How To Care For Outdoor Rugs

       Our outdoor spaces are living spaces that are as important to us as our interior spaces. That's why we search for information to design these areas beautifully. This article will share a few tips on outdoor rug care.

       We are always searching for a great option to improve our outdoor decorations. We want these places to be inviting spaces. When spring comes, we realize it is time to renew our outdoor living spaces again, orderly and beautifully.

       The best way to make an outdoor area like porch and deck as warm and inviting as indoor areas is to complete the decoration of these areas with an outdoor rug.

So, What Is An Outdoor Rug?

       An outdoor rug is a decoration product used to create a warm and friendly atmosphere outdoors, and also to protect the outdoor floor against climatic conditions such as rain, sun, humidity, and snow.

       The materials of the back surface of an outdoor rug are as important as the front. Because, yes, there are some indoor rugs and they are suitable for both indoor and outdoor use. However, outdoor rugs with special features for these areas are generally used and should be used outdoors. Already, manufacturers are producing outdoor rugs according to outdoor space conditions.

       It means that if your indoor rug is not suitable for indoor outdoor use, you should not use it as an outdoor rug to save money. Otherwise, instead of saving money, your indoor rug will wear out more quickly outdoors, which means the cost of buying a new rug. 

       Therefore, here are some strikingly elegant and high-end outdoor rugs we suggest: 

Marum Bohemian/Global Navy Area Rug

 

Marum Bohemian/Global Navy Area Rug

       So, in the long term, it would be wiser in terms of savings to buy an outdoor rug made only for outdoor use.

       Remember, if you think you don't need an outdoor rug, you're wrong. Because a porch is not complete with only outdoor furniture in terms of decoration.

       Before answering the question How to care for outdoor rugs, it would be more useful to examine the types of outdoor rugs. So we can get an idea of how they should be maintained

• Polyester
• jute
• Sisal
• olefin
• nylon
• Polypropylene

       These materials are outdoor rug materials suitable for outdoor use. So, as you can see from these materials, rugs made of natural materials are not suitable for outdoor use.

       If your rug does not have a slide backing then you will use a rug pad and the rug pad should be made of synthetic materials like these.

       The most suitable materials for rugs produced for outdoor areas are Polypropylene and olefin. The characteristic and protective features of these materials are that they are resistant to UV lights, do not stain, or resistant to stains, and are easy to clean.

       Jute is also a preferred fabrication material for outdoor rugs, but if you live in a humid climate, a patio rug made from this natural material may not be the best choice for you, as the humidity resistance of this material is quite low. Even when wet, it requires demanding cleaning and maintenance processes.

       However, if your porch or patio is protected so that it will not be affected by climatic conditions, you can easily choose such a jute outdoor rug.

       In the light of all this information, you should first decide in which area you will use your outdoor rug. This decision will help you choose a rug made of what material. For example, a jute patio rug would not be suitable for an open outdoor area. Because it is not resistant to rain, therefore humidity and wetness. So, you should pay attention to this issue before choosing a new rug for the outdoors.

       As wooden outdoor floors are exposed to sunlight for long periods, their finish will wear off, and their color will fade over time. In order for this fading to be homogeneous and balanced, the placement of the rug should be changed frequently so that the color of the floor changes evenly throughout.

       In addition, the location of outdoor furniture should be changed frequently. Furniture's legs and feet cause crushes on the floor and rug. In this way, damage to the floor and rug is prevented in the long term.

       Moreover, if this is not done, the humidity that occurs under the feet of the furniture can lead to mold and other water-related problems over time. What's more, the wood floor can rot.

       Rotting in a single, small area of ​​a wood floor can result in a large flooring expense.

       Dirt and bugs are the things we see outdoors and accept as natural. But that doesn't mean we don't have to accept them and clean-up to fix this situation. In other words, cleaning outdoors as well as indoors is important in terms of health, hygiene and order.

       In addition, cleanliness is of great importance for the longevity of the furniture and rug we use in this space.

       In order to prolong the life of an outdoor rug, the first condition is to clean it, the second condition is to use methods and materials that will not damage the rug while cleaning, and the last condition is to regularly ventilate it and store it properly when the time comes.

       So what are the methods of cleaning an outdoor rug:

       Shaking: If the rug is not too large, you can shake it yourself by holding the edges. If it's too large for you to carry and hold, then you can hit it a few times with the help of a broom or stick, placing it on your fence if you have it, or hanging it on a rope if it's not.

       In the first step of this cleaning, you will purify your rug from general dust and dirt.

       Vacuuming: Then you should lay the rug on the ground and vacuum both the top and bottom. But before this process, you need to vacuum the floor where you will lay the rug. Otherwise, all the dust and dirt on the floor will make the rug's surfaces dirty again. You can do this with a vacuum cleaner that you use indoors.

       If you wish, you can shake your rug again to get rid of the dust left after vacuuming with this vacuum cleaner. So, your rug will be ready to move on to the next stage.

       Clean dried stains: Before proceeding to the washing step, you should focus on the stains. Focusing on these will make the washing step easier and faster. Get help from a sponge or cloth for this. Mix mild detergent or rug cleaner with water and get a mixture. Dip a sponge or cloth into this mixture. Then wipe the stained areas gently and softly. Rinse the sponge or cloth each time before repeating the process. After the stains are clear, rinse your rug and let it dry.

       Washing: Before washing your rug, be sure to read the care instructions label. Outdoor spaces are high traffic areas in spring and summer. High traffic area means a lot of stains and dirt. If it is stated in the care instructions that they are washable, your rug is ready for washing.

       First thing you need to do before the washing step is move your dining table and chairs you use in your outdoor space to another space. Because water can damage these furniture and cause rot. Your garden hose will be your biggest helper in this step.

       Make sure the hose is long enough, if not, buy a hose of sufficient length. Maybe your neighbor has such a hose. If you have a sloping concrete floor outside your house, this will make your work easier for the washing phase. Because water will run off easily. Do not wash your rug on soil or grass. Otherwise you will never be able to remove the dirt and dust and you can damage the soil and the plants on it.

       Make sure your rug hose is wet all over your rug. Then, put baking soda and mild detergent into a sufficient amount of water and mix. A mixture with baking soda will help you achieve very satisfactory results in rug cleaning. Pour this mixture evenly all over your rug and scrub it with a soft brush.

       Don't rinse your rug right away. Let it sit for at least ten minutes while it is on this soapy and detergent mixture. Rinse your rug thoroughly afterward. If the rinse water is draining dirty from it, then scrub once more with soapy water. Once you are sure it is clean, rinse your rug again and finally with plenty of water. Instead of hanging dry, you can dry your rug by laying it on the floor.

1. Can outdoor rugs be left in the rain?

       Of course, outdoor rugs aren't just exposed to dirt, dust and stains. Perhaps more important and annoying than these are mold and mildew. These not only cause the rug to become dirty, but also cause it to be dangerous for health and to growth bacteria.

       There are two climatic conditions and weather events that cause mold and mildew formation. The first is very humid climatic conditions. The second is rain, which we can encounter in all climate types. At this point, the materials from which outdoor rugs are produced gain importance. That is, depending on the materials they are produced from, outdoor rugs can cause mold and mildew formation.

       At this point, if you live in a location with a rainy and humid climate, then you should definitely not choose an outdoor rug made of jute. Because jute is a natural fiber, it has a structure that will cause bacteria and mold formation immediately. Rugs made of synthetic and other polyester fibers are safer in this respect. However, it should be noted that when these rugs get wet due to rain, the ground underneath will remain wet and will not dry out easily.

       The floor, which is exposed to this wetness for long periods, may cause mold and bacteria formation over time. That's why it's important to dry damp rugs and floors immediately.

2. How do you keep outdoor rugs from molding?

       The best way to do this, if even a small area of the rug gets wet, is to dry that area immediately. If the wetness is not excessive, you can dry this wetness with the help of a towel made of natural fiber. You should lay the towel on the wet area and wait for a few hours until the water is absorbed. Evaporation in the air will take care of the rest.

       If the rug has been heavily exposed to water or rain, then on a sunny or at least not rainy day lay the rug on your fence or on a rope.

3. How do I care for my outdoor rug?

       The best way to care for your outdoor rug is to clean it regularly and keep it dry. As soon as the stains appear, you should clean them. Otherwise, you will have to remove the stains by applying harsher methods during the washing process. This will cause damage to your rug.

       When your rug gets wet, you should dry it without waiting, using the methods we mentioned above. Because when there is mold, even if you clean the fungi and bacteria, there may be stains that you cannot clean.

4. How do you protect outdoor rugs from rain?

       There are two answers to this question, and these solutions change with the seasons. To protect your outdoor rug from rain in the summer, you can cover your patio, porch or deck with an awning or wooden roof. This will protect not only your outdoor rug, but also your outdoor furniture, and even you from the sun and rain.

       Rain and sun are not only harmful to your rug, but also to you and your furniture.

5. What happens if outdoor rugs get wet?

       You should not forget that mold and mildew will form when outdoor rugs are wet and exposed to wetness for a long time. That is why they must be immediately dried by the methods we mentioned.

6. Mark & Day Outdoor Rugs

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