Cleaning Throw Rugs

Many people use throw rugs as a way to add color and decoration to a home. However, throw rugs can also be practical, in that they provide protection. We have hard laminate flooring in our kitchen, so we have a cushioned throw rug in front of the sink so that the person standing there washing dishes or cooking will have a softer work surface for their feet. We've also placed throw rugs across thresholds of rooms, and our high traffic areas, to protect the carpeting beneath from wearing thin in those areas. We've placed our largest throw rugs directly in front of the house entry doors in order to collect dirt that might be tracked into the house from the outside. And then our bathrooms, of course, have throw rugs in front of the bathtubs and sinks, to protect the flooring underneath from becoming slippery and wet during bathing time.

It is little wonder with all of the throw rugs we use that we need to clean them often. Depending upon they type of throw rug you have determines the method in which you clean it. I could never stuff the largest of my throw rugs into my super-capacity washing machine, because it is far too large. Yet I have very thin throw rugs in other areas of the home that I wash several at a time. Follow these guidelines for cleaning the throw rugs that you have in your home:

• Vacuum your throw rugs at least once a week, especially considering where they are placed. If you have a throw rug at your entry door, you may need to vacuum it more often. Remember to turn the rug over and vacuum it from that side, as well.
• Take your rugs outside and shake them vigorously.
• Check the tag of your rug. If it is washable, and after you've vacuumed it and shook it outside, wash it in your washing machine on the gentle cycle. If you wash it on a regular cycle, the higher agitation may strip the rug of needed fibers.
• Allow your rug to air dry outside on a clothesline, or across the railing of a porch or deck, or flat on hot concrete. If that is not possible, dry your rug in your clothes dryer on the lowest heat setting.

After washing them, if you have stains on your rugs, spot clean them with carpet cleaner or use one part vinegar and three parts water and dab with a sponge. In between washings, or if you have rugs that you cannot wash due to shrinkage, you can sprinkle baking soda on your throw rug, allow it to sit for thirty minutes, and then vacuum.