2. September 2008 by Dean of Clean.

Hi again! Today’s post is about area rugs. More and more homes have beautiful wood, tile or stone floors these days, but most people choose to warm and soften at least a few rooms with a nice area rug at some point. As Durango’s only IICRC Certified rug cleaner, let me give you a few pointers on what to look for when buying a new (or used) rug.

#1 - Buy Woven, Not Tufted. Turn the rug over to discover how it’s made. A woven rug shows the pattern on the back, since the face yarns are knotted on the foundation yarns. Tufted rugs will have a blank (usually white or beige) cotton backing, glued to the foundation material that the yarns were tufted through. The glue will break down over time, and the rug will weaken. A good woven rug, whether hand or machine-woven, is stronger, and usually made of superior materials than most tufted goods. There are a few high-end exceptions in tufted rugs, but you won’t find them at the local “big-box” stores - only, perhaps, in Scottsdale or other affluent areas where custom rugmakers have showrooms.

#2 - Buy Wool or Nylon. Nylon is the most durable choice, and has the most resiliency and stain resistance of the synthetic fibers - great for a playroom. Wool may be more appropriate if anyone in the house is chemically sensitive, since it is a natural fiber. Fine hand-knotted textiles such as Afgahni rugs, Oriental rugs, Persian rugs or Native American Rugs (such as Navajo rugs) will always be wool. Wool is very durable, but has less resistance to stains, so care should be used to keep it clean and treat any spots promptly. Silk rugs, though beautiful, do not in my opinion belong on the floor, at least not in any high-traffic area; the fibers are very fine, and have less resiliency than wool. Consider displaying them on the wall.

AVOID: Olefin (also called Polypropylene); though it is very lustrous at first, it quickly abrades and dulls, and is prone to matting down. Acrylic also does not have the resilience of wool, and is more susceptible to staining and traffic soil.

Especially avoid Rayon, often called “Art Silk” on rugs. The “art” stands for “artificial” but it is far weaker than silk fiber, being made from regenerated cellulosic fibers (usually wood pulp and cotton linters). A “cheap” silk rug is often really made of rayon.

If you have more questions on care and cleaning of area rugs, visit my website, RugMastersOfDurango.com, or call me at 385-5777 in Durango. (We have a rotating selection of fine rugs for sale at our cleaning plant.) There is also a more in-depth rug link below, and future posts will cover spot cleaning options for your fine rugs.

Interested in Rug Cleaning? See: squidoo.com/howtochoosearugcleaner

Posted in navajo rugs, oriental rugs, persian rugs, indian rugs, rug cleaning, rug washing, durango | 1 Comment »

15. March 2008 by Dean of Clean.

By now you realize that excess dirt in your rugs and carpet is unhealthy as well as unsightly, but did you know that it also slowly destroys your carpet and rugs?

It’s true. Dirt is an abrasive - like sandpaper - and “cuts” into the fibers of your carpet and rugs as you walk on them. This results in premature wear, leading to the need for replacement long before it should have been necessary with proper maintenance.

Not to mention the “uglied-out” areas in the traffic lanes where the pile just doesn’t ever look right, even after being cleaned.

The good news - it doesn’t have to be this way!

Vacuuming is the best remedy. Tell the kids to stop watching TV and put the Hoover in their hands. Schedules will vary, but if you have, say, two kids and a pet or two, you should vacuum high traffic rooms like the living and dining areas and halls once daily, every 2nd day at most. Then do a good whole-house job once a week.

Now the secret of how to get more dirt out of your rugs and carpet…every time you vacuum!

It’s very simple, really…a time-tested trick of professional carpet cleaners and housecleaning services. Vacuum in opposite directions, at right angles to how you just did it. This way the brush can agitate the nap more fully, and dirt is removed from a couple of different directions, instead of just one. In really heavy traffic areas, like right in front of the entry doors, do three directions or even four.

Keep your home clean longer…

Vacuuming is the best defense against dirt and allergens (provided you have a good unit with HEPA filtration) as well as increasing the life of the carpet. Contrary to popular belief, you can’t “overvacuum”. Carpet and rugs were made to be vacuumed…and then professionally cleaned when need be! If you live in Durango and need in-plant rug cleaning, call RugMasters of Durango at 385-5777 for cloud-soft, fluffy-clean rugs. And if your carpet is finally in need of a professional cleaning, call Ultrasteam at 385-8444. Or visit our website, www.UltraSteamCleaning.com

Posted in remove more dirt, rug cleaning, durango, Carpet Cleaning | No Comments »