Rugs add warmth and personality to any room. But it doesn’t take long for them to get dirty and stained from spills, pets, kids, and everyday wear and tear. Fortunately, you can take steps to protect your rugs and make them last.
In this guide, as a professional custom rugs manufacturer, I’m going to outline my favorite rug protection tips and stain removal tricks.
How to Protect Rugs from Stains
Use a Rug Pad
A rug pad is an affordable way to protect your rug from underneath. Here’s why it helps:
Prevents shifting and buckling. Rug pads add grip so your rug stays flat on the floor and doesn’t slide around. This protects the fibers from excess wear.
Adds cushion. The extra padding protects fibers from getting crushed. It’s especially important under furniture legs or high traffic areas that see a lot of footsteps.
Protects floors. The barrier helps preserve hardwood floors and other flooring from scratches, gouges, and stains from the rug.
When choosing a pad, make sure it fits properly and is non-slip. Pay the extra money for natural rubber or felt rather than cheaper synthetic options that can disintegrate or stick to your floors.
I also recommend a pad with a waterproof barrier for high spill risk rooms. It will keep liquid from filtering through the rug into the floor underneath.
Apply a Fabric Protector Spray
Spray-on fabric protectors add an invisible water and stain barrier without changing the look or feel of your rug.
They work by forming a protective shield around the fibers. When something spills, it beads up on the surface so you can clean it up before it has a chance to soak in.
Some options like Scotchgard even provide protection through multiple carpet cleanings.
When applying a rug protector spray:
- Test first for colorfastness. Spray it on a small inconspicuous spot and blot with a paper towel. If any color rubs off, choose a different product.
- Apply outdoors or in an open area. Use lots of ventilation. Never spray around pets or children.
- Mist lightly and evenly. Keep the nozzle about 12 inches above the rug. Go against the grain and rotate around the perimeter.
- Allow to thoroughly dry. This can take 2-6 hours before walking on it again.
- Reapply every 6-12 months or after having your rugs professionally cleaned. The protection wears off over time.
Vacuum at Least Once Per Week
You’ve probably heard that vacuuming your rugs helps prolong their life. But you may be wondering, exactly how does it help? Here’s why it matters:
- Traps dirt and debris that act like sandpaper against delicate fibers. The suction pulls it away before it has a chance to damage the pile.
- Manages pet hair and dander that can get fused into the fabric over time with foot traffic and direct heat and sunlight exposure.
- Cleans up dust mites and indoor allergens. Many vacuum models come with special allergen-busting filters.
Shoot for once per week in main living areas and at least once per month in lesser-used rooms. Adjust as needed based on the amount of foot traffic and your household situation.
Pay special attention to entryways, under furniture legs, edges, and other high dirt areas. Slow down and make extra passes over these spots.
Finally, use the proper floor head attachment for the rug’s fibers and construction. The brush rolls can damage delicate area rugs if used incorrectly. Refer to the owner’s manual so you don’t accidentally cause excess wear.
Rotate Every 3-6 Months
A rug in the same spot starts to show distinct traffic patterns over time. Rotating its orientation allows even exposure to sunlight and foot traffic so it ages gracefully.
Plus, it helps dissipate crushing and impressions under heavy furniture legs or appliances.
Simply shift your rug 90 or 180 degrees when you change your smoke detector batteries twice per year. Moving a few pieces of furniture to rotate is well worth it to balance out wear and get more mileage from your investment.
As a bonus tip: Take your rugs outside and flip them over once per year. Then give them a good vacuuming to remove any trapped grit between the rug and pad that could grind away at the fibers. Just be sure to avoid excessive bending and folding which can damage the cotton backing.
Act Quickly When You Spill
If something spills, follow these steps:
- Blot immediately with clean, dry towels to soak up excess liquid. Avoid scrubbing or you may drive the stain further down.
- Dab white vinegar for food or wine spills. It will help break down staining compounds. Rinse with water and blot until dry.
- Sprinkle baking soda over pet urine accidents. Let sit for 15 minutes then vacuum up. It will absorb odors and help neutralize the urine.
- Flush with water for dirt or mud tracked inside. Blot until dry then vacuum to restore texture. Avoid soap which can leave sticky residues.
The faster you can dilute or extract the spilled substance, the lesser chance it will develop into a stubborn stain. But if you do end up with a noticeable spot:
Learn DIY Stain Removal
Being armed and ready to treat stains right away improves your chances for removal.
Common rug-damaging culprits include food and drinks, oil and grease, ink, dyes from fabric or medication, mud, pet accidents, and nasties brought inside on shoe soles.
Many stains on wool or natural material rugs will respond nicely to gentle dish soap and hydrogen peroxide. For more stubborn stains, break out these specialty removal products I keep stocked for emergencies:
- Salt – removes wine
- Hydrogen peroxide – lifts blood
- White vinegar – tackles coffee and fruit juice
- Enzyme digester – destroys pet stains and odors
- Isopropyl alcohol – erases marker and ink
- Cornstarch – cleans up greasy residues
Always test products first in a low-visibility spot before going full steam ahead. Blot gently rather than aggressively scrubbing to avoid damaging fibers or distorting any patterns.
When To Call The Pros For Rug Cleaning
DIY stain fighting goes a long way. But sometimes you need to call in professional rug cleaning reinforcements.
In particular, pull out the big guns in these instances:
- Annual deep cleaning for wall-to-wall carpets
- Anytime you shampoo the carpets (extractor cleaning rinses away fabric protectors)
- Severe pet stains and stubborn odors that require extra attention
- Heirloom or specialty rug cleaning like hand-knotted Persian antiques
- Major spills like flooding disasters or collapsed aquariums that require water extraction
The right pros use powerful truck-mounted systems yet delicate “dry” low-moisture techniques simultaneously. It’s a very tricky balance to avoid over-wetting rugs which can lead to mold/mildew or damage.
Plus they can frequently your rugs offsite for intensive deodorizing and repairs if necessary. Hot steam extraction simply isn’t possible to pull off safely at home.
During appointments, a reputable company will assess all your rugs, note any trouble spots, then do a test under the fringe to determine the best process. From there, they can get to work removing all traces of dirt, allergens and stuck on crud that has been grinding away and dulling the rug’s fibers.
Pro Tip: Ask them to re-apply fabric protector at the end too. Shampooing washes away the barrier and you’ll want to start fresh protecting those revitalized clean fibers!
More Rug Protection Tips
- Flip flatwoven or reversible rugs periodically to help them wear evenly. Slide them under furniture to prevent impressions.
- Move rugs aside before house parties with red wine or rowdy guests prone to spilling.
- Address pet urine accidents immediately since the enzymes permanently alter wool and silk over time.
- Block furniture legs with felt pads and lift rather than drag across carpets when moving items like the sofa.
- Avoid rubber backed or latex yoga mats and non-ventilated rug pads that can breed mildew.
- For inherited heirloom rugs or collectibles, discuss specialized storage and cleaning with a rug preservationist.
Recap: Protecting Your Rugs from Stains
Caring properly for your rugs ensures they stay looking fresh and new for years while protecting your flooring investment too.
Implement these best practices for keeping them clean:
- Secure rugs in place with a nonslip pad
- Spray on a protective barrier like Scotchgard
- Vacuum high traffic areas weekly
- Rotate occasionally to evenly distribute wear
- Blot spills quickly, then use DIY removal techniques
- Professionally shampoo clean every 12-18 months
- Re-apply fabric protector after each cleaning
With a little TLC, your beautiful, expensive rugs will frustrate stains rather than absorb them. That means more years of enjoyment from their decor and underfoot comfort!
Now I’d love to hear from you about your best rug protection tips and stain fighting secrets…
What solutions have you discovered for rescuing your favorite rugs from the clutches of red wine or pet mishaps? Let me know in the comments!