Interior Decorating Ideas

When you realize that your wood flooring is just not as cozy as wall to wall carpeting, you start to consider some options.  Carpeting over that beautiful floor is not one of them.  So, what choices do you have, whether you've got wood or tile floors, when it comes to softening them up?  The answer is with area rugs.  These rugs come in a variety of shapes, oval, rectangular, circular.  They also come in a variety of patterns and colors.  What was once only available as a wool rug is now available in other materials as well.  Wool makes for a great choice, however, as it is often a more durable and hardy material.  It has natural antimicrobial properties that make it nice for a place where your feet or your furry one's paws will be.

However, wool is not for everyone.  If you happen to be looking for a braided rug for an outdoor area, then you will probably find that a polypropylene material is your best choice.  This is a derivative of plastic and has better moisture-wicking properties, as far as rugs are concerned.  The last thing you want is for your rug to get wet, mildew and then rot.  While wool is resistant to some of these factors as well, it doesn't make the best outdoor rug choice. The technology that makes the rugs braided, allows the braid to be much tighter and stronger than in the past.  You should find that such a rug is able to last for quite some time.

There are many different types of rugs that you can use throughout the home to both protect the floors and to add impressive accent features to the room. They are both a functional and decorative piece that performs a solid job in making the home appear comfortable and welcoming.

Most area rugs in the home can be either vacuumed or beaten out to get them clean.  Some of the newer materials also allow for machine washing.  This makes cleaning your rugs much quicker and easier.  Of course, if you have outdoor rugs in mind, you’ll be able to simply hose them down to clean them.

If you are thinking about buying a leather area rug you may be wondering about any special cleaning requirements these rugs have. In many ways it depends on the type of rug you have purchased how you will care for it. Some are tougher than others but, for the most part, these rugs are relatively problem free as long as you look after them well. Here are some tips on how you might go about cleaning a couple of different types of leather rugs.

Cleaning Patchwork Leather Rugs

Rugs made up of pieces of leather are generally the toughest kind and will be very durable. They can even be buffed back to a shine with shoe polish and treated much like a leather handbag. You should only ever give them a gentle vacuuming however to remove surface dust and use the upholstery tool which is more gentle on your rug than the usual tool you use to clean carpets.

Cleaning Shag Rugs Made of Leather

Leather shag rugs are a slightly different kettle of fish. They are made of strips of leather which are firmly knotted to a backing material. The main problem with these is that dirt and dust gets lodged between the strips of leather and can cause your rug to wear and to look grubby if not properly cleaned. The easiest way to clean this type of rug is to pick it up and give it a good shake although this can be a bit difficult with a very large rug and you might need assistance. Failing this, use your vacuum cleaner as above but it will probably not be as effective at removing grit and grime.

Dealing with Spills and Stains

If you spill anything on your rug, mop it up immediately and dab at the stain with a soft cloth wrung out in warm water with perhaps a little mild detergent added if necessary. If you are not able to remove the stain like this then consult a specialist carpet cleaning company who should be able to resolve the problem.