Showing posts sorted by relevance for query rug cleaner. Sort by date Show all posts
Showing posts sorted by relevance for query rug cleaner. Sort by date Show all posts

Sunday, June 6, 2010

Oriental Rug Cleaning - Choosing the Right Professional Area Rug Cleaning Company

You want to have your fine Oriental area rug looking great for many years to come, to enjoy its beauty and intricate design. The key to your area rug looking its best is to properly care for it, insuring your enjoyment and pleasure for generations. Oriental area rug experts uniformly agree that the best and most appropriate method of cleaning an Oriental area rug is to hand wash it in water and without harsh chemicals. This simple, yet effective method of cleaning has been used for centuries. Although time consuming, it certainly is well worth the effort.

Professionally washing your treasured Oriental area rug is your best assurance for its protection and longevity. Over time, soil, dirt, dust and sand accumulate in your rug, hasten wear and damage the fibers. Eventually, such a rug environment becomes very attractive to mold and moth larvae.

Although regular vacuuming is important to the health of your Oriental rug, it does not take the place of professional cleaning. A true professional Oriental area rug cleaner will not take chances with your valuable and valued rug. He will not expose your lovely rug to harsh chemicals or machine washing. Such delicate work must be done by hand by an experienced, well trained and professional rug cleaner that knows the differences in rug fibers, dyes and methods of production.

To choose the proper professional Oriental rug cleaners, there are certain questions you should ask. Listen carefully to the answers given, to make sure your rug will get the best and most appropriate care.

Questions to Ask an Area Rug Cleaner:

How long have you been in business, cleaning oriental, Persian and other fine rugs?

It is best to choose companies that have been in business for over 10 years and are focused on cleaning oriental, Persian and other fine rugs. Cleaning and repairing Oriental rugs is a combination of art and science and it takes time to acquire such fine expertise. There are quite a few carpet cleaning companies, dry cleaners, and other non professional businesses who claim to clean oriental rugs, but in any metropolitan area, there is only a limited number of companies that are truly specialized and qualified to do this type of work.

How much experience do the area rug cleaning professionals on your staff have?

Professional area rug cleaning businesses must have people experienced in cleaning as well as repair for over 3 to 5 years.

What specific training and certifications do your area rug cleaning professionals have? Do you have Certified Rug Cleaning Specialists certified by the IICRC (Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification)?

Certified Rug Cleaning Specialists must complete rigorous training and practice. They are trained in specific techniques that are applicable for each specific type of rug based on material (Wool, Silk, Sisal), design (Oriental, Modern, Transitional) or country of origin (such as Persia, India, China), and whether it is a machine made or handmade rug. Acquiring this certification is costly and shows that the company is serious about their business.

Are you a member, in good standing, of the BBB (Better Business Bureau)?

Any reputable service company would register with the Better Business Bureau.

Is your company insured and bonded?

Area rugs may have high sentimental and monetary value. You want to make sure that while your rug is in the possession of the rug cleaning company, you are protected against the rug being stolen or damaged.

What steps are included in the cost of your service?

Typical steps should include inspection, dusting, cleaning, grooming and drying. Some companies have additional services they offer, such as moth repellent, fabric protector, custom rug pad installation, area rug repair and restoration.

What type of equipment do you use to clean area rugs?

While methods of cleaning depend on your particular rug, professional companies invest heavily in professional equipment. They typically have specialized dusting equipment, specialized drying facilities, as well as specialized washing equipment. Stay away from regular carpet cleaning companies who will just hose down your rug on the concrete floor and apply harsh chemicals. Even if it will not damage your rug, it certainly will not clean it.

Do you move furniture as part of the service cost? If so, are any pieces of furniture not typically moved?

Rugs can be damaged if heavy furniture is moved incorrectly.

Do you offer pick up and delivery? If so, does that service cover my zip code? How much does it cost?

Oriental rugs may be pretty heavy and not easy to transport. Typically, rug cleaning companies arrange the pickup and delivery. Some companies pick up and deliver free of charge.

Do you provide a guarantee for your service?

You want to make sure you rug will not be damaged. Make sure that company stands behind its promises.

Do you provide an in home quote prior to cleaning area rugs? Will that estimate be in writing? What issues might cause that estimate to increase or decrease?

Professional rug cleaners must provide an approximate quote before they pick up your rug. While the price may increase or decrease based on a further careful evaluation at the rug cleaning plant, you must be notified about it as soon as possible.

What method of area rug cleaning do you recommend for my rug?

Give the professional rug cleaner as much information as you can about our area rug: the fiber it is made of (Wool, Silk, Sisal, Nylon.. ), country of origin, whether it is handmade or machine made. The more information you provide the rug cleaning company, the more specific and comprehensive the cleaning plan for your rug will be.

Can your process and equipment remove urine, dust, stains from my area rugs?

Specify what kind of contamination you have on your rug. Don't worry about saying words like dog urine, spills, dirt, dust or anything else that may be on your rug. Professional rug cleaners are trained experts and they would be able to tell you what they can and cannot clean. Professional area rug cleaning might be able to remove dust, dirt, odors, urine and stains. A professional rug cleaner must be up front with you about what he can and cannot do.

Do you offer rug repairs?

Professional rug cleaners are very likely to offer rug repairs as part of their services. Stay away from companies that don't provide this service. This may signal that they are not specialized Oriental rug cleaning experts. Professional rug repairs might include fringe repair, edge serging, edge binding, rug patching and rug reweaving.

When you have complete and satisfactory answers to the above questions, chances are you have found a quality Oriental area rug cleaning professional. Once you schedule an area rug cleaning and find it satisfactory, schedule a regular cleaning session once every year or so, depending on foot traffic and general abuse your Oriental area rug is subjected to.

Oriental area rugs are sturdier than you may think. They do need periodic washing, vacuuming and rotating to prevent uneven wear and sunlight damage. However, as you care for and maintain your Oriental rug, you will enjoy the results for a lifetime.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Shane_Hobbs

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Oriental Rug Cleaning - Choosing the Right Professional Area Rug Cleaning Company

You want to have your fine Oriental area rug looking great for many years to come, to enjoy its beauty and intricate design. The key to your area rug looking its best is to properly care for it, insuring your enjoyment and pleasure for generations. Oriental area rug experts uniformly agree that the best and most appropriate method of cleaning an Oriental area rug is to hand wash it in water and without harsh chemicals. This simple, yet effective method of cleaning has been used for centuries. Although time consuming, it certainly is well worth the effort.

Professionally washing your treasured Oriental area rug is your best assurance for its protection and longevity. Over time, soil, dirt, dust and sand accumulate in your rug, hasten wear and damage the fibers. Eventually, such a rug environment becomes very attractive to mold and moth larvae.

Although regular vacuuming is important to the health of your Oriental rug, it does not take the place of professional cleaning. A true professional Oriental area rug cleaner will not take chances with your valuable and valued rug. He will not expose your lovely rug to harsh chemicals or machine washing. Such delicate work must be done by hand by an experienced, well trained and professional rug cleaner that knows the differences in rug fibers, dyes and methods of production.

To choose the proper professional Oriental rug cleaners, there are certain questions you should ask. Listen carefully to the answers given, to make sure your rug will get the best and most appropriate care.

Questions to Ask an Area Rug Cleaner:

How long have you been in business, cleaning oriental, Persian and other fine rugs?

It is best to choose companies that have been in business for over 10 years and are focused on cleaning oriental, Persian and other fine rugs. Cleaning and repairing Oriental rugs is a combination of art and science and it takes time to acquire such fine expertise. There are quite a few carpet cleaning companies, dry cleaners, and other non professional businesses who claim to clean oriental rugs, but in any metropolitan area, there is only a limited number of companies that are truly specialized and qualified to do this type of work.

How much experience do the area rug cleaning professionals on your staff have?

Professional area rug cleaning businesses must have people experienced in cleaning as well as repair for over 3 to 5 years.

What specific training and certifications do your area rug cleaning professionals have? Do you have Certified Rug Cleaning Specialists certified by the IICRC (Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification)?

Certified Rug Cleaning Specialists must complete rigorous training and practice. They are trained in specific techniques that are applicable for each specific type of rug based on material (Wool, Silk, Sisal), design (Oriental, Modern, Transitional) or country of origin (such as Persia, India, China), and whether it is a machine made or handmade rug. Acquiring this certification is costly and shows that the company is serious about their business.

Are you a member, in good standing, of the BBB (Better Business Bureau)?

Any reputable service company would register with the Better Business Bureau.

Is your company insured and bonded?

Area rugs may have high sentimental and monetary value. You want to make sure that while your rug is in the possession of the rug cleaning company, you are protected against the rug being stolen or damaged.

What steps are included in the cost of your service?

Typical steps should include inspection, dusting, cleaning, grooming and drying. Some companies have additional services they offer, such as moth repellent, fabric protector, custom rug pad installation, area rug repair and restoration.

What type of equipment do you use to clean area rugs?

While methods of cleaning depend on your particular rug, professional companies invest heavily in professional equipment. They typically have specialized dusting equipment, specialized drying facilities, as well as specialized washing equipment. Stay away from regular carpet cleaning companies who will just hose down your rug on the concrete floor and apply harsh chemicals. Even if it will not damage your rug, it certainly will not clean it.

Do you move furniture as part of the service cost? If so, are any pieces of furniture not typically moved?

Rugs can be damaged if heavy furniture is moved incorrectly.

Do you offer pick up and delivery? If so, does that service cover my zip code? How much does it cost?

Oriental rugs may be pretty heavy and not easy to transport. Typically, rug cleaning companies arrange the pickup and delivery. Some companies pick up and deliver free of charge.

Do you provide a guarantee for your service?

You want to make sure you rug will not be damaged. Make sure that company stands behind its promises.

Do you provide an in home quote prior to cleaning area rugs? Will that estimate be in writing? What issues might cause that estimate to increase or decrease?

Professional rug cleaners must provide an approximate quote before they pick up your rug. While the price may increase or decrease based on a further careful evaluation at the rug cleaning plant, you must be notified about it as soon as possible.

What method of area rug cleaning do you recommend for my rug?

Give the professional rug cleaner as much information as you can about our area rug: the fiber it is made of (Wool, Silk, Sisal, Nylon.. ), country of origin, whether it is handmade or machine made. The more information you provide the rug cleaning company, the more specific and comprehensive the cleaning plan for your rug will be.

Can your process and equipment remove urine, dust, stains from my area rugs?

Specify what kind of contamination you have on your rug. Don't worry about saying words like dog urine, spills, dirt, dust or anything else that may be on your rug. Professional rug cleaners are trained experts and they would be able to tell you what they can and cannot clean. Professional area rug cleaning might be able to remove dust, dirt, odors, urine and stains. A professional rug cleaner must be up front with you about what he can and cannot do.

Do you offer rug repairs?

Professional rug cleaners are very likely to offer rug repairs as part of their services. Stay away from companies that don't provide this service. This may signal that they are not specialized Oriental rug cleaning experts. Professional rug repairs might include fringe repair, edge serging, edge binding, rug patching and rug reweaving.

When you have complete and satisfactory answers to the above questions, chances are you have found a quality Oriental area rug cleaning professional. Once you schedule an area rug cleaning and find it satisfactory, schedule a regular cleaning session once every year or so, depending on foot traffic and general abuse your Oriental area rug is subjected to.

Oriental area rugs are sturdier than you may think. They do need periodic washing, vacuuming and rotating to prevent uneven wear and sunlight damage. However, as you care for and maintain your Oriental rug, you will enjoy the results for a lifetime.

Monday, May 9, 2011

A Consumer's Guide to Oriental Rug Care

Area rugs have gained significant market share over the past decade. As more consumers remove carpeting in favor of hard surfaces such as wood, ceramic tile, laminates, and stone, rug ownership in the US has skyrocketed. Ken Snow, President of The Original Hagopian, a flooring and rug retailer and cleaning company in Michigan says: "We sell and maintain carpet, wood, laminate flooring, and Area rugs. We've noticed a proportional increase in rug sales and a general decline in wall-to-wall carpet sales over the past decade." Snow continues: "Consumers love the beauty and resilience of hard floors, but still want aesthetic contrast in color and texture as well as a bit of warmth and softness under their feet. Because of these needs, area rugs are the perfect companion to hard flooring surfaces."

Considerations

With more rugs in homes and businesses, cleaning and maintaining them has become a growing concern amongst consumers. Before delving into proper care, it's important to identify the basic construction of the rug. There are two main categories of rugs: Synthetic and Natural. There are also rugs which are created with both synthetic and natural materials and these are referred to as "Blends". Cleaning and caring for synthetic rugs is very similar to Cleaning and caring for installed carpet, so for purposes of this Consumer's Guide to Oriental rug care we'll stick with Oriental-style rugs constructed of natural materials.

When discussing synthetic and natural rugs, it's important to understand that the face fibers (the "up" side of the rug) or foundation/backing may be synthetic, natural, or both. For example, a "Wool rug" usually describes the face fibers; however the backing may be synthetic or natural. Both the backing and face fibers are of equal concern to the Oriental rug cleaner. It's safer to clean any rug with the Cleaning solution and method designed for the most sensitive part of the rug. Generally speaking, synthetic materials aren't as sensitive as natural materials. Therefore in the "Wool rug" example above, even if the rug has a synthetic backing, it's safer to treat the entire rug as a Wool rug. More about Cleaning solutions and methods below.

rug Construction

Wool is the most popular naturally-constructed material found in the face fibers of Oriental style rugs. Other natural rug face fiber materials consist of cotton, silk, grass (sisal, jute), animal skins, and even obscure materials including leather and paper. If you are the owner of an animal skin, silk, grass, leather, or paper rug, I highly suggest you send your rug to a qualified Oriental rug cleaning company for proper Cleaning. These rugs are extremely difficult to clean by consumers and permanent damage will occur if cleaned improperly.

Dry Soil Removal

A high quality Oriental rug should last a lifetime and the best way to help it last a lifetime is by vacuuming often. How often depends on usage. Generally speaking once a week is often enough, however if pets walk on the rug or the rug receives a high amount of foot traffic, vacuuming once or twice a day may be required. Dense Oriental rugs have a tendency to hide micro-soiling and sand that builds up in the foundation. Over time these fine dry soils will prematurely wear the rug.

Lesser quality rugs, especially some hand-tufted inexpensive rugs, (usually made in China, Pakistan and India) may shed face fibers quite a bit during vacuuming. This is normal for this type of rug. Unfortunately these inexpensive Oriental rugs will probably not last a lifetime unless not walked on.

Fringe care

If your rug has fringe, please do NOT use a vacuum with a beater bar attached to it. Instead either gently brush the fringe with a brush designed for fringe, or use an attachment on your vacuum without a beater bar to remove dry soil from fringe. As the owner of a rug cleaning company with well over 10,000 rug cleanings successfully completed, the number one complaint we see from consumers is premature fringe wear caused by the consumer vacuuming the fringe with a beater bar.

Spot and Spill Cleanup

Inevitably there will come a time that you spill something on your Oriental rug or notice a spot from something that was tracked in on it. It's best to immediately blot or scoop up the excess spot or spill, if possible. I recommend using a dry WHITE cotton terry towel or white paper towels to remove the majority of the spot or spill. If you choose a towel that is not white, there is a strong possibility the color of the towel will transfer to the rug.

Before using ANY spot cleaner on a rug (including merely water), it's best to test in a small and inconspicuous Area. Unfortunately there may not be an inconspicuous Area to test, especially on a smaller rug. If this is the case test it near the edge of the rug since it's usually less noticeable than the center if the test reveals color loss or texture change. If you notice a color change, bleeding, or texture change, STOP and call a professional qualified rug Cleaning company for assistance.

After blotting and testing according to the instructions above, first attempt to remove any remaining spot with tap water. Do not soak the rug. Simply dampen a white terry towel or paper towel with water and blot, never rub. If you don't notice any improvement, the safest solution to use as a general spot cleaner is to mix 32 oz of tap water and 1 teaspoon of liquid Dawn or Ivory hand dishwashing soap. Do NOT use automatic dishwasher soap or laundry detergents as many of these products contain optical brighteners or harsh chemicals that may ruin the rug.

Cleaning

Dry soil and spot removal are important maintenance steps to take between thorough cleanings, but Oriental rugs do need to be thoroughly cleaned on a regular basis. Generally speaking cleaning the entire rug once a year is sufficient, but if the rug has a lot of foot traffic, is susceptible to spills and spots, or pets and kids use the rug often, the rug may need to be thoroughly cleaned every 3 to 6 months. There are several ways to clean a rug and it's well beyond the scope of this Consumer's Guide to determine the best method in every case. Having said this, the most thorough cleaning is accomplished by the Immersion Method. Immersion is accomplished by scrubbing the rug under water and safely wringing out the excess water and soil with a roller system, speed drying the rug, and addressing the fringe. I do not suggest consumers attempt to Immerse their Oriental rugs due to the many complications that can arise including bleeding, foundation shrinkage, degradation from being wet too long, and many other concerns. Please check online at IICRC Locate-a-Pro Website to locate a qualified professional rug cleaner.

Rug Padding

High quality Oriental rugs are built extremely strong and can endure many years of use. To help rugs last even longer, help make them softer on the feet, and to provide in-place stability, the use of a high quality rug pad is highly recommended. There are several types of rug pads to consider and the selection of the right pad is dependent on the surface the rug will cover and thickness of the rug.

Conclusion

When properly maintained, high quality Oriental rugs provide a lifetime of beauty and use. By following the steps above your Oriental rug should last forever. If you have any questions about proper Oriental rug care, please contact me via email at the address below.

Tag : rugs,oriental rugs,rug care,consumer,area rugs

Wednesday, December 29, 2010

How to Remove Dog Pee Out of Rugs

After a long tiring day at work you come home only to have your nose bombarded with a horrid smell. You start your investigation to find the source of the foul odour and to your horror it is your favorite area rug carpet. Your beloved dog has peed on it while you were away. Upon further investigation you also find that this wasn't the only time your rug was used as an indoor bathroom. Now what do you do? First don't panic, I know easy to say not always easy to do. Grab some COTTON Towels, do not grab any cleaners or spot removers, just cotton towels.

Depending on if your rug is wool, synthetic, or another fiber type and if your rug is hand-knotted, hand tufted, or machine-made will decide how easily urine will be removed from your rug. These tips are at your own risk since I do not know your exact type of rug. Getting a professional WoolSafe area rug cleaner to deal with urine is always best.

The thing about pet urine is the older it is the harder it is to get out of area rugs. When you get a new puppy it almost guaranteed they will pee on your rugs, A LOT. Do not wait until your puppy is fully trained to get the rug taken care of. When you first notice that your rug is used as a bathroom get it professionally cleaned and afterward if you don't need to use the rug keep it stored away until your puppy is fully trained.

Another fact about your dog peeing on your rug is when you catch them doing it, it probably isn't the first time they have done it. Depending on the type of construction your rug has it may be hard to see where your dog has peed. The only real way to tell is to get to down and start smelling your rug. Dogs tend to like to pee in the corners, the middle of the rug if it isn't covered by furniture, near furniture legs and by entrance doors. A round or oval urine stain is from a female, and of course a splatter is from male.

When you do find that your rug is being used as an indoor bathroom this is what you can do:

  • If the urine is fresh place cotton towel on the floor under where the urine is and take a folded white cotton towel and blot the spot by stepping on the towel all around the urine. When the towel has become too wet, use another clean, cotton towel and continue to step all over the spot until you are getting no more wetness on the towel. Check the towel underneath your rug to see if it is getting too wet. Change the towel as needed to protect your floor from the urine.
  • Now dampen a towel with water and blot the top of the rug where the urine was. DO NOT RUB your rug in a circular motion. This causes pile distortion which is permanent. Keep the urine spot moist until you can get your rug to a professional wool safe area rug cleaner the next day.
  • Do not wait days or weeks to get your rug taken care of. The longer the urine is in your rug the harder it is to remove. If you are unable to personally take the rug in see about getting the cleaners to pick it up.

When you have not seen your dog peeing on you rug, but find out from the odour, or you were moving the rug and noticed your floor has evidence of urine spots, there isn't much you can do to fix the rug yourself. When the urine is absorbed by your rug and is now dry and any efforts you make by applying miracle cleaners from bottles will completely ruin your valuable rugs.

The best and safest thing to do is get it to your WoolSafe area rug cleaners as soon as possible. Anything you may try can ruin your rug. Here at Luv-a-Rug Cleaners in Victoria BC, Canada we see rugs all the time that have been permanently damaged by DIY (Do-It-Yourself) cleaning. It isn't worth the hassle or expense to try to clean your rug yourself when it comes to urine removal or for that fact most spills.

Whenever you are in doubt call your professional area rug cleaners.

Since there are more than enough articles written about DIY rug and carpet cleaning here are some things to avoid using on area rugs:

  • Baking Soda, it can discolour wool area rugs, plus it is not made for used on rugs
  • Oxi-sprays, not made for any type of area rugs period! (read the fine print on the bottle, the risk is all yours)
  • Hosing your rug with a power washer, can cause the pile to change texture, your rug to warp or worse your rug to start coming apart
  • Any cleaners or spot removers that are not WoolSafe, if they don't say anything about being safe for wool they can cause permanent damage to your rugs
  • Ammonia, it is not made to be used on area rugs
  • Bleach and any cleaners with bleach, not made for use on rugs

Things that are safe to use on most rugs for spills:

  • Water to dampen the area, not wet the area. getting some area rugs wet causes damage
  • Salt to absorb red wine spills and most wet spills, make sure it is regular white salt, not a flavoured salt
  • Oatmeal/ Quick Oats absorbs wet spills
  • Vinegar mixed with water in a 2 parts water to 1 part vinegar for urine on wool rugs or if your rug bleeds dye easily
  • A dry cleaning product called Host Sponges. Call around to carpet and rug cleaners to buy this moist cleaner that absorbs dirt. Made from corn husks and citrus. It is designed to clean your wall to wall carpet and is Wool safe

To help prevent your dog from starting to use your rugs as indoor bathrooms:

  • Sprinkle your rugs with Pepper when you first put them down, either as a new rug or after it was cleaned. As long as the pepper doesn't get wet it won't stain your rugs and you can vacum it up after a couple of days. This is good to do when you get a puppy or a new dog in your house, and after you move to a new place.
  • When you go away for vacation and have someone house-sitting roll up your rugs and put them in an unused room. Pets don't like their routines messed with and when you are not there they can act out of character and pee on your rugs.

Check the floor where your rug covers and the backs of your rugs if you suspect they may have been peed on. Whenever your dog stops following their regular bathroom routine it may because they found a more convenient place to go, your rugs.

There is no magic solution for urine removal at home. There are products made that promise you great results, but most cover up the odour and are not made for every fiber type used to make area rugs. The best thing to do is to get your rugs professionally cleaned as soon as you know they have been peed on. Pets will always seek out your rugs for their business because they are absorbent just like outdoors, even if you only own one rug they will target it.

Tag : rugs,bath rugs,area rugs,floor rugs

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mary_J_Morris


Wednesday, June 2, 2010

Area Rug Buyers Guide

When you begin decorating your home there are some important factors to consider. Your floors will usually be the foundation for your design. An authentic hand made area rug can visually integrate or harmonize diverse elements in any decor or can reenergize a room.

Below are various factors to consider for purchasing & decorating with an oriental rug:

1. Size of the Rug - Area to be covered

Size up the room and the area you want to cover.

The most common area rug sizes are 4-by-6 and 6-by-9 feet. They work well under a coffee table.

An 8-by-10-foot area rug or larger can cover an entire room.

Smaller area and scatter rugs can be ideal for adorning smaller spaces--a hearth! , a bedside, the area in front of a kitchen sink--with a splash of colo r and warmth.

2. In the Home

Living Room

In a living room the area rug would most likely be placed in front of the sofa and under the coffee table

To place a room-sized area rug on a hardwood floor, choose an area rug which allows eight inches (twenty centimeters) of wood to be exposed around the rug's perimeter.

Measure the open space up to the sofa and chairs making sure that the individual seated will have both feet on the area rug.

More than one area rug is acceptable.

Dining Room

There should be room to pull the chairs out from the table with the back legs of the chairs remaining on the area rug.

Stairs

Look for Busy & Dark patterns

Dark wool rugs are great for this

Hallways & Entrances

Dense Patterns

Wool pile (Most durable) with cotton foundation (strong and does not loose shape) is ideal.

Very light colors are not suggested

Bedroom

Do not recommend a room size Persian/Oriental area rug for the bedroom. Most of the pattern will be hidden under the bed in the dark making the rug prone to moth damage.

Instead, use multiple area rugs. A rug at the foot of the bed and two on each side Or use several scatter rugs to fill areas around the bed as needed. It will actually cost less and compliment your furnishings better.

3. FURNISHINGS

Begin with the end in mind. Visualize the finished look of the room. Do you prefer the sparse, uncluttered look or you have a room rich with colors and textures?

Remember that a rug is th! e largest splash of color in any room. Select your rug first, and then the upholstery to blend with the rug. Furniture should enhance the rug design or colors found in the rug

Next comes window treatment and walls; neutral shades are recommended.

Elements of a rug design can be further incorporated into the overall design scheme. For example, if the rug is floral, add framed prints or flowers in similar colors.

Conversely, should your focal point be furniture, choose a rug to pick up the colors used in your furnishing patterns. Patterns can be mixed if they are coordinated by color.

Don't get discouraged if you are having problems finding an area rug to blend in with your decor. We suggest you surf NatureRugs.com for the vast variety of Rugs that will suit your situation. For some reason, Jaipur & Agra Rug designs and colors tend to work with many fabrics.

4. Using Multiple Area Rugs

Should you use one rug or two?

  • One rug is the general rule as it coordinates the room together and helps select fabrics for furniture, curtains, etc.
  • In a very large room, more than one rug can be used to separate the room. The designs of the rugs should be different enough to create spatial separation, but similar in color and quality to maintain the integrity of the room space.

Two or more rugs should complement each other

  • One needs to be dominant in size
  • They should be similar in at least design/color/size
  • Smaller rugs should not look like clones

5. Color

If redecorating an already furnished room, choose a rug to pick up the colors used in your furnishing patterns

Paint or paper the walls in colors found in the rug when color coordinating.

Look for a rug that is commonality with the existing color of the walls.

A rug with a bold, overall design can be the focal point of a room with a chair and sofa in solid or subdued patterns.

Light colored rugs make a room look more spacious, and deeper colors lend coziness to a room.

6. Durability

For floor rugs wool is usually a preferred choice as it resists daily wear better than synthetics. Wool has many wonderful qualities- deep, rich color tones, high durability and relative ease of care. For more information you can read article Advantages of Wool over Synthetic Fibers.

Silk rugs are better used for walls, throws etc. Living rooms are ideal to showcase silk rugs.

Chromium dyes are strong and deliver consistency and durability of color.

Vegetable dyes give the rug a patina of color, a casual look that is very attractive.

7. Shape

Let your decorating style determine your rug shape.

Don't be limited to the idea of getting a rectangular rug.

A circular or octagonal-shaped floor covering can add flair and elegance.

8. What is the dealer return policy?

You should at least have one week risk free trial period to experience the rug. You can test the wool texture, dye quality (take a moistened paper towel and run it along the edges & center, the dye should not bleed out) & see if it fits into your home décor.

Other considerations:

Medallion design area rugs should be centered in the room & directly under the chandelier

Don't select a busy area rug if the room's color scheme and patterns are busy as well.

Keep your family safe by making su! re that rug corners do not extend into high traffic areas.

Watch out for the fringe. If the rug you like has fringe, make sure it's sewn on well, and very carefully use the vacuum cleaner.

Look at the back of a rug, as this will usually tell if it is machine or handmade. If the fibers are stiff and run straight up and down, it's a machine rug.

When buying oriental rugs, avoid going-out-of-business sales and auctions where sellers aren't likely to be around later if your rug has a problem

In all rooms try to avoid having the corner of the rug end up in the middle of the doors or archway openings.

For smaller rooms, a small pattern is more appropriate. It gives the appearance of a larger room.

If you're looking for absolute perfection, don't buy a handmade area rug. Expensive hand-made rugs are not squared off as properly as imitation machine-made reproductions. Also read Article Hand Knotted vs! . Machine Made Rugs.

Don't underestimate the value of an underlay. Not only will it absorb the impact of feet and noise, it will reduce wear and tear on the rug and make vacuuming easier.

It is recommended to rotate rugs end for end on a yearly basis to equalize wear.

Oriental rugs fade, as does upholstery. Avoid direct sunlight.

Another recommendation is to have rugs cleaned professionally periodically by a reputable cleaner

To meet Federal Trade Commission requirements Persian/ Oriental rug dealers label each rug with its country of origin and the distributor's business name. Labels having the words Indo-, Sino- or Pak-, for instance, would indicate that a rug came from India, China or Pakistan respectively.

Rugs are called 'tribal" if they are woven by nomadic groups.

http://ezinearticles.com/?Area-Rug-Buyers-Guide&id=19886

Wednesday, December 24, 2008

Care And Use Of Traditional Rugs

One should make use of traditional rugs as they reduce noise pollution and loss of heat through the floor. Traditional rugs also provide comfort for sitting and lying compared to a hard wooden floor. However rugs needs to be cleaned regularly and they are hard to maintain compared to a hard floor. On a hard floor all you may need to do is clean up the surface with a mop. This is not possible on a floor with a traditional rug. Further the biggest hurdle lies in the maintenance of the rug. Stain can be caused very easily on traditional rugs by spilled drinks. Traditional rugs also tend to absorb fur from your pets. Traditional rugs are to be cleaned regularly by a vacuum cleaner to prevent dust from accumulating on the surface and below the surface. If your traditional rug happens to be a dark color or a single uniform color without any designs, then the dust particles are likely to show up against the background. Dust collected on these rugs is a cause for allergy to asthmatic patients.

When making use of traditional rugs, it is advisable to make use of traditional rug cushions, especially when using the rug on the floor. This not only increases the life of your traditional rug but also gives it a classic look.

Plastic foams are best cushions for traditional rugs because they do not stain your traditional rugs as well as floor. Plastic cushions also provide good wear protection. Jute, waffle and rubber pad should not be used as traditional rugs cushions.

Be sure to flip your traditional rug regularly. This distributes the wear and fading both sides on the traditional rugs. Your traditional rugs should be inspected regularly for insects. Insects like beetle can damage your traditional rugs. Inspect your rug regularly for damage by insects and treat your rug for moths. As mentioned earlier, vacuuming your traditional rugs is necessary periodically. When making use of your vacuum cleaner, be sure to use it without the beater bar.

If you’re traditional rugs get dirty due to accidental spills, clean the spill immediately. Immediate cleaning will prevent permanent staining taking place on your traditional rugs. Train your pets to let up outside the house only. Pet wetting causes stains that are not easily removable. Don’t let your pets chew up part of the rug, this damages the rug and treasured weaving of your traditional rugs get damaged due to the chewing. If you’re traditional rugs happens to get wet, and then dry it as fast as possible, possibly with a blow dryer. Do not put the heater on. Wetting the traditional rug is likely to cause irreparable damage to your rug. You should try to keep your traditional rug from getting wet. For this follow a few golden rules:-

Rule 1: Do let your pets wet the rug.

Rule 2: Do not keep any flower pots on the rug. (The prolonged moisture from the plant and mildew is likely to drain into the rug thereby damaging it)

Rule 3: If you find that your rug is dirty try to clean it only by specified methods. Do not wet clean the rug.

Rule 4: Do not stem clean your rug or clean it by any automated means.

If you happen to notice any damage to the rug that is caused by fraying or normal wear and tear, get the area repaired. Leaving a fray or wear unattended will reduce the value of the rug and will give the rug a bad look. A little care and cautiousness preserves the value of your traditional rugs and prevent major damage to your traditional rugs. Your traditional rug will serve you well if you give it a little care and attention.

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Sunday, June 7, 2009

Maintaining And Cleaning Oriental Rugs

Oriental rugs are definitely must haves for homeowners who wish to have a more exotic setting in their dwellings. Their designs are very pretty to look at; it makes many wonder how this artwork can be placed on a rug. They are sure to be eye candy for many generations to come – if they last that long.

The life of your oriental rug depends on how much you devote to maintaining it, and extending it in the process. Here are some things that you may want to consider to prolong the life of your oriental rug for more and more people to see and appreciate.

Like other rugs and carpets, it is not only comfortable for you to place padding underneath your rug. It’s also practical in the sense that it cushions your rug and prevents it from changing its form. You should place some padding underneath your oriental rug especially if you plan on placing furniture on it, or if you plan on having people walk on it. Padding also makes the rug stable, keeping people from accidentally slipping on it after taking a wrong step. This also means that there are lesser chances that the rug would get creases.

Speaking of placing furniture on your oriental rug, you will want to use glides or other forms of protection between the actual article and the rug. Using such protection will keep the fibers of the rug from getting crushed in the areas where the furniture rests. If you plan on changing the position of furniture on your rug, make sure that it is lifted instead of pushed to where you think it should be. This usually means that you will need the help of a few other people in carrying the item.

A spill on your rug may not be avoided. The best thing to do is to attend to the stain as soon as it is noticed. If a dry substance is spilled on the Oriental rug, try to lift out the mess instead of pushing it in more by scrubbing. Finish off the cleaning job by using a vacuum.

In case of any liquid spill, make sure that you soak up any excess liquid or excess moisture with paper towels. Do not scrub the area; instead, wet it with some clean water and soak it all up with more paper towels. The idea there is to make the stain rise up from the Oriental rug’s fibers with the water. Keep repeating this step until the stain disappears, or is no longer obvious.

If it’s a whole dinner plate that unfortunately made its way to the floor, then take away any visible solid particles right away. Be careful and make sure that you aren’t rubbing any particles deeper into the Oriental rug. Then take a clean knife and try scraping the smaller scraps of food residue from the area. Treat the remaining spot as you would a liquid spill, with clean water and paper towels.

Keep your oriental rug vacuumed. Many people prefer to vacuum the rug on a weekly basis, and they would clean it more depending on how often people step on it. When you plan on vacuuming your rug, do not forget to vacuum around and under any furniture on it too. Maintenance of an oriental rug can be a bit tedious, however it still beats paying a big amount of money to a professional cleaner.

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Living Room Rugs Can Bring A Profound Impact To Your Home's Decor

Living room rugs are a great way to update, refresh, and transform the look of virtually any room. Many living room rugs also look great in kitchens, dining rooms, bedrooms, and even children's rooms. For a nominal cost, a living room rug can transform the look of the room without changing anything else. Decor, paint, and professionally installed carpet can be very costly. A vibrant and complementary living room rug can breathe new life into a room and make it fresh again.

Living room rugs come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Accent rugs are typically a few feet wide and a couple of feet long. These look great in the entryway of a home or as a bath mat in the bathroom. Colorful accent rugs also look great under tables and consoles on hardwood floors. Runners are long, skinny rugs that are often perfect for displaying in hallways, entryways, and foyers leading to the living room. They have a "red carpet" feel to them that makes them inviting and special. Area rugs come in a variety of sizes and are generally square or rectangular, although some can also be round. They are often several feet long and wide and feature intricate patterns, colors, borders, and really become the centerpiece of the room. Area rugs look great under a coffee table in the center of the room. Others purchase area rugs for use under a dining room table or to place under a decorative wingback chair or sofa set.

Rug prices can range from a few dollars up to thousands of dollars. The materials used to make the rug, design processes and manufacturing required to produce the rug, and the designer can all affect the bottom line. Wool, silk, and real fur rugs are often hand-tufted, handcrafted, and can be very expensive. Avid rug collectors visit galleries and manufacturing plants to acquire unique pelts and pieces that are assembled from the finest crafters in the world. A mid-priced, well-made, colorful rug manufactured by mass retailers and merchandisers is sufficient for most homes.

Choosing a pattern or color scheme for a rug is always the most difficult part of the process. Some choose a rug to essentially act as floor art, becoming the focal centerpiece of the living room. Others choose living room rugs that will complement an already-existing color palette or design theme. Living room rugs can feature scrollwork, sports themes, novelty designs, braiding details, color blocking, flowers, polka dots, stripes, and virtually every pattern in between. Many floor and rug centers will happily provide swatches to customers. These small pieces of fabric can be brought home and compared to existing furniture, painted walls, and other rugs to ensure that it will look good in the room before purchasing.

Those will small children or pets will enjoy purchasing cotton blend rugs that can be machine-washed or spot cleaned. Spills and stains are easily treatable on cotton blend rugs. Cotton rugs can also withstand repeated washing and hold colors truer longer. For those that enjoy luxurious fabrications, wool and silk-blend rugs are elegant, yet durable, and can easily last a lifetime. Eco-conscious consumers can purchase rugs that are constructed from recycled plastic bottles, bamboo, and other green materials.

Most living room and area rugs can be vacuumed and cleaned with a professional carpet cleaner or home steam-cleaning unit. It is always best to check the manufacturer's guidelines and care instructions to determine the best method of keeping the rug clean, vibrant, and looking great for many years. rugs made of natural fur, animal skins, or other delicate materials may need to be professionally cleaned by a leather specialty shop or professional dry cleaner.

Whether the rug is small, large, round, rectangular, expensive, less costly, colorful, or muted, living room rugs can instantly transform the look of any room. Area rugs look great on bare hardwood floors and carpeted floors.

Thursday, February 19, 2009

Taking Care Of Your Area Rug

Considering the wide range of designs to choose from, area rugs can be nice decorative additions to a home. For those people who constantly move to a new place in search for their ideal home, investing in area rugs can be of really great bargain. Area rugs can also be an affordable asset since (unlike wall-to-wall carpets) area rugs do not require permanent installation. Thus, can be shifted for redecorating, kept for future use, or brought along when you move to a new home. With the proper care and maintenance, an area rug can last and be in good condition for many years.

To ensure that your area rug will keep hold of its original condition, proper and appropriate care is essential. Most often than not, some people would just send their rugs to a cleaning company rather than doing it themselves. But for those that choose not to send their area rugs to the cleaners for money saving purposes, it is very important to have the basic knowledge on how to properly clean and maintain your area rugs.

Vacuum. Most area rugs are probably bought to be placed on receiving areas particularly the living room and the dining room. If you're a person that likes to entertain people or have guests for dinner and the like, it is not unlikely that your rug gets abused due to heavy foot traffic. Thus, it is most probable to accumulate dirt, dust, and perhaps even spills. Using a high-quality vacuum cleaner would help stop dry soil from building up on area rugs. Doing so would surely protect and sustain the beauty of your rug. Most vacuums can only do surface cleaning and leave imbedded dirt on the rugs that will probably cause damage in the long run. Try brushing the rug to loosen up the soil and dirt. This will help the vacuuming process easier.

Steam Cleaning. Most rugs are sent to professional rug cleaners for steam cleaning. Nonetheless, there are many equipments or machines, that can either be rented or purchased, that offer the same technique in the comforts of your own home. But there are also some risks in performing this method concerning what cleaning agent to use or how much you're going to use. Hence, it is best to seek advice from a professional before doing so.

Spot Removal. Have you ever heard the saying "Accidents happen"? If you have kids at home or even pets, it is in all probability that your rug would have spills or pet stains. If you can, clean the spill immediately. By doing so, stains caused by house pets and liquid spills can be prevented by a large percent. Using a liquid cleaning agent can be very tricky. Some agents can cause the dye from the rug to bleed or can cause improper discoloration. First, test the liquid solution. Apply a few drops on a small-not-so-noticeable part of the rug to see if it is right for your rug. Use a paper towel or any of the like to absorb the liquid. To do so, hold the absorbent material against the treated area. Do not use rubbing or brushing technique to spot clean the rug as doing so would cause the stain to spread.

Cleaning and Maintenance of an area rug can be very complicated. In order for the area rugs to sustain its original state, one must be very meticulous. Considering the material of the rug is vital as it would have different effects towards different cleaning agents. Remember to consult a professional.

Vacuuming, Steam Cleaning, and Spot Removal are just some ways to take care of your area rugs. And though you can use these methods to clean your rugs during your everyday life, it wouldn't hurt to send your area rugs to a professional cleaning company every once in a while. After all, with all the beatings your rug gets from all those foot traffic, it deserves the best cleaning treatment; and nobody does it better than the professionals.

Monday, June 15, 2009

Traditional Braided Area Rugs

Traditional Braided Area Rugs

The craft and origin of braided rugs has been the subject of some debate over the years. It is said that the art and craft of braided rugs has roots in the Native American culture. Indigenous cultures the world over have long and well documented histories of rug making. Others contend that the braided rug came to the New World with early European settlers, originally as rag rugs. Regardless of the how the braided rug arrived in North America, the popularity of these rugs has not diminished over the years.

Rag rug making has long been considered a folk art that is still widely practiced. Like many other types of weaving, rug making was a home based craft, borne out of necessity. Frontier settlers did have the luxury of climbing into the family wagon and heading to the local rug store. If something was needed for the home, be it a warm blanket or a rug, a way was found to make it.

As the term implies, rag rugs were made from any available scraps of fabric. Like quilting, the practice of utilizing available materials meant that color schemes and patterns were a secondary consideration. In essence, form followed function. Fabric dyeing, if done at all, made use of local plants, berries and roots. Again, the practice of fabric dyeing was not limited to European settlers. For centuries, Native Americans understood the power of nature to provide beauty and color. This understanding can be seen in virtually every aspect of Native American life.

Traditional braided rugs can be found in a wide variety of weaving styles and construction. Regardless of the fabric, weave or construction, properly made braided rugs share one common feature. Simply put, a proper rug must be made to lay flat on the floor. One sure sign of a poorly braided rug is curling and bunching. A properly made braided or rag rug will have a flat braid. Flat braids are sometimes referred to as tape braids. Flat braids are made by weaving around at least two parallel center cords.

Many round braids are made by weaving around a single, round center cord. The practice of round braiding is a technique that can be found in more modern rug construction. Round braiding is a perfectly acceptable practice, though some less expensive round braid rugs have some problems. Use of a stiff center core in combination with a poor quality yarn will result in a rug that does wear very well. Cheap yarn abrading against a hard center core causes the yarn to wear prematurely, often exposing the center core material.

One of the more unique and beautiful characteristics of braided rugs is color. Makers of early braided rugs might have used whatever fabric or yarn was at hand. The result was a blend or variegation of many colors, often resulting in random patterns. The variegation in color made every rug unique much like patchwork quilts which did not rely on any particular pattern. Variegated rug patterns are perennial favorites among those folks prefer a very traditional look.

The practice of dyeing fabrics and yarns allowed weavers to create patterns of more uniform color. The choice of styles and patterns available today is quite diverse with some rugs following thematic patterns.

Quality braided rugs are easy to care for. Remember that these rugs have been around since before the introduction of such modern conveniences as the vacuum cleaner. Tightly sewn and woven braided rugs could be swept clean with stiff broom. Braided rugs are reversible and regularly turning the rug over greatly extends the life of the rug.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/accessories-articles/traditional-braided-area-rugs-266141.html

Wednesday, April 29, 2009

3 Great Tips to Choose the Best Area Rugs for Your Home

span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman";">The Area rugs have gained great popularity in interior design through the recent years. When it comes to the best interior design items at affordable prices, the area rugs are the ones to look for. With very easy maintenance and simple installation, the area rugs are the most preferred objects by the best Interior designers. Though the area rugs come in all shapes and sizes, not all of them are suitable for every home. There are certain factors that have to be taken into account for selecting the best area rug. Just keep reading on the article to know the 3 most wanted tips to choose the best area rug that perfectly suits your requirements.

1. Selection of the material

From cozy wool to stylish bamboo, the area rugs are made out of different types of materials. There are area rugs that come with a Sisal-wool combination too. The main benefit of using such sisal-wool area rug is that they can be easily cleaned by using a conventional vacuum cleaner. Moreover, the sisal-wool area rugs have great sound absorbing capabilities too. Hence if your rooms produce much echo, the Sisal-Wool area rugs will be perfect for you. There are pure woolen area rugs if you love natural materials rather than synthetic ones. If you like to be environment friendly, then the woolen rugs are made for you. The added advantage of the woolen rug is that they are highly durable and can last for a lifetime in its entire splendor. When it comes to environment friendliness along with great looks and durability, the bamboo area rugs are the ones to look for. They are stain resistant and the bamboo area rug maintenance is very simple. There are other rugs like silk area rugs, Persian area rugs and so on.

2. The Size factor

Once the material of the area rug is chosen, next comes the size. The area rugs should perfectly fit the place where you are installing it. Hence before choosing the size of the area rug, you must first decide where to install it. The area rug size selection has to be done based on the spot where you choose to place the area rug. Most of the people make a mistake by buying the area rug and then searching for the best spot to place it.

3. The Price factor

When it comes to the area rugs there are very costly ones and very cheap ones. It’s always good to spend some time in the Internet before buying the area rug for your home. With a very high competition, the area rug sellers are offering great discounts now. For example, you will find an area rug for $750 at some place and moments later you will be able to find the same rug at a discounted price of around 600$ at some other place. However, along with the discounts comes the online scam. Hence you shouldn’t rush to buy an area rug by just seeing the discounted pricing. You should make sure that the source is genuine before you proceed with the purchase.

All the above mentioned tips will help you to choose the best suited area rug for your home.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/interior-design-articles/3-great-tips-to-choose-the-best-area-rugs-for-your-home-707700.html

Sunday, October 26, 2008

Tips About Rugs

Traditional rugs would go a long way if handled and stored properly with care. Here are a few tips that would help you in stretching the life of that favorite traditional rug. Do not fold traditional rugs, instead roll them when you want to stow them away for some time. Rolling prevents stretching or cracking thus providing a long life to fragile fabric of traditional rugs. Wrapping on plastic may cause mildew to traditional rugs, this will eventually damage the rug. You can wrap your traditional rugs in a heavy paper that should be free from acid, cloth or you could wrap it on a sheet.

Tightening with rubber bands should be avoided after rolling your rug. Don’t place your traditional rugs near high temperature zones. Keep traditional rugs away from direct sun because ultra violet rays may fade or damage them, if kept exposed to it for a long time. Keep your traditional rugs away from the areas of heavy traffic to prevent strain and soil. A thin pad should be kept under your traditional rugs to increase its life.

The pad used for keeping under the traditional rugs must be cut half inch shorter than the edges of traditional rugs. These pads help absorb the moisture. You can purchase these pads from your supplier; opt for synthetic pads. Avoid using latex paintings on the backside of an heirloom rug or a traditional rug. Due to the latex, traditional rugs may get hard and cracks may develop. These cracks will damage your traditional rugs. If museum quality traditional rugs come in contact with latex then the life a traditional is cut short.

Due to variation in temperature and humidity, fiber of traditional rugs may swell or shrink. While hanging your traditional rugs avoid stretching. Nailing, stapling or gluing on a frame or board is not to be allowed. Don’t keep your traditional rugs near plastic or glass as condensation on these surfaces will cause mildew and this will ultimately damage your rug. For matting, use mats that are free from acid.

For padding use acid free batting covers on mounting boards, if you have a wooden frame it must be Mylar covered. Mylar is one type of natural plastic. While you hang your traditional rugs on a wall, the weight of your traditional rugs must be equally distributed to prevent straining and avoid sag on the back. To avoid unwanted stretching on your traditional rugs of small size, stitch rug tape or fabric cuff on the edges of your traditional rugs and you could make use of a drapery or dowel rod for slipping through its sleeve. For attaching your traditional rugs on wall drapery fasteners like bend nails or cup hooks must be attached on the rod of the sleeve. Rug hangers or hard wood quilt can also be used for same purpose. A full lining to support the weight of large traditional rugs is required.

Beating or shaking a rug causes strains on the backing of a traditional rug. If your traditional rug is old then it can disintegrated into parts. During foggy days or on damp days allow your traditional rugs to come into contact with natural air from outside, this will make your traditional rugs soft and cracks will not formed in the backing of your traditional rugs. Clothesline hanging should be avoided. Lay your rug flat and turn it occasionally. Grit and sand must be cleaned with vacuum cleaner regularly. Prevent your traditional rugs for getting dry.

Do not let stains form on your traditional rug. Try to remove them immediately. However do not make use of a washing machine for this purpose. Traditional rugs can be washed gently with mild detergent and cold water. Harsh detergents may damage to your traditional rugs, avoid using harsh detergent. Do not dry clean your traditional rug. Your traditional rugs must not be immersed. For cleaning and storing your traditional rug, you could take the advice of an expert.

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Tuesday, August 9, 2011

5 Questions for Professional Rug Cleaners

When choosing a professional cleaner for your fine Oriental rugs, you want to make sure to find a qualified company that you can trust to do the job correctly. Here are a few questions that you should ask to ensure you hire the correct company for your rug cleaning needs.

1. How long have you been in the business of cleaning fine rugs and how much experience do your technicians have? In most cases, the longer a company has been in business, the better. They obviously have been doing something right to stay in business for as long as they have. cleaning fine rugs takes a certain expertise that can only be acquired through years of experience. Make sure their rug technicians have some years under their belts when it comes to cleaning fine rugs.

2. Is your company certified, insured, and bonded? To gain certification as a qualified rug technician one must complete a battery of testing and practice. The main one you want to ask for is the IICRC. Even the best rug cleaning companies can have accidents. Making sure they are insured and bonded will protect you from theft or accidental damage to your rug while it is in their possession. It also wouldn't hurt to find out if they are in good standing with the BBB.

3. What is included in your service? Ask them to break down the steps of a standard rug cleaning. This will give you an idea of what they will be doing for your rug. From here you will also be able to add or subtract certain services that you may need.

4. How do you charge for your rug services? Do they charge by square foot or some other criteria? Is stain removal extra? Is there a charge for extra services such as deodorization or fabric protection, and if so, how much? Getting an itemized list of services and their corresponding prices will help immensely should any billing confusion arise later. Always ask for a written quote or estimate. This can save you a ton of headache should there be a problem after the fact.

5. Do you offer any guarantees? What happens if you are not satisfied with their work? Make sure there are provisions in case a stain returns or if an odor still remains. Most companies will be pretty accommodating if you are not satisfied. Some will offer to redo the cleaning at no cost, include additional services at no cost, or give an additional discount. These will vary depending on the company.

If, and only when, these and any other questions you might have are answered to your satisfaction should you hire any particular rug cleaning company. Keeping your fine Oriental rugs maintained at home and having a trusted professional cleaner give it a thorough hand washing every few years are the secret to a long life for your rug.

Saturday, September 27, 2008

Modern Rugs

The most suitable place where you could place a modern rug would be the living room of your house. A modern rug has a very attractive canvas of different colors. These rugs are a combined effort of classical and modern art that brings life to your house. Modern rugs are examples of developed historical craftsmanship in weaving. Modern rugs have resulted from a continuous improvement in centuries of craftsmanship in weaving.

In the ancient days, only kings, queens and some of the most powerful people were allowed to make use of this craftsmanship. Those were the days when craftsmanship of weaving was kept a closely guarded secret by the tribesman. These tribesmen were from remote areas, of the world carpet capital. It took many years to develop a carpet by weaving. The weaving of a carpet is hard work and was only performed by hand. Modern carpets / rugs are the combination of silk, cotton and natural wool and are more often than not, machine made.

The fame of a Persian carpet is known world wide. A Persian carpet is believed to be one of the most precious carpets in the world. A Persian carpet is likely to set you back by approx $ 200, this for something as small as 4’ x 6’. The carpets that are used now-a-days are unlike Persian carpets; however they meet the requirement of a house owner, effectively.

A rug is a smaller version of a carpet. Rugs have standard sizes which range from 3’ x 5’ to 9’ x 12’ for specific areas. The size of smallest rug is just equal to the size of a coffee table. Rugs can cover certain area in effective and decorative way. You could make use of a rug under furniture like a coffee table, whereas a carpet covers the whole floor area.

You should choose a rug to suit to the décor and finish of the room. Light colored rugs make the room look large and dark colored rugs with dark walls give the room a gloomy appearance unless you want to highlight some piece of furniture or chandelier. Rugs provide comfort for walking when compared to a bare wooden floor. Rugs and carpets also provide safety to the floor and improving the sensuality factor of the house.

Modern rugs are available in three different yarn categories such as wool rugs, nylon rugs and polypropylene rugs. Wool rugs are made of natural fibers. Wool rugs provide soft and natural resilient; on walking over it gives a cushioning effect. Wool rugs also have very long life. Due to these factors and the safety factor included, most house owners lean towards wool rugs. Wool rugs are flame retardant, thus they prevent burning or melting of a surface.

Nylon rugs also have certain flame retarding property, but on burning they emit fumes and plasticize. The fumes linger in a closed room for quite some time.

Polypropylene rugs are the cheapest among the three types of rugs. They are not flame retarding nor are they soft like the wool and nylon rugs. But with improvement in technology, polypropylene rugs are treated to certain chemicals to make them flame retardant and soft.

The life of a modern rug is approximately twenty years. Modern rugs need less cleaning. Rug / carpet maintenance experts claim that modern rugs should not be shampooed initially. They only need to be cleaned regularly by the means of a vacuum cleaner.

Before purchasing a modern rug, chalk out a plan on where will you be using the modern rug and what will you be using it for. Update your knowledge data base on what types of rugs are available in the market and what would suit your requirements and your budget. A good planner will be able to get the most economical rug and at the same time make his / her look attractive and cozy.

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