning are not the same thing, and should not be treated as being similar. Different tools, techniques and cleaning products are used. Wall-to-wall carpeting is nothing like a fine specialty rug. Even the materials are different. Most carpeting is made from synthetic latex and plastic-based fibers. Most rugs, on the other hand, are made from fine wool and silk. Obviously, they cannot be cleaned in the same ways
5. Cleaning Is Only to Remove Dirt
There’s a misconception out there that rug cleaning is only necessary for removing dirt. That’s an important part, sure, but there’s more to it. There are other contaminants that you need to remove, including animal dander, pollen, and even funguses and bacteria. All of these can cause serious health problems for your family if not removed during rug cleaning.
6.You Should Only Clean Rugs Rarely
Finally, there’s a notion out there that you should go as long as possible between rug cleanings. That makes sense on a superficial level – you’re trying to avoid wear and tear to your valuable rugs. However, specialized rug cleaning companies can remove dirt, pollen, and other contaminants from your rugs without causing damage. There is no need to wait long periods between cleanings.
As you can see, there’s a lot of misinformation out there about rug cleaning. Hopefully, the tips above help clarify the situation for you.
