An area rug is useful for high-traffic places in your house to cover hardwood floors, concrete, or vinyl floors from stains and scratches.
On the other hand, area rugs accumulate dirt over time and may begin to emit an unpleasant odor, necessitating a complete cleaning.
How to clean an area rug on a hardwood floor without damaging the wood surface? Look no further than this article!
I will show you the most practical ways to clean your rug like a professional.
Let’s click on it!
How To Clean An Area Rug On Hardwood Floor?
Cleaning area rugs is more complicated than cleaning regular carpets due to delicate fabrics and woven threads.
Below are step-by-step instructions to make your task easier:
Preparations
Make sure these things are available and ready to use before cleaning your floor covering on the hardwood floor:
- Baking soda
- Carpet shampoo
- Microfiber cloths
- Steam cleaner
- Carpet stain remover
- Dishwashing liquid
- Soft brush
- Sponge mop
- Vacuum
Step-By-Step Instructions
Step 1: Vacuum The Rug
Before washing the area floorcloth, take out any home decor or personal objects. Also, pick up all the big dirt to avoid clogging your vacuum.
It’s usually a good idea to vacuum your carpet first to eliminate any stray dirt or debris stuck inside its fibers.
If your floor covering is large, you can use an upright vacuum, but an upholstery vacuum will work well if it’s a small carpet.
If your carpet has a rug mat below it, take it out to vacuum it because it can accumulate much debris and dust.
Step 2: Clean Stains
Cover the wood under your carpet with plastic bags, substantial padding, or a sheet if these stains are minor.
After that, use a soft cloth or brush to dab the stain cleaning solution on the affected spot.
If you’re having difficulties getting rid of any stain, try adding hydrogen peroxide to the solution.
Step 3: Remove The Rug’s Odor
Consider spreading baking soda over your whole floorcloth to eliminate any remaining unpleasant odors.
Let the baking soda on your carpet for 60 minutes or 12 hours, depending on how strong the smell is.
If necessary, using a soft brush will be a good idea to push baking soda powder into the carpet fibers gently.
Step 4: Use Carpet Shampoo
Check the shampoo’s packaging for instructions on whether you can apply it directly on your floor covering or dilute it first.
Spread the shampoo over your carpet using a sponge mop or a soft brush.
Apply just enough to moisten the carpeting without over-saturating it thoroughly.
Step 5: Mop Area Rug
To remove dirt in badly discolored spots, use a soft brush. Soak the mop in water and then rinse the carpet to eliminate any soap remains.
Rinse the water many times until no more bubbles or debris are visible.
Step 6: Dry The Rug
Open all the doors and windows and switch on all ceiling fans in your room to assist air circulation and help your carpet dry more quickly.
The dry time may vary depending on your rug’s size. Typically, it may take around 48 hours.
Before permitting your family to walk back onto your carpet, make sure it is thoroughly dry.
What Are The Best Methods To Clean An Area Rug On Hardwood Floor?
Below are the most effective methods you can apply to clean your carpet on the hardwood floor. Let’s keep reading!
Method 1: Use Baking Soda
Many people use baking soda or sodium bicarbonate as a cleaning agent in their houses. It’s resistant to odors and stains.
You can mix this compound with water to have a paste form. Otherwise, you can use it in the form of crystals before applying it to stains on your floor covering.
Allow the paste or crystals to settle on the stains or smell for many hours before vacuuming it away and absorbing the odors.
Method 2: Use Rug Cleaner
Check the manufacturer’s directions on the carpet’s label before using a cleaner since each solution is different.
Combine a few tablespoons of liquid dishwashing detergent with warm water.
Avoid using cold or hot water on your floorcloth since it might damage the synthetic fibers or color.
Rub the liquid into your carpet with a sponge and let it sit for a few minutes to work on the stains.
Rinse your floor covering with a moist cloth to eliminate the detergent and blot dry after a couple of minutes.
Any moisture in the carpet might cause the hardwood floor to bend or warp.
Therefore, allow for thorough drying of the rug before uninstalling the protective covering.
Alternatively, you may hang the carpet to dry on a porch railing or fence.
Allow the floor covering to dry completely to avoid unexpected odors, mold growth, and extra dirt.
Method 3: Apply The Steam Cleaning Method
Steam washing aids in surface disinfection by destroying bacteria and other microbes on the carpet’s surface.
When handling the floorcloth on the hardwood floor, you should carefully use the steam cleaning method.
Excessive moisture can seep into the wood via microscopic cracks in the surface.
It’s better to seal your hardwood floor correctly and protect it with waterproof barriers.
How Much Should You Spend On Professional Cleaning An Area Rug?
The carpet might cost between $50 and $300 to clean. It all depends on where you live and what kind of floor covering you have.
The size of your floor covering is also a significant determinant of how much you’ll have to pay per cleaning time.
Rug cleaning firms frequently best pharmacy https://hotcanadianpharmacy.com charge by foot unit with a median cost averaging around $5 but as high as $7.
In A Nutshell
After reading this article, have you learned how to clean an area rug on a hardwood floor? We hope your answer will be yes.
You can apply many methods and tips to make your carpet look new-like, such as using baking soda, rug cleaners, or applying the steam cleaning technique.
If none of these solutions works for your floorcloth, it’s best to look for the help of a professional carpet cleaning service.
If you know other ways, feel free to share below. Thanks for taking your time to follow this post!