Being a carpet cleaner is no easy task, but with lots of hard work and dedication, you can grow your business. One way to do this is to add additional services, like rug cleaning. Cleaning rugs can be difficult because of the materials they’re made out of and the delicacy of them. It’s important to know the chemical properties of the cleaning products you use to avoid potentially damaging your customer’s rug or carpet.
At Insurance Canopy, we want your business to succeed. Here are some of our favorite tips and tricks for effectively cleaning rugs.
Purchase the Right Cleaning Products
Because rugs are often made of sensitive materials, you’ll want to make sure you have the correct carpet stain remover and equipment. To clean a rug, you will typically need dish soap, rug shampoo, a scrub brush, a garden hose, a large bucket, and a squeegee. Having rubber gloves on hand may also help you to effectively clean rugs so you can protect your hands from any chemicals.
How to Spot Clean
If you see a spot on a customer’s rug, you should clean it immediately. If a spot is not cleaned soon after it has appeared, it will likely turn into a permanent stain. Whether big or small, no one wants a stain on their rug. Spot cleaning is much easier than cleaning an entire rug, so don’t be intimidated.
To spot clean, you’ll first want to remove any solids from the rug. If you’re unsure of how the carpet stain remover you’re using will react with the type of material the rug is made out of, you can pre-test in an inconspicuous area on the rug. If it seems okay, put the cleaning solution on the stain. You don’t want to overwet the rug—too many chemicals can damage the rug. It may take more time than you’d like to clean it, but have patience as you wait for the chemicals to remove the stain. Once you’ve scrubbed the stain, rinse out any chemicals from the rug and dry it thoroughly. If it hasn’t dried within 24 hours, use a fan to finish drying the rug.
How to Clean an Area Rug
Cleaning the entire rug requires a bit more work than spot cleaning. Follow these outlines steps:
- To maintain a clean rug at home for your customer, you’ll want to start out by vacuuming the rug. As with spot cleaning, you will want to test the cleaner of the rug.
- Spray the cleaner all over the rug with a nice light coat. You’ll then work the cleaner into the rug and let it soak for about 20 minutes.
- Next, you’ll rinse the rug with a hose and use a squeegee to remove any excess water. You’ll want to make sure there are no bubbles from the carpet stain remover remaining.
- Lastly, you’ll give the rug enough time to dry on both sides, then vacuum or brush the rug to loosen compacted fibers.
How to Avoid Mildew
As mentioned above, you don’t want to wet the rugs too much because mold or mildew could grow in the fibers of the rug. Make sure that you are not wetting the rugs too much so the fibers have enough time to dry. You don’t want the materials of the rug to be saturated in water or chemicals, so use the right amount of carpet stain remover. If the rug material hasn’t dried within 24 hours, try using a fan to help it finish drying. You’ll also want to vacuum the rug after cleaning to pull the fibers back up and make sure they’re not clumped.
Following these steps can help you avoid damaging your customers’ rugs and allow them to continue to smell fresh after you’ve cleaned them.
Get Carpet Cleaning Insurance
Although you do your best to avoid accidents from happening, they can still occur. If a customer trips on the cords of your carpet cleaner or you damage their carpets, you’ll want to make sure that you have the right insurance policy in place. Insurance provides a financial safety net and protects your company from having to pay thousands of dollars out of pocket. To learn more about carpet cleaning insurance, take a look at Insurance Canopy’s website. You can purchase a policy at the affordable price of $27 per month and receive all the coverage you need.
