Cleaning Area Rugs

6 years ago

In other houses, I've had dark area rugs. I cleaned them with Resolve carpet cleaner foam spray. It made them look better, but now I'm wondering how clean they really got!

In my main residence I have 1 large wool area rug. It's light colored and gets alot of traffic. Using Resolve isn't getting it clean. In my vacation home, I have an off white polypropylene area rug. It's looking dingy and needs to be cleaned. I don't have any wall to wall carpeting in either house.

I want to get a carpet cleaner. Will this work, or is it too big for an area rug?

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009ZJ2M7G

Anybody have a machine that works well on area rugs?

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Comments (5)

gsciencechick
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
I just call Stanley Steemer. I have them steam clean without fragrance for the area rugs. One is wool, and the other poly.
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chispa
6 years ago
I take my hand knotted oriental wool rugs to a reputable rug dealer for cleaning. Maybe every 5 years or when it starts to look dirty or if there was a major accident on it.
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I don't have any very expensive ones. I take a Hoover Steam Cleaner/Shampooer over the synthetic ones once or twice a year. Any spills or cat throw up (because they can't move over two feet to do it on the other floor...) we'll scrub up as soon as we find it. I normally use the Rug Dr. cleaner. I use it on the wool silk rug too with no issues. That rug surprisingly is wearing like iron. As a general observation I know a lot of people (including myself) think that wall to wall carpet is dirty and gross. I have it but try not to think too hard about germs and when shoes are worn in the house. Even though it's starting to look worn there are no stains so I feel it looks fairly 'clean' but I see what comes out of the shampoo water. Even though I vacuum regularly it's brown and filled with some cat hair and dirt. I don't know what I'd do it I had a large quality oriental. I do know of a local antique rug place and I believe I saw on their sign they do repairs and cleanings. I'd probably take mine outside to air out and use a rug beater. I might occasionally take it to have 'professionally' cleaned but what do they really do? If it's chemicals do I really want that on my rug? We come into contact with chemicals all the time though. Off the top of my head, I use makeup everyday and don't give a second thought as to what's it in as long as it's performing to my expectations. Sun and fresh air do amazing things though.
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User
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
Yes, it will work. I have something similar and it is great. I use it on my wool persians, and the wall-to-wall in the bedrooms. I use very hot water and no detergent/soap. I was told by a carpet cleaning company that I hired before I purchased the Hoover that you should never use soap/detergent because it is never totally removed from the carpet and then attracts dirt after the cleaning. After owning one of these, I would never be without one. The dirt it extracts is kind of shocking, and I clean my rugs frequently! I do have pets though so that doesn't help. I have people say you need to test for color-fastness before using hot water. I have had no running on any of my wool rugs and I use the hottest water possible, but you should test first just in case.
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tinam61
6 years ago
Instead of a carpet cleaner, you could get a steam mop with carpet attachment or a steam cleaner. These work great on rugs and even spots on carpet. You're cleaning with steam. It is sanitary (safe) and no detergent needed.
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czarinalex thanked tinam61
czarinalex
Original Author
6 years ago
Thanks to all for responding!

I'm going to go ahead and order the hoover power scrub. Thanks for the tip about not using detergent. I'll try that first and see what the rugs look like.

At one time, I had an expensive oriental rug and I always sent it out for cleaning every 2 years or so. These rugs are very inexpensive and don't need professional cleaning.
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Cleaning Area Rugs

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Cleaning Area Rugs

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