Spring brings in warm weather and beautiful plant life. This warmer weather also means you’ll be in and out of the house more often, which could cause your rugs to get dirtier than usual. It’s best to be prepared for any and all stains that your rugs may experience during the spring. Many people also choose to give their rugs a good cleaning at this time of year because it’s the time for spring cleaning!

If you’re ready to get the spring cleaning started in your South Amboy, NJ home, check out all the helpful area rug cleaning tips featured below.

Utilize your washing machine

If you have small rugs located around the house, put them in the washing machine. As long as the rugs are machine washable, your washing machine could be the best way to clean them. Washing your rugs in a washing machine could give them a thorough cleaning and will likely remove most of the stains. After washing your rugs in a washing machine, be sure to thoroughly dry them or you could risk the growth of mold.

Make vacuuming a routine

Routine vacuuming is an important part of keeping your rugs clean. This is true for rugs in almost any room. You should avoid vacuuming any delicate rugs, as this could damage them. Instead, consider tossing these rugs in the washing machine or shaking them out outside.

Vacuuming should usually be done at least once a week to keep too much dirt from getting into the fibers of your rug. It’s important that you use a quality vacuum on your rug or you risk missing a lot of the dirt. There are many great quality vacuums available at affordable prices.

Look for any stains you may have missed

Spring cleaning in your South Amboy, NJ home is the perfect time to look for any stains you may have missed throughout the year. Even the most set-in stains can be removed with the right cleaning products, but it’s important to tackle them as soon as possible. Some stains will disappear quite easily, while others may require help from a professional area rug cleaning service.

Have a professional do the hard work for you

Certain aspects of rug cleaning might be hard to take care of on your own. This is especially true if you have children and other responsibilities to take care of. A good area rug cleaning service could help save you time as well as money. When using a professional rug cleaning service, you won’t have to worry about buying expensive cleaning products or devices. These services will also provide a deeper clean than you could manage on your own.

Professionals are also aware of which products should and shouldn’t be used on an area rug. When doing your own cleaning, you might accidentally damage your rug with a harsh cleaning product. If you’re looking for quality area rug cleaning at fair prices in South Amboy, NJ, contact Lov ‘N Kare Carpet Center today!

Area rugs tie your home’s aesthetic together, protect your flooring and keep your feet warm during the colder months. However, they can get dirty fast. Foot traffic, pets, spills and household messes can end up damaging your rugs. Instead of risking stains that won’t come out, try waterproofing your area rugs in South Amboy, NJ. Here’s why you should do it:

• See fewer stains: Even when you think you’ve mopped up a stain, it can pop back up like a bad penny. If the stain soaks into the padding at the base of the area rug, it can work its way back up into the carpet fibers again. Waterproofing helps eliminate the possibility that your rug will retain stains.
• Easy cleanup: Spills and messes are inevitable, especially if you have pets and children. Waterproofing your area rug makes it a lot easier to clean up those messes. They’ll be less likely to soak into your rug and make a permanent stain.
• Avoid wear and tear: Frequent use means that your area rug will see a lot of wear and tear over the years. Waterproofing your area rug can actually help the rug resist dirt, mud and other wear and tear.
• Longer lifespan: Finally, all of these factors keep your rug looking great longer—which means you can get years’ worth of additional life out of it. Why spend money on a brand-new area rug when you can keep the one you’ve got looking great?

How to waterproof your area rugs

To waterproof your rugs in South Amboy, NJ, you’ll first need to find a good waterproofing spray like Scotchgard or WaterSeal FabricSeal. (Do a patch test to make sure the spray doesn’t affect your area rug’s colorfastness.) Depending on the size of your rug, you may need more than one can.

Next, call your local carpet cleaning company to deep clean your rug. You should already be having it professionally cleaned at least once per year, but especially before you waterproof your rug. You don’t want to seal in dirt, stains and odors. After your rug is deep cleaned, let it dry completely. This can take a day or two.

Finally, use the spray to coat your rug according to the directions. You’ll apply the waterproofing spray to the top side of your rug. Use thin, even coats and let dry in between. It should take about four hours to dry in between coats, as long as you’re not saturating the rug.

Once you’ve applied two to three coats of waterproofing spray, let it dry for at least 24 hours. Try to avoid walking on the rug or spilling anything on it at this time. After the 24-hour period has passed, test to see if it’s water resistant. Flick some water on the fabric—if the water beads up on the surface of the rug, you have successfully waterproofed your area rug.

For more information on how to waterproof area rugs in South Amboy, NJ, or to schedule your cleaning, call Lov ‘N Kare Carpet Center.

Accidents are part of life, and rug stains are no exception. Even though spills are inevitable, people living in South Amboy, NJ can avoid stains on area rugs with a bit of preventative maintenance. Here are some tips on keeping area rugs stain free, along with the benefits of hiring a carpet cleaning specialist for the job.

Apply a protectant spray

The best tip for keeping area rugs stain free is to spray them with a stain-proof treatment. It seals the rug fibers and creates a barrier between your area rug and spills. When accidents inevitably occur, this type of treatment minimizes the risk of permanent staining.

It’s possible for homeowners to treat area rugs on their own. You can pick up a can of protectant spray at your local hardware store in South Amboy, NJ. However, hiring a professional carpet cleaner is the only way to guarantee proper application. Stain-proof treatments applied the wrong way can do more harm than good.

Leave shoes at the door

Homeowners can avoid stains on area rugs by leaving their shoes at the front door. Residents of South Amboy, NJ don’t just have to worry about tracking in dirt. Shoes carry snow into your home during winter, not to mention all that salt covering the roads. Avoid the hassle of wiping slush off your area rugs by having a designated place for shoes.

Also, shoes can leave dirt behind without you realizing it. Not all debris is visible to the eye, and wearing shoes indoors is what leaves dirt hidden in the rug fibers. Heavy accumulation of dirt means your area rugs are more likely to absorb stains and become dingy over time.

Reduce flattening of the rug

A simple way to avoid stains on area rugs is to prevent them from flattening. Rugs with matted surfaces are more difficult to clean and will hold a stain. To combat this, rotate your area rugs every once in a while. That way, the rug fibers wear down at the same rate and last longer. A rug pad will also help prevent flattening.

Clean spills right away

Despite your best efforts, mishaps are bound to happen. When they do, take immediate action and mop up that spill. The longer a substance sits on your area rug, the more likely it will settle into the fibers. Dab the stain with a cloth to soak up excess moisture and treat the area with a carpet cleaner. Never rub a stain—otherwise, it will set in for good!

For more tips on keeping area rugs stain free, get in touch with the carpet specialists at Lov ‘N Kare Carpet Center in South Amboy, NJ. Our team can apply protectant sprays to area rugs so you don’t have to worry about the hassle. On top of that, we offer a wide range of cleaning services that will make your carpet smell fresh and feel brand new. Reach out to us today to learn more or schedule service—we look forward to assisting you!

Quality hardwood floors are not cheap. You get what you pay for, so make sure you invest in a superior product and professional installation service. But what can you do after your floors are installed to avoid accelerating wear and tear while boosting indoor aesthetics? Invest in a well-made area rug or two! The area rug you choose should not only be attractive, matching your style and home decor, but comfortable as well. The rug should complement the hardwood flooring without causing damage to it, and laid down safely in place to avoid slipping.

When you combine area rugs with the right rug pads, your hard floors should look nice and stay in good condition for many years to come. Below is a list of the best area rugs for hardwood floors in South Amboy, NJ:

• Natural fibers: There are area rugs made from plant fibers—such as jute, seagrass, coir and sisal—that fall into the natural-fiber category. Any of these fibers form a tightly-woven mat, and most are reversible (unless the rug has a latex back, as is the case with most seagrass and coir rugs). Avoid synthetic latex backings, because they can damage hardwood floors. Get one with natural-latex instead. Rugs made from plant fibers offer a casual look suited for contemporary or Asian-inspired decor.
• Synthetic: Rayon, nylon, polypropylene, viscose and acrylic can mimic the appearance of some natural materials, but they are indeed synthetic. Choose from a variety of styles, colors and patterns.
• Silk: Silk area rugs are probably the most expensive type of rug you can buy. However, because silk rugs are more beautiful than they are practical or durable, people typically purchase them exclusively for decorative purposes, such as for hanging on a wall. Silk is often woven into wool rugs as accents to increase the price of a mostly wool area rug. Nevertheless, silk and silk-blend rugs can make attractive accent pieces for hardwood floors. Keep in mind that silk fades easily and is more fragile if used on floors in areas that see high foot traffic.
• Wool: One of the most common rug materials for hardwood floors is wool or a wool blend. It is comfortable, easy to clean, durable and available in a flat weave or a tufted wool look. For the most part, wool rugs and wool blended with fibers like cotton are readily available in a variety of styles and patterns to pair with any color hardwood floor and home decor.
• Cotton: Yes, cotton is a natural plant fiber, but it stands in a category of its own. These types of area rugs create a casual look and comfortable feel to a room, especially on hardwood floors that sport a rustic look. Choose from a variety of patterns and styles to dress up your hard flooring.

Before you even consider shopping around for the best rugs for hard floors in South Amboy, NJ, first reach out to the team at Lov ‘N Kare Carpet Center for information about area rug care and maintenance.

Anyone with hardwood or vinyl flooring understands the importance of area rugs. In addition to looking great and adding a sense of style to the room, a nice rug helps create a warm and cozy feeling in your home. There’s only one downside to these rugs though: they tend to get dirty very easily and eventually start to look ragged.

It’s true that calling rug cleaning services in South Amboy, NJ can eliminate these ugly stains and preserve the life of your rug. But rug cleaning isn’t always the least expensive service, and it’s certainly not something you want to pay for regularly. The good news is that you can take care of your rug by following some helpful tips. Continue reading to learn some best practices for caring for your rug:

• Vacuum often: Just like with a carpeted room, your area rug should be vacuumed on a regular basis. Vacuuming pulls up dirt and debris, helping to ensure none of it gets ground in and causes permanent staining. Vacuuming also helps stimulate the fibers in the rug, keeping your rug looking fresh and new for years to come.
• Buy the right cleaning products: Going to the store and buying the cheapest rug cleaner will certainly save you a few bucks. However, in doing so, you’re playing with fire! Those products aren’t made for every type of rug, especially precious and expensive ones. Instead, talk to a cleaning professional about which rug cleaner is best for your rugs. Additionally, always test a new cleaner on the corner or a hidden area of your rug before using it to clean the whole thing.
• Use shaving cream: A spilled glass of wine or cup of juice can ruin a rug in the blink of an eye. For that reason, you’ve always got to be vigilant and clean up stains as soon as possible. One of the best ways to treat stains—even if they’re not fresh—is to use shaving cream. Lather your rug with a bit of shaving cream and let it sit on the stain. After a few minutes, remove the shaving cream with a damp rag, and that ugly spot should be gone.
• Try white vinegar: You’ve probably heard this one before, but white vinegar is practically a cure-all when it comes to rug cleaning. It removes stains, odors and even bacteria from rugs and carpeting. Just like with cleaning products, apply a little vinegar on the corner of your rug first to see how your rug reacts to the vinegar.
• Call a professional: Last, but certainly not least, hire an expert to clean your rugs! Professional cleaning will remove all of those nasty stains and give new life to your rugs. On top of that, a professional can clean all of your carpeting, too!

When you need to hire rug cleaning services in South Amboy, NJ, look no further than Lov ‘N Kare Carpet Center. In addition to fast and friendly service, we offer our services for some of the most competitive prices in town. Give us a call today to get a quote or to schedule a cleaning.