29. June 2009 by Dean of Clean.

I just finished cleaning this beautiful 100+ year old rug the other day, and thought I’d share with you the phenomenon know as “lazy lines”. You can see a diagonal line in the rug that looks sort of like a tear that’s been repaired - but it’s not. The weaver simply didn’t weave all the way across from one terminal warp, or edge, to the next, but went as far as their arms could reach and then back, moving over and working on the empty space a few rows later. Over time, as the rug wears, these areas show up as you see in the picture, and are a part of the character inherent in older hand-knotted rugs. Sometimes they’ll be partially hidden by soil or stains, and show more easily after a good cleaning, but they’re not a cleaning defect, nor can we repair them out.

For more information about rug cleaning, click Durango Persian Rug Cleaner or call us at 970-385-5777 (505-592-0777 in the Farmington area) to set an appointment for rug cleaning.

Posted in rug care, wool, durango cleaner carpet stone tile rugs, rugmasters, rugs, rug, rug washing, persian rugs, oriental rugs, rug cleaning | No Comments »

2. February 2009 by Dean of Clean.

Hello again! Have you ever spilled wine on your oriental carpet? Or knocked over a glass of juice on the carpet in the den? Have you wondered if there’s a “right way” to clean it up? Wonder no more!

This week I’m bringing you a current video I just shot on how to spotclean wool rugs. However, the basic steps are the same for synthetic wall-to-wall carpet too:

1 - Scrape up Solids, if applicable.

2 - Blot up liquids - take a clean, folded absorbent terry towel and press down or stand on it. You’ll be surprised how much liquid just wicks right up into the towel (see video!)

3 - Apply a safe spot remover. You can call us at 385-8444 in the Durango area for a bottle of our professional spotter (which is safe for wool, by the way) or use club soda, as I do in the video. Let it penetrate, then blot it up. Don’t scrub with a brush, as it may damage the fibers (the carpet or rug will tend to “fuzz up”) and wipe gently if you need to remove more solids. If it’s a liquid spill, all you need is blotting - rubbing will only work the spill in deeper!

4 - Rinse - pour a cup of plain water, with a capful of vinegar added, on the spot, and blot it out thoroughly. This helps prevent residue, especially from inferior “grocery store” spot removers, that can cause “re-appearing spots”. Turn the towel to a fresh clean side and continue blotting and turning, or changing towels, until you no longer get moisture transfer onto your towel. If it was an especially large spill, you can leave a folded towel on top of it with a heavy book on top to help wick out some more moisture as it dries, or use a hairdryer or fan to dry the rug.

This should remove most common spills from your rug or carpet. Of course, if you have an unusual situation such as pet staining or coffee stains, you may need professional help. Call 970-385-5777 in the Durango or Farmington area, to arrange pickup or to drop off a rug at our Bodo Park Cleaning Studio, and we’ll deep-clean your fine rugs like the works of art they are!

(If you like the video, you can see more videos of our work and tips on carpet, rug and floor care at www.youtube.com/ultrasteamdurango and www.youtube.com/rugmastersofdurango)

Learn more about fine area rug cleaning at RugMastersOfDurango.com

Posted in farmington, wine stain spot cleaning carpet rug cleaner, rugs, rug cleaning, durango | No Comments »

23. January 2009 by Dean of Clean.

1 - Vacuum Frequently, with a quality upright. Vacuuming is not bad for rugs! (Just be careful around the ends not to suck up the fringe.) And, flip the rug over on a hard floor now and then, vacuum the back of it thoroughly with a good upright vacuum. This will help vibrate some extra dirt out of the front. Then turn it back over (but not in the dirt that probably just fell out of it!) and vacuum the face. Then sweep the floor.

2 - Rotate the Rug every 6 months. This will help it wear evenly, and prevent areas that get more traffic or sunlight from soiling and fading faster than the rest of the rug.

3 - Spot Clean it with Club Soda or a WoolSafe Spotter. DO NOT use store-shelf products (even the ones that have “wool” in their name!) on woven wool rugs. The bleaches and color brighteners in them will damage the dyes and fibers. In the Durango area, just call us at 385-5777 and we’ll be happy to give you a FREE bottle of WoolSafe Spot Remover.

4 - Have it Professionally Cleaned Every 1-3 years. OK, you’d expect me to say that…but really, your fine rugs are works of art. Doesn’t it make sense to take care of them so they last longer? If the abrasive soils are kept washed out of it, a rug can easily last generations. Or it can be worn out completely in ten or fifteen years if not cared for correctly. This care includes a good dusting to remove the dry, abrasive soil that grinds away the fibers, and a gentle shampoo and “bath” to rinse it thoroughly clean. Rugs in high traffic areas like entries, living rooms and kitchens should be cleaned yearly. Rugs that see less traffic, like a master bedroom, might be OK with every 2 years, and a seldom-used rug in a guest room every 3-5 years.

If you’d like more information, or to schedule pickup or dropoff of your rugs for cleaning, call us at 385-5777 or visit RugMastersOfDurango.com.

Thanks, and have a great day!

Get free spot removal tips and current specials at www.ultrasteamcleaning.com

Learn more about fine area rug cleaning at www.rugmastersofdurango.com

Posted in cleaner, rug care, wool, cleaning, rugs, oriental rugs, rug, durango | No Comments »