How to Clean an Area Rug at the Carwash

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The area rug adds a statement personality to the home. They add comfort and bring a pop of color to the interior of your home. However, it has to be cleaned regularly. Here is an article on how to clean the car area rug at the carwash.

How to Clean an Area Rug at Carwash

Carwash centers have the necessary tools and equipment to clean the area rug. The area rug gets dirty after some time. At the car wash, they clean the area rug efficiently.

Living room area rug

Step 1: Prepping the Rug

Before taking it to the car wash, make sure you have prepped the dirty rug for the wash.

  1. Vacuum the dirt from the area rug. This will clean bug articles of dirt from the area rug.
  2. Use the brush attachment to dust off the dirt from the area rug.
  3. Next, you can lay down the rea rug upside allowing it to get compressed. Sweep it thoroughly from the sides to clean any debris or loose gunk.
  4. Sweeping the area rug removes hair, food, dust particles, and soil residue from the area rug.
  5. It allows you to get the area rug clean efficiently when pressure washed at the car wash. Same goes with pressure washing gutters.

After you sweep it well, take the rug outside and give it a good shake. The heavy debris and dust fall off, cleans the dust accumulated in the inter-woven fabric design.

Step 2: Use Vinegar and Baking Soda for Stains

Have you spilled coffee by mistake? The stain can look shabby on your carpet. Vinegar has acidic nature that dissolves the stains.

  1. Take equal parts baking soda and equal part white vinegar and mix it well. This mixture also works well in cleaning Kilim rugs, your radiator, and safety razors.
  2. Before applying it on all stains, do a patch test.
  3. Spread the mixture over the stain and leave it for 15 minutes.
  4. Scrubb the spot well with a toothbrush; keep scrubbing until the stain comes off.
  5. Next, apply Oxiclean stain remover over the stain.
  6. It is advisable to do a patch test, as OxiClean has strong chemicals that can lead to discoloration of the rug.
Gray and white area rug

Step 3: Packing and Arriving at Car Wash

After the stains and debris have been cleaned, roll the carpet to take it to the nearest car wash.

  1. Roll the carpet and bind it with rope or bungee cords.
  2. The size of the area rug influences the storage option in the car.
  3. If the carpet does not fit inside the trunk, put it over the car head and secure it with ropes.
  4. Take it to the nearest car wash, and we advise you to take the prior appointment so you won’t have to wait in long lines.
  5. Once you arrive at the car wash, clean your workspace and then lay the rug on the floor.

Do not fold the carpet as this can break the design; roll it and then travel with the rug.

Step 4: Washing at Car Wash

Lay the rug on the floor, make sure the floor is clean, and do not have debris. Before using the pressure washer, check for any wax or soap residue on the nozzle.

  1. After you lay the rug on the floor, mark the spot with heavy stains.
  2. Take the sprayer, open it and spray it away from the area rug. Do a test run away from the rug to ensure the pressure of water is in control.
  3. Take the sprayer and point it towards the area rug; keep the wand 0.3meters away from the rug.
  4. Stay at a distance that is neither too close nor too far from the carpet; make sure you have a good hold of the sprayer and the wand.
  5. Spray it over the dusty rug and start rinsing it well.

The grip of the wand is an essential factor, as it makes the cleaning process easier.

However, a loose grip can damage the area carpet. Here is a video guide you can follow to understand better the steps to wash the area rug.

Step 4: Use Baking Soda

To clean the rug thoroughly, you must have a cleaning agent for stains. One of them is baking soda powder.

  1. While visiting the car wash, take baking soda powder along with you.
  2. Sprinkle a handful of baking soda all over the area rug.
  3. Sprinkle or dab it well over the heavy stains. Once applied, leave it for 5 minutes. The baking soda powder has bicarbonate of soda and acid that acts as a raising agent over the stains.
  4. After that, spray water from a pressure washer. Rinse the carpet area well, and you can even use some soap solution to clean the gunk from the carpet.

Keep rinsing until the soap, and baking soda comes off. Check it for any remaining residue, and then repeat the rinsing procedure.

Step 5: Drying

After washing it well, the last step is to dry it well.

  1. Roll up the rug and prop it against the wall or your car.
  2. Leave it in that position for a while; let the extra water drain away.
  3. After rinsing the carpet becomes heavier, call for assistance to carry the rug home.
  4. You can ask the car wash worker to help you put the rug over the car roof, secure it well with the ropes.
  5. Take it home and find a drying spot for the area carpet. Place it over a dirt-free area, and you can use keep a mat or cloth on the ground and put the area rug over it.
  6. Lay in under the sun or keep it under the high-speed fan in a well-ventilated room.
  7. Leave it for a day, so the rug dries thoroughly.
area rug in large entertainment room

Maintenance of Area Rug

Are you using an area rug instead of a carpet? Then you must know some tips and tricks of maintaining it well. After cleaning the carpet, it’s equally important to look out for methods to keep it clean without much hassle.

  • Remove Shoes

This is an absolute classic method to keep your rug clean. Keep the shoes off from the rug, and you are preventing the rug from wear and tear by hard shoe sole. 

It also prevents compression of dirt into the rug; instead of shoes, wear soft furry slippers that won’t cause that much harm to the rug.

  • Shake The Rug

Give a good shake to the area rugs regularly. If the rug is not big enough, take it out and give it a good shake; this will break the debris and dirt build-up. 

Even the large rug can be rolled and taken outside; take a baseball bat or a broom and smack the rug. 

The chunks of debris and dust come off from the carpet. You can do it every weekend to save the time of deep cleaning.

  • Vacuuming Regularly

Vacuuming is the breezy method of maintaining the carpet for the long run. Vacuuming regularly in a systematic way cleans the loose dust and dirt from the carpet.

  • Include Quality Padding

Have you brought a fancy area rug? Then include quality pudding to the rug. This is by far the best method to prevent the rug from wear and tear. In addition, a quality padding underneath enhances the comfort factor and prevents it from slipping away

  • Rotate Them Regularly

Make sure you rotate the once in a while, depending upon the foot traffic. The rug is made to accumulate the dirt; flipping on the other side makes sure to balance the dirt over the area rug.

  • Remove Stains

The stains take away the elegance and attractiveness of the rug. But that doesn’t mean it belongs to trash. Instead, you can remove the stan with some handy stain cleaning tips.

Bedroom area rug

Frequently Asked Questions

How Can I Clean Fleas From the Area Rug?

Baking soda is an effective and efficient method to kill fleas from the carpet. Sprinkle a handful of baking soda over the carpet and leave it overnight or 24 hours; after 24 hours, wash it off with soap and water. You will get disinfected and flea-free carpet with this procedure.

How Often Should an Area Rug Be Cleaned?

It must be cleaned once a year, providing the maintenance is done every week, like vacuuming the rug. If the dust and debris are not swept off once a week, a thorough clean must be done in six months.

Can I Steam Wash the Area Rug?

Yes, the Steam wash is the most effective method to sanitize the area rug. It cleans 99% of the bacteria and loosens the dirt and grime from the carpet.

Conclusion

The area rug enhances the beauty of your home. It gives comfort and warmth to your feet. Unfortunately, the area rug can get filthy for numerous reasons, so we have listed all the possible methods to clean it.

Car wash is the easiest method to get it cleaned; all you need is a little prepping up before reaching for the car wash.