Are Rugs & Carpet Really that Different?
Are Rugs & Carpet Really that Different?You might be thinking that rugs and carpets are basically the same things and can be cleaned the exact same way. You’re not alone in that. Unfortunately, this attitude leads to many damaged or even ruined rugs. In actuality, area rugs are very different than carpets. Because of this, they need to be cleaned differently. As a top-rated carpet and area rug cleaning service, we want to break down the key differences for you.
CONSTRUCTION
Of course, the biggest and most obvious difference between area rugs and carpets is that area rugs are simply constructed differently than wall-to-wall carpets. This is because rugs are supposed to be mobile while the carpet is intended to stay in place for the years to come. They have to be made differently in order to accomplish this. In addition to simple mobility issues, there are so many different types of area rugs that are constructed differently from one another, and so they all require slightly different care.
FRINGE
If a carpet is stretched wall to wall, why would it even need fringe? Clearly, it wouldn’t, but just think about all of the area rugs out there with fringe trim. Yet another distinct difference! You definitely don’t want to vacuum fringe. Area rugs with fringe must be given special treatment in order to preserve the fringe.
DRY SOIL REMOVAL
Another difference is that most area rugs are made to be thicker with a dense pile construction. This means that they usually have more fibers closer together than standard carpet. This dense pile tends to trap dirt and soil near the base of the rug. A vacuum cleaner generally can’t remove these trapped fine fibers, which is people sometimes take their rugs outside and beat the dirt out. There is an easier solution though, you can just trust a professional rug cleaner to remove this build-up for you.
BLEEDING
Most carpets are a single color. If it happens that this color bleeds, it usually isn’t a problem. However, in area rugs with intricate patterns color bleeding can completely ruin the design design. This is why it is incredibly important to use the correct solutions and methods to clean an area rug in order to prevent bleeding and fading from happening. Often, a standard carpet cleaning solution just won’t cut it when it comes to basic rug cleaning.
TEA WASH/ANTIQUING
Another dye issue to be aware of is antiquing, a process that is done by a manufacturer or importer in order to make a rug look older and more expensive. Antiquing is common in some types of area rugs, but less so in carpets. It is usually a layer of very aggressive acidic wash or a post-treatment of tea dying, which can wash away during the cleaning process. If that does happen, an expert can reapply the layer after cleaning.
PROPER TRAINING
Our Calgary area rug cleaners have to go through a lot of training in order to have the knowledge to properly clean all of these different types of rugs without damaging Don’t trust just any local steam cleaner to clean your rugs. Before you allow anyone to touch your rugs, ask them questions and make sure that they have received training.
PROPER CLEANING OF AREA RUGS
Whether you’re on the lookout for a professional area rug or carpet cleaning in the Calgary area, don’t settle for less than Chinook Chem-Dry. We offer state-of-the-art cleaning methods and solutions that have been proven to get your rugs and carpets cleaner and healthier than ever before. Give us a call today for a free price estimate.