But the rugs also have a hygienic and practical function: think of those placed in the bathroom, on which we rest our feet after a shower, or those outside, before entering, which are used to avoid bringing dirt into the house.
If they are dusty and gray, however, their role is less and, let's face it, they also appear decidedly uninviting! So what to do to keep them clean? Simple: you have to understand how to take care of it. In fact, doing it independently is not an impossible task: then let's find out how to clean a carpet thoroughly so that it stays more beautiful for longer!
How to clean a carpet: basic maintenance tips
Whether it is indoor or outdoor, small or large, the first strategy to have a carpet in good condition is the correct periodic maintenance. The interior carpets, in fact, especially if placed in very busy areas of the house, tend to accumulate dust, dirt, animal hair, not to mention when they accidentally get stained. The same goes for the outdoor ones, the doormats, intended for real "dirty" work. The latter, however, have the advantage of being, in general, less delicate than the internal ones, undoubtedly facilitating cleaning operations.
How to clean it properly?
For indoor carpets, it is usually recommended to remove accumulated dirt by regularly using a vacuum cleaner or a carpet cleaner: generally, this should be done once or twice a week to ensure that dirt does not accumulate between the fibers, leading to proliferation of mites and the development of bad odors. Remember to go through both the top and bottom sides and be careful not to vacuum the fringes. Also for the doormats we can use the vacuum cleaner, in order to remove dust and debris, or the broom normally used for external cleaning.
Use a vacuum cleaner with a fabric nozzle
The vacuum cleaner should be equipped with a nozzle for fabrics, a specific accessory for working on carpets without damaging them. Some vacuum cleaners are all equipped with a special nozzle for upholstery, and are perfect for carpets, sofas and armchairs. If you spill a jar full of water on the carpet, for example, thanks to the vacuum cleaner you can quickly remove excess liquid. Furthermore, external carpets may collect larger residues than normal dust, making it necessary to use a special tool such as multifunction vacuum cleaners.
How to deal with stains
Coffee, wine, tomato, nail polish, candle wax… there are many things that can stain our beloved carpet. How to do in this case? Obviously, we will have to behave differently based on the "offending" substance, but there is a rule that applies to all: intervene as soon as possible, to ensure that the stain is not absorbed by the fabric, and try to remove it by dabbing, without rub. The risk, in fact, is to ruin the carpet fibers themselves, making the damage even more visible.
Taking care of your carpet regularly is a key part of maintenance. Periodically, about once or twice a year, however, it is necessary to proceed with a deeper cleaning. This is an operation that can be done independently, although in certain situations it might be useful to contact professionals. For example, do you have a very precious carpet that you particularly care about? Is the rug large and you think you can't wash it properly yourself? In cases like these, if you are not sure if you are going to get a good result with your hands, it is best to entrust the task to professional carpet services. The same is true in the presence of rather serious stains on a fine carpet.
