Mark & Day products are known for its high-quality and resilience. With your newly purchased area rug, read these guidelines on how to prolong the quality of your rug.
RUG CARE INSTRUCTIONS
How Do I Clean My Rug?
Area rugs are one of the easiest ways to renew the style of your home without spending excessively.
Understanding Your Rug
All rugs are differently made. Some are handmade items by skilled artisans or produced in a specialty manufacturing facility - where they are thoroughly checked before shipment.
The following are seven simple facts that will help you to understand your rug and extend its life.
RUG CARE TIPS AND SOLUTIONS
Shedding
Shedding is not considered a defect in a rug. All wool rugs will shed. Shedding will subside over time, depending on traffic and wear. Rugs shed more when new, and the shedding lessens with time. It typically takes 20-25 vacuums, at a minimum, to curtail shedding. Some will shed for the lifetime of the rug.
Creases
If your rug has been rolled or folded for shipping, it may include creases. Creases should disappear within a week or two when the rug is laid out flat. Try to reverse rolling the rug overnight will help.
Sprouts
Loose fibers, or sprouts, are a normal part of the break-in process of handmade rugs. To remove sprouts, use a small pair of scissors to snip them off even with the pile. Do not pull the fiber out, as this can cause a deterioration of the backing material.
Odor
Odors are caused by dyes, yarns, and shipping for long distances in sealed wrap. Most odors dissipate within a week once the rug is removed from the shipping wrap.
Fading
If exposed to direct sunlight, rug colors typically fade over time, even if they are fade resistant.
Wear
As a general rule, rugs of all materials and constructions should be rotated every 3-6 months to balance color and evenly distribute wear.If exposed to direct sunlight, rug colors typically fade over time, even if they are fade resistant.
MAINTENANCE OF YOUR RUG
In addition to enhancing appearance, Proper care and maintenance will ensure that your product remains beautiful for years to come.
Add Cushion
Besides making rugs extra squishy and preventing them from slipping about, a rug pad acts as a buffer between the rug and the floor that will keep it from wearing through as quickly. Choose a thin foam one for rugs with a longer pile, or a super cushy felt one for thin rugs. To lengthen the life of your rug, we recommend that every rug has a pad.
Rotate your Rugs
If your rug is in a high-traffic location, such as between two sofas or right where you hop out of bed, we recommend to rotate it periodically so that the wear pattern distributes. And if you have enough rugs, move them around the house occasionally. We suggest to do it at least every 3-6 months to avoid uneven wear and fading.
Hang and Beat the Rug
We recommend that once a year, hang your rug up and beat the dust out of it. If you gently vacuum the rug often, you can delay this. But when you finally get to that point, it would be wise to do it outside. Use a rug beater, designed just for this task, or the clean end of a broom.
How to Vacuum Your Rug?
- Canister vacuums without beater bars are the optimal type of vacuum to use on rugs. Brooms and manual sweepers are also a gentle and effective way to clean rugs.
- Many of today’s upright vacuums are super high powered. The high suction can pull out the threads from the back of a rug and cause “sprouts.” Use the handheld attachment to vacuum your area rug, whenever possible.
- If you choose not to (or are unable to use) the handheld attachment on your upright vacuum, make sure to turn off the vacuum’s beater bar, as it can pull fibers from the face of the rug and cause the rug to fuzz.
- If the beater bar cannot be turned off, set it on the highest position possible before vacuuming. Then, carefully place the vacuum on the rug. If the rug has serged (finished) edges, refrain from continuously running the vacuum over the edges, as this will loosen fibers around the edges and cause them to deteriorate.
- Avoid running the vacuum over the fringes at the ends of the rug, as fraying may occur. Use the handheld attachment to clean the fringes or Sweep the fringe areas with a broom instead.
- If a rug is reversible, make sure to vacuum both sides. This will remove grit and grime that can prematurely wear out your rug.
How to Clean Spills in Your Rug?
- Clean spills immediately. Once a stain is set, it becomes much more difficult to clean.
- Never rub a spill, as this forces the spill to sit deeper into the rug. Instead, blot the stain gently with a clean white cloth.
- For wool rugs, use lukewarm water to remove any residual stain, as wool is more prone to bleeding and staining compare to synthetic fibers.
- Always use clean water to remove any residual cleaner, and clean dry towels to absorb any remaining moisture.
SPECIAL CLEANING GUIDELINES
Professional Cleaning for Your Handmade Rug
- Always use a professional area rug cleaning expert. Cleaning a handmade rug requires a process different from cleaning wall-to-wall carpet.
- Inspect the rug with a rug cleaning expert before cleaning. Get a signed receipt and guarantee of work before the work is performed.
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.
What Are The Methods Of Cleaning For Washable Rugs?
Here is the official rug care instructions for our washable rugs;
- MACHINE WASH COOL: 30˚C/ 80˚F MAX
- DO NOT USE DETERGENT
- LINE DRY/ HANG TO DRY LAY
- FLAT TO DRY
For routine cleaning, sweeping your rug with a broom or carpet sweeper on a weekly basis is highly recommended and is the least damaging way to clean your rug.
If your vacuum has a beater bar, it should be turned off or set on the highest setting. Powerful bagless vacuums are not recommended and can cause damage to your rug. For further cleaning you can machine wash your rug. Your rug should be the only item in the drum and arranged evenly. Do not use detergent. Wash on the highest water setting then hang the rug on a clothesline or over the back of a chair to dry. Keep rug away from direct sunlight to avoid natural bleaching.
For large rugs or those that easily stretch, place it on a flat surface to dry, Flip it every few hours for a quick and even dry that prevents growth of mold and mildew. A Mark&Day rug pad is highly recommended to extend the life of your rug.
How Should I Clean My Viscose Rug?
First you should know that your viscose rugs are imitate the look and texture of silk at a lower price. It is biodegradable with a soft appearance and has a silky feel with lustrous sheen. It is not recommended for high traffic areas due to high shedding since non-resilient fibers can mat and make stains difficult to clean. So, never clean these rugs with water or any other liquid!
How Should I Clean My Rug Pad?
Luxury Grip
- Apply a spot treatment of a mild gentle detergent and water solution. For a higher level of sanitation, call a professional cleaning service.
- Machine washing is not recommended. Rotate Rug Pad every three months.
Premium Felted Pad
- Apply a spot treatment of a mild gentle detergent and water solution. For a higher level of sanitation, call a professional cleaning service.
- Machine washing is not recommended.
- Rotate rug pad every three months.
- Please note that felt pads may need extra blotting and spot treatment, but rubber memory foam pads are water resistant and can be wiped clean with a paper towel.
Outdoor Pads
- Apply a spot treatment of a mild gentle detergent and water solution. For a higher level of sanitation, call a professional cleaning service.
- Machine washing is not recommended.
- Designed for both wet and dry applications.
- Rotate rug pad every three months.
HOW TO STORAGE YOUR RUG
Your rug is much more vulnerable to damage when it’s in storage than in day-to-day use.
Protect the rug from moths and other insects
Moths prefer laying their larvae in tightly rolled rugs. Apply an insect and moth repellent that is specially designed for fabrics.
Never fold a rug or carpet
Poorly folded rugs can develop cracked foundations. To determine which way to roll your rug, decide which is more fragile: the back of the rug or the pile where the fibers are. In general, the pile is more delicate, meaning you should roll your rug with the pile facing inward. Make sure to roll it as straight as possible.
Wrap the rug in a protective fabric
Wrap your carpet in a breathable fabric like a cotton sheet or muslin to keep it protected. If you want expert-level protection, consider wrapping your rug in a polyurethane rug wrap. These rug wraps are designed to provide a superior barrier against dampness and insects and will be more effective than muslin. Do not use plastic to wrap your rug, since it will keep it from breathing.
Store the rug off the ground in a cool, dry environment
Basements are likely to be damp and poorly ventilated, encouraging mildew and rot. Use a fan or dehumidifier to avoid mildew problems.
Unroll and check the rug for signs of damage every few months
To be safe, we also suggest unrolling your rug once a month to make sure there is no evidence of bug infestation. Also, vacuum the area and the rug itself to eliminate any insect-attracting dust.
RUG MATERIALS & COLOR VARIATIONS
Materials
While Mark&Day uses the highest quality materials in all products, some materials are more delicate and require special care. For example, while viscose lends a high sheen, luster, and softness to a rug, it is a material made of wood pulp that is broken down and formed into fibers.
These fibers are much more delicate than wool and not advised for high-traffic areas. Also, special care must be taken when cleaning. Please see more details on cleaning your viscose rug in the Special Cleaning Guideline section below.
Color Variations
- No two rugs are the same. Slight color variations are common for handmade rugs, as dye lots may change over some time.
- Actual colors may vary. Since every computer monitor has a different capability to display colors and that everyone sees these colors differently. We try to edit our photos to show the samples as life-like as possible, but please understand the actual color may vary slightly from your monitor. We cannot guarantee that the color you see accurately portrays the true color of the product.
