Rug Care & Cleaning

Thank you for taking the time to review our care and cleaning instructions. Following the below guidelines will help ensure the longest lifespan possible for your new area rugs. If you have a specific question that is not addressed on this page, we encourage you to e-mail us at sales@powersellerusa.com. We're here to help!

Topics

Common Issues
Shedding
Sprouts
Creasing
Fading & Wear
Odor

General Care & Cleaning
Vacuuming
Spot Cleaning
Professional Cleaning
Extending the Life of your Rug

Material Specific Cleaning Guidelines
Synthetic Fiber Rugs (Olefin/Polypropylene/Nylon/Acrylic)
Natural Fiber Rugs (Jute/Hemp/Coir/Sisal)
Wool Rugs
Bamboo Rugs/Mats
Indoor/Outdoor Rugs
Shag Rugs

Common Issues
Although we stand behind every product we sell, there are common issues inherent with area rugs that may need to be explained. The issues below are not considered defects, nor (in most cases) are they reasons for the product to be returned.

Shedding
All wool rugs will shed, it is the nature of the material. While this shedding will reduce over time, it may not stop completely. Unlike most rugs, wool rugs are made from many small fibers woven into a yarn, rather then one large fiber. Regular combing and gentle vacuuming will help to minimize this issue. If you love wool, but want to minimize shedding a hand-knotted rug will shed less then a tufted one.
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Sprouts
It is normal for jute and other natural fiber rugs to “sprout”. What may seem to be a pulled thread is really just a yarn whose fibers have separated at a point, or “sprouted”. Sprouting is common with natural fibers, such as jute, that are made up of shorter fibers. This is not a defect but an inherent quality of certain natural fiber rugs. Simply clip the sprout that has popped up with a sharp scissors. Sprouts are also sometimes common in hand made rugs of other materials.
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Creasing

When purchasing a new rug, or moving an existing one, the act of tightly rolling and compacting an area can cause unwanted creasing. This is normal and will diminish in time. Some suggestions for speeding up the process are:

Try rolling the rug in reverse and leave it for a day or so.

Lightly mist the crease with water from a spray bottle. Do not soak it. Place something heavy on top of it such as a large book or small piece of furniture and leave it overnight. If the crease is still there, mist it again and repeat. Do not set a piece of furniture over a damp area for too long, as mold and mildew may form. Only lightly mist if using a water bottle and don't leave it covered for more than 12 hours before checking on it.

Lay the rug outside in the sunshine or hang it from a clothesline. Let the warmth of the sun and breeze do the work for you!

Tape the rug with carpet tape. Pull the ends taut and secure them with the tape at all corners and in the middle. This will help to stretch the crease out.
Steam-cleaning the rug and letting it air-dry over a banister or clothesline is another good way to remove a crease. However, read the care instructions located on the product tag carefully, as wool and some other rugs cannot handle the heat.

Consider having the rug professionally cleaned to remove the most stubborn creases.
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Fading & Wear

Rugs placed in direct sunlight will fade over time. We recommend rotating your rug every 3-6 months. Rotating your rug will ensure any fading that occurs happens evenly, this also helps to extend the life of your rug by distributing wear patterns.
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Odor

Recently purchased rugs that are removed from a plastic bag or wrap may have a strong odor to them. Whether the rug is made from Polypropylene or Wool, each type of fiber does incur it's own level and/or degree of odor. This is natural, and is caused by many of the materials used during the manufacturing process. This normally dissipates within the first two weeks of unwrapping the rug. To help reduce the odor quickly we recommend sprinkling baking soda on the new carpet. Baking soda has a reputation for absorbing odors and has the potential to reduce new carpet odor in a matter of hours. Sprinkle an even layer over the surface of the carpeting before bed, and allow the soda to remain in place until morning. Vacuum the carpet the next day and reapply if necessary. We do not recommend this solution for Shag or other rugs with long fibers as some particles may be trapped in the rug.
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General Care & Cleaning
Like any investment, if you want it to last you must take care of it properly. We have listed some tips to help you take care of your new rug, and make it last longer.

Vacuuming

One of the most damaging effects on area rugs is vacuuming. Extra care must be taken when vacuuming your new rug. Todays high powered vacuums will pull threads out of the back of tugs and cause sprouts if you're not careful; these include the bagless Dyson and Oreck. If a vacuum can pick up a bowling ball imagine what it can do to a rug! The best solution for this is to use use the handheld attachment to vacuum your rug. Using the beater bar on your vacuum can pull fibers from the face of the rug or they can cause the face of your rug to fuzz. To eliminate this problem, set the bar to the highest possible position. Better yet, if you can, turn it off!

Other problems can occur on the edges of your new area rug. The serging on the edges of rugs can be very sensitive. Running the vacuum over the edges can cause the serging to deteriorate and fibers may come loose around the edges. As such, carefully place your vacuum on the rug and don't linger on the edge. Likewise, fringes can be destroyed by vacuums. Never vacuum a fringe, instead use the handheld attachment. Brooms and sweepers are a great, gentle way to clean your rug but if you must vacuum we find that canister vacuums without beater bars are the most effective.
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Spot Cleaning

If you spill on a rug, clean it immediately. Once the stain is set in it becomes more difficult to clean. Never rub a spill as it forces the spill deeper into the rug. Blot with a clean white cloth. On wool rugs, use lukewarm water or a wool cleaning liquid to remove any residual stain. On synthetic rugs, Fantastic or 409 can be used to remove grease and stubborn stains. On natural fiber grass rugs, use lukewarm water to remove any residual stain. Always use clean water to remove any residual cleaner, and dry towels to absorb any remaining moisture. Simple soap and water should remove most stains. However, be sure to test cleaning solutions in an inconspicuous area to be sure the cleanser will not damage the fiber.
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Professional Cleaning

From time to time, your rug will need to be cleaned by a professional. Always use a professional area rugs cleaning expert, some techniques used on wall-to-wall carpets may not be appropriate for area rugs. Inspect the rug with the cleaner before it is cleaned. Get a signed receipt and guarantee of work before the work is done. We recommend using a steam extraction method for most rugs.
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Extend the life of your Rug

We recommend a rug pad underneath every area rug. Rug pads extend the life of your rug as it absorbs wear and tear from the friction between floor and rug. They also help avoid accidents from slipping on moving rugs, and tripping on turned up edges. They also help to provide additional cushion under your feet. Its a simple fact that using a rug pad will make your rug more comfortable and it will last longer.
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Material Specific Cleaning Guidelines

Synthetic Fiber Rugs (Olefin/Polypropylene/Nylon/Acrylic)

With a dry cotton towel or white paper towel, blot out stain as much as possible. Scrape off any food or debris with a dull instrument. Mix a very small amount of dish soap with a cup of cold water. Bloat area with dry towel. Fantastic and 409 can be used to remove grease and stubborn stains.However, be sure to test cleaning solutions in an inconspicuous area to be sure the cleanser will not damage the fiber.
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Natural Fiber Rugs (Jute/Hemp/Coir/Sisal)

Natural fiber rugs have an inherent quality of having loose fibers and knots. Regularly vacuum the rug on a low-power setting. Vacuum the rug from different angles. If you see any loose threads on the face, they should be trimmed with a household scissors. Do not pull the threads on the face to avoid unraveling or damage to the rug. Spills should be blotted with a clean, undyed cloth to absorb as much of the spill as possible.
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Wool Rugs

With a dry cotton towel or white paper towel, blot out stain as much as possible. Scrape off any food or debris with a dull instrument. Mix a very small amount of dish soap with a cup of cold water. With clean sponge and soap mix, gently remove remainder of stain. Work from the outer edges of the spill towards the center. Avoid using excessive water, do not saturate! Bloat area with a clean, dry towel. If applying cleaning solvents, test on a small area first as strong cleaning chemicals may damage or fade the rug. For stubborn stains use a professional cleaning service that specializes in wool rugs. Do not dry clean. Avoid excessive heat or agitation, We recommend using a professional rug cleaner on an annual basis. Wool rugs are more prone to bleeding and staining than their synthetic counterparts, thus requiring extra prompt and careful cleaning.Shedding is a normal feature in a wool product and decreases over a period of time.
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Bamboo Rugs/Mats

Clean surface with a damp, clean cloth. Spot-clean borders with mild dish soap and water solution.Shake out to remove debris or vacuum. If you vacuum, a suction attachment is recommended; do not use a beater brush as it may scratch the surface. Plastic or felt casters are recommended for chair or furniture legs to protect against scratching and cracking of bamboo slats. A sharp, straight edge of a chair or furniture piece may crack the bamboo slat.
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Indoor/Outdoor Rugs

With a dry cotton towel or white paper towel, blot out stain as much as possible. Scrape off any food or debris with a dull instrument. Mix a very small amount of dish soap with a cup of cold water. With clean sponge and soap mix, remove remainder of stain. Allow area to dry. For all-over cleaning, some outdoor rugs can be sprayed with mixture of soap and water and rinsed with a garden hose.
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Shag Rugs

Shag rugs should be fluffed up when first un-rolled as it will initially be matted down. Spray extraction, with the use of specific materials approved products, will help in solving the cleaning issue of shag rugs. Canister vacuums without a beater var are most effective in cleaning shag rugs. Vacuums with beater bar and brushes, or those that are set too low may abrade the face of the rug. Do not use dry powder cleaning agents, as it is difficult to remove from rugs that have a longer, thicker yarn.
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