Bringing the finishing touch to rooms, rugs are a great tool for brightening up your decor and after a long, hard day at work, there's no better feeling than kicking off your shoes and burying your toes into a soft and luxurious number. However, if a rug is placed in high-traffic areas such as a living room or hallway (as they often are), potential problems such as moulting, dirtying and plain wear and tear arise. By following these expert tips, you'll prevent damage and encourage your rug to stand the test of time.

---

Expert Rug Care Tips

• Rotate rugs in heavy traffic areas regularly to minimise damage to one particular side and always leave shoes at the door.
• If placing furniture on top of the rug, make sure the legs have some sort of protection underneath to prevent the carpet fibres from being crushed.
• Deter moths and prevent colour fading by lifting and turning the rug habitually.
• When manoeuvring rugs, roll instead of folding to prevent causing permanent dents and creases.

Expert Rug Cleaning Tips

• There's a fine line between vacuuming regularly and vacuuming excessively. Keep it to a maximum of once a week so that your rug's lifespan isn't reduced and avoid using a powerful suction vacuum, as it will be harsh on sensitive rugs.
• Vacuum on a low setting, making sure to shake loose as much debris as possible and make use of relevant head attachments. For example, beater bars are perfect for suctioning general debris, while the rug/floor attachment is best on delicate fabrics. For stains, the upholstery brush is best.
• Avoid vacuuming fringes and tassels directly; instead separate them with your hands after cleaning.
• Fight any odours by adding baking soda to your vacuum bag.
• If a dreaded spill occurs, don't rub the rug; instead, blot the area with a compatible cleaning solution, testing the rug with a damp white cotton towel to make sure that colour won't run or bleed.
• After cleaning, avoid the risk of mildew by drying out the rug quickly and straight away. Open doors and windows and use fans and hairdryers on low settings to speed up the process.

Fabric Care Guide

When it comes to cleaning and caring for rugs, there are many general tips for preventing dirt and minimising wear and tear. However, when it comes to actual spillages, wool and synthetic fibres sometimes require additional or more specific actions. Our guide, How to Clean an Area Rug explains how to properly clean a plethora of rug materials, including cotton, synthetic, wool, jute, sisal and even antique rugs.