Rugs are usually a central feature in the room they are placed in, and because of this, they are often exposed to lots of dirt, debris and spillages. They also receive some of the most foot traffic, causing dirt to be ground deeper into the fibres. So if your carpet is starting to look dull, dirty or worn out, it could be time to call in the professionals!

But what actually is professional rug cleaning? What can you expect when you book a professional rug cleaning? And how can you take care of your rug in between professional cleans? If you’d like to find out the answers to these questions, read on!

Each professional rug cleaner may have their own unique cleaning techniques, but on the whole, all professional cleans will follow a similar method. The cleaning process will also vary depending on what type of rug you have and what fibres it is made from. For example, oriental and antique rugs will need to be handled differently from one that was bought from a conventional rug store. In addition, many cleaners will come to your home to clean your rug, while others will take it away to be cleaned.

Professional rug cleaners should always examine the carpet they are about to clean beforehand and provide you with a quote on how much the job will cost. They will also see if any particular actions need to be taken to remove tough stains or perform restoration work. 

Then typically, a professional rug cleaning will start with deep vacuuming to remove all dust, debris or other dirt that may be lurking on the surface of your rug. This ensures that no dirt is pushed further into the fibres during the cleaning process.

Then, they will prepare your carpet with their carefully chosen pre-conditioning solution and apply rug stain remover if necessary. Now your carpet is ready for the next part of the process, steam cleaning! A rug cleaning professional will employ safe-to-use chemicals that they have expertise in how to apply correctly.

Steam cleaning is a form of carpet cleaning that carries out hot water soil extraction on your rug to clean it thoroughly of all dirt. Contrary to what the name implies, there actually isn’t any steam involved! What it actually involves is very hot water being pumped through a strong hose system to rinse out dirt, even from the deepest layers of the carpet.

Once the steam cleaning process is over, most cleaners will usually apply a layer of solution that will help to protect the carpet from future staining. They may also apply another product to leave your carpet with a nice, fresh, clean smell!

Finally, the rug needs to dry. The drying time may vary depending on how big and thick your carpet is. It will also depend on the temperature and whether or not the cleaner uses a drying solution. But generally, it will take between 2-10 hours to dry.

And then you’ll be left with a sparklingly clean rug that looks and smells fantastic!

Having your carpet professionally cleaned can prolong the lifespan of your rug. Rugs are not cheap, so the longer they last, the better right? Plus, keeping your carpet clean and fresh can also contribute to a healthier environment in your home by preventing mould, pollutants and bug infestations.

If your rug is located in a high-traffic area of your home, you may notice that parts of it that get walked on a lot become worn and faded from the rest of the carpet. Professional rug cleaning can help restore your carpet and make it look smart and fresh again!

Another added benefit of having your rug professionally cleaned is that these cleaners have the knowledge and expertise to use specialised products and rug stain removers that are specifically designed to give your rug the best care possible. This means you don’t have to worry about any chemical damage to your rug, and it will be left looking better than ever!

And lastly, we all live busy lives, so who has time to carefully clean carpets? Calling in a professional saves time for you that could be spent doing other things that you enjoy!

The most important things you can do to maintain your rugs' good condition are:

• Vacuum it regularly! Even just a quick vacuum once or twice a week works wonders to prevent the build-up of dirt and debris to stop it from being ground down into the fibres.

• Clean up spills immediately. The longer you leave a spill, the worse the stain will become. Scrape up any solids before blotting the spill carefully with a dry cloth to remove the worst.

• Call the professionals! Professional rug cleaning should typically be done once a year. If your rug has a nasty stain that you can’t remove yourself, you can call the experts earlier!