When it comes to cleaning your rugs, there can be an overwhelming amount of information online that can make it seem difficult to know what’s the right thing to do, and what you should avoid. Here, our rug cleaning London experts have all of the correct information you need to know, separating fact from fiction, and busting those confusing rug cleaning myths.
Rugs only need cleaning when they’re dirty
You could be forgiven for thinking the only time your rugs need cleaning is when they look visibly dirty or have stains. But this is far from the truth. Rugs still need cleaning even if they don’t look dirty, because a lot of the dirt and debris in a rug won’t necessarily be visible, such as germs, bacteria, dust mites, pet dander and viruses, etc.
Regular cleaning of your rugs is, therefore, important to not only enhance their appearance, but to make sure they are hygienic and contribute to creating a healthy home or workplace environment.
Homemade cleaning solutions are safe for rugs
There are lots of DIY hacks and tips online guiding you to cleaning a rug yourself, often using natural products readily found in the home, such as white vinegar and baking soda, etc. Whilst some of these can be effective at removing stains from rugs, just because they are based on natural ingredients, doesn’t necessarily mean that they will be safe for all rugs, however. Even something as seemingly innocuous as water can be damaging to a rug if used in large quantities, so, if in doubt, it’s best to ask professionals for expert advice, such as our London rug cleaning business.
Not all rugs can be cleaned
There’s a rumour going round that certain types of very specialist rugs aren’t suitable for cleaning, but this is most definitely a myth. This probably stems from the fact that some people might have tried to get a very distinctive or unique type of rug cleaned, only to be told by a so-called professional that it wasn’t possible. The likelihood is that the cleaner said this because they weren’t able to clean it themselves, whether through lack of skills, knowledge or resources.
If someone tells you that a rug can’t be cleaned, certainly always get a second opinion. For example, at our rug cleaning London business, we have years of experience in cleaning all types of rugs, no matter how specialist they are, and we have all of the equipment required to handle any kind of rug.
Rugs can be safely cleaned at home
A lot of people think that by cleaning a rug at home, whether using shop-bought products or hiring machines, they can save money by not needing to hire professional cleaning services. However, this is a misconception that can be potentially costly and damaging to your rugs, so you should always proceed with caution when attempting to clean a rug yourself.
The truth is, rugs need professional care and specialist equipment if you want them to be cleaned properly and safely. Equipment typically involves cleaning a rug in a submersion pit and making sure all of the water is thoroughly rinsed out in a fast-spinning centrifuge machine. These items of equipment aren’t available to homeowners and they’re too big for a professional to bring to you, so that’s why off-site cleaning is necessary for the correct cleaning and care for your rugs.
Our off-site rug cleaning London company has everything we need to professionally clean your rugs, using safe methods that ensure the maximum amount of visible and invisible dirt extraction.
Silk rugs can only be dry cleaned
There’s an assumption that because many silk clothes can only be dry cleaned, that this must also be the same for silk rugs. It’s not quite true. Whilst dry cleaning won’t harm a silk rug, it’s certainly not the most effective option for cleaning it.
Cleaning a silk rug properly is, however, a skilled and specialised task, and anyone who may have told you that it can only be dry cleaned probably said this because they didn’t have the skills to undertake the cleaning process properly themselves.
Silk is a very demanding fabric so it does require extra care. For example, it needs to be neutralised after it has been washed, and as much of the moisture from the rug must be extracted from it using a centrifuge, to prevent the rug fibres from going stiff.
Rugs need shaking frequently
If you want to get rid of the loose dust and particles in a rug, you might think that regularly shaking it will do the rug a favour, but you might well be mistaken. Shaking some types of delicate rugs frequently and forcefully can be damaging to their fibres, and may even cause the rug to weaken and collapse as time goes by.
The most effective way to tackle the dust and dirt particles in a rug is by vacuuming it, using a machine without a beater bar.
If a company cleans carpets, they’ll be able to clean rugs, too.
It’s wrong to assume that just because a company can clean carpets that they’re proficient at cleaning rugs, as well. Whilst a lot of carpet cleaning companies do also specialise in cleaning rugs, it’s not a given.
Thus, if you’re looking to get your rugs cleaned, search for a specialist London rug cleaning company like Carpet Bright UK, or wherever is local to you.
Cleaning a carpet doesn’t require the same equipment as cleaning rugs. Professional rug cleaners will have off-site operations containing equipment such as a submersion cleaning pit, a centrifuge for rinsing a rug and a dedicated heat-controlled drying room, which a carpet cleaning company wouldn’t necessarily need.
The same cleaning method can be used for all rugs
Rugs are made from a wide range of natural and synthetic materials, which all have their own cleaning and care requirements. This, therefore, means that it’s not true that all rugs can be cleaned in the same way.
Whilst some synthetic fibre rugs are suitable for steam cleaning, most natural fibre rugs and hand-woven rugs would suffer damage if this method was used, so they’re better suited to being washed by hand.
A reputable rug cleaning company will be able to tell you which method is most suitable for your type of rugs.
At our off-site rug cleaning London facilities, we have all of the equipment your rugs require to be cleaned carefully, correctly and safely, so if you want the truth about cleaning rugs properly and no unhelpful misconceptions, give Carpet Bright UK a call today.
