Can You Use a Carpet Cleaner On a Rug On Hardwood? Find Out The True Answer
The hardwood floor is the most common type of hardwood floors people have in their houses. Often to add some decor to your interior or some warmth to the floors, the area rugs are being placed on the hardwood floor. You can choose from thousands of styles and textures the one, that will fit your design the best and will be within your budget.
The area rugs are easy to change if it doesn’t suit you anymore. When it comes to cleaning the area rugs, this can be quite challenging. You have to know what cleaning solution can you use and what are the correct steps to follow to achieve the best result. In our article, we will guide you through the most common procedure, so your area rug on the hardwood floor is sparkly cleaned.
he cleaning process of the rug area on hardwood floors
It is important to perform a thorough cleaning of the area rug regularly as it accumulates a lot of dust, dirt, and pet hair if you have animals.
You also have to clean an area rug if it has gotten stained.
With stains, the key is to act fast. If you procrastinate, you might have a permanent stain on the area rug, and it will be ruined.
Following the below instructions will ensure your spot cleaning experience is successful and the area rug on the hardwood floor is clean and fresh.
Let’s start with taking a look at the equipment you will need to find for the thorough cleaning of the area rug.
Recommended: How to Clean an Area Rug Without Water
What equipment will you require:
For the cleaning procedure to be efficient, you will have to find the following:
- Some baking soda
- White vinegar
- Reliable carpet shampoo
- A microfiber cloth
- Any carpet stain remover
- A soft bristled tooth brush or any other brush
- A bit of dish soap
- A steam cleaner
- A vacuum cleaner
- Protective gear such as gloves
1. Preparation for the area rug cleaning
You have to make sure you remove everything from the hardwood floor area where you are going to be doing cleaning. Nothing must get in the way. This includes all kinds of furniture as well.
Clean an area rug from large pieces of rubbish, so they aren’t the cause of the cloggage when you are vacuuming. Pick up all the visible dirt pieces manually.
2. Start vacuuming the area rug
Before you start steam cleaning and removing the stains, it is a good idea to eliminate all the loose dirt on the area rugs that get stuck in the rug’s fiber.
The rug pad located on the hardwood floor beneath the area rug will also need your attention. You have to get rid of all the dirt on it as well. The easiest thing to do will be to shake the rug pad outside.
The area rugs have to be vacuumed through the rug fibers. It will help to remove dust and most of the dirt that might be sitting there. You can use a small car vacuum cleaner or a proper machine. Whichever is available to you. The more powerful vacuum cleaners will cope with the task better, though.
3. Spot cleaning stains
Now it is time to overlook the area rug and investigate the surface for the stains. There might be the ones that weren’t visible when you first looked at the area rug. The best thing to do is to respond fast and to start cleaning the stains as soon as they have formed.
If the stain isn’t big, you should lay something underneath the area rug first. It can be anything as long as it is able to protect the hardwood floors from excess water. Use some plastic bag or some old cloth as a waterproof barrier. Find the cleaning solution and apply some onto the stained area using a cloth or a soft-bristled brush.
If you don’t have anything specific for stains like carpet shampoo in your household, you can make the cleaning substance yourself.
Take a deep bowl and add a couple of cups of warm water. Then squeeze some dish soap into the bowl as well and stir. Apply the solution directly onto the stain.
Rub it in and leave for a few minutes.
Use a clean cloth and wipe the remaining solution off the area rug. If this hasn’t worked, and you are dealing with stubborn stains, you must try another recipe.
Prepare the same solution as described above.
Just this time round, add some peroxide or white vinegar to it. It tends to penetrate the rug fibers better, resulting in a stain-removal finish. It is important to perform a test on the dark-colored area rugs first, as peroxide can cause discoloration.
4. Fighting the odors of the rug area
The nature of stains can be different. Pet stains and food stains often leave an unpleasant smell on your area rug. The most efficient will be to lay baking soda over the stain and wait for a few hours for it to start working. If the smell is strong, rubbing baking soda into the rug’s fibers might work better.
5. Vacuuming the area rug again
Clean an area rug using an upright vacuum. You have to move it forward and back a few times to achieve the pristine result. The hardwood floors underneath the area rug have to be vacuumed as well. Roll the entire rug and put it aside until you clean the hardwood floors. Then you can return the area rug to its place.
6. Protecting the hardwood floors
Before placing the area rug back for further cleaning, it is necessary to lay something over the wood floors to avoid them being damaged by too much water and cleaning solutions. Usually, the plastic sheet is enough to not allow water to sip through onto the wood floors.
7. Carpet cleaning with a steam cleaner
For the area rug that has severely stained spots, it is best to steam clean them. If you own one, that will be easier for you as it is always available.
For those who don’t have a steam cleaning machine, you can find one for rent at the nearest hardware store. They aren’t expensive, but the result of deep cleaning the stubborn stains will surprise you.
The first thing to bear in mind when steam cleaning, it is absolutely safe for an area rug but might destroy the hardwood flooring.
So, before starting you have to make sure you relocate the area rug onto the safe surface such as tiles. If you don’t have such areas, make sure you place something between an area rug and the wood floor to protect the latter.
8. Drying the area rug
Before walking on the area rug, you have to make sure it is completely dry. If you can place it outside under the sun, it will speed things up.
Alternatively, open the windows and the doors around the house to help the air dry the area rug on a hardwood floor faster after steam cleaning. It might take up to a couple of days for an area rug to become fully dry, so you can use it again.
How can you remove the large stains from an area rug on hardwood floor?
Larger stains require a lot of effort to remove completely. The key is to act fast, then your chances of removing them fully are very high.
1. Protecting the wood floor
Always place some protection between the rug and the wood floor before carpet cleaning. It can be a plastic bag or some other material as long as it can withstand water.
2. Working with stains
You can add baking soda right on top of the stains. After waiting for some time, you can clean stains using some mild detergent or carpet shampooer.
Make sure you apply a thin layer of the solution. Remove loose dirt and the pet hair with a damp cloth. Professional detergents also remove odors.
3. Drying process
Before allowing any foot traffic on the rug again, you have to dry it first. If you can hang the rug outside, that will be great. Otherwise, leave it in a well-ventilated area for a couple of days and turn the ceiling fans on. Ensure both the rug and the floor are dry before moving on to the next step.
4. Vacuuming
To lift the fibers of your rug, you should vacuum it when the rug is completely dry.
Tips and tricks to clean an area rug on hardwood floors
Below are the useful tips you can follow, so you achieve the best results when you have to clean an area rug.
- The right thing to consider when selecting the way you are going to clean an area rug is looking at the carpet fibers. If your rug on a hardwood floor has long fibers, it is best you steam clean it. The wood floor will have to be either protected, or you move the rug onto another surface.
- When using a brush to clean an area rug on a hardwood floor, you have to check the bristles first. If the bristles will be hard, they might ruin the fibers and the area rug won’t look the same anymore.
- Always read the label attached to the rug, as some of them can’t be cleaned with carpet shampoos. If this is the case, you have to use a carpet steamer for the deep clean.
FAQs
Is it safe to shampoo an area rug on hardwood floor?
It is not always safe for the rug itself, You have to read the tag attached to the carpet first. If it says you can’t use chemicals on the rug surface, steam cleaners will be your option.
The cleaning agents might be harmful to the wood floor, hence always cover it with some plastic material to create a waterproof barrier.
Can I clean a rug on a hardwood floor?
The deeper cleaning process can be performed on a wooden surface, but you have to cover the floor with something as a waterproof barrier first. Warm water and cleaning agents can be harmful to the wood floor and cause its deterioration.
Is it OK to use a carpet cleaner on a rug?
You can deep clean some rugs only using a steam cleaning machine. That applies to the light-colored rug as well. The affected area has to be vacuumed first, and the stains can be treated with baking soda before using the machine. Clean the remnants with a damp cloth and proceed with steam cleaning the rug.
Can I use a Bissell carpet cleaner on hardwood floor?
You can use the Bissell carpet cleaner on the hardwood floor. You just have to select the appropriate mode on the device and you are good to go. If you are scared to clean the rug on hardwood surfaces, you can call a professional cleaner.
How can I freshen an area rug on hardwood floor?
Baking soda is one of the cheapest and most efficient ways of making the rug clean and freshened. It will also absorb odors well, so if the stain has a bad smell as well, it will get rid of it.
Simply layer baking soda over the area rug and leave for a few hours. Proceed with vacuuming the carpet afterward to remove any remnants.
Conclusion
Now you know that you can use a carpet cleaner on an area rug on a hardwood floor. You just have to consider a few moments and follow the detailed instructions pictured above. Remember that the faster you respond, the better the result will be. Tough stains are easier to remove if you try as soon as they have appeared.
You can use professional cleaning products, steam mop, or make your homemade cleaning solution. The floor underneath the rug always has to be protected with a plastic tarp. If this information is helpful, please share the article with your friends. If you have any questions, contact us in the comment section below.
Read also our guide: Oxi Fresh Carpet Cleaning vs. Steam Cleaning: Honest Comparison
Hi, I’m Anna Jeffery, an experienced author and cleaning expert. I strive to share my knowledge with everyone by writing useful guides and tips to keep their living and working spaces clean and healthy. I believe everyone deserves to live in a clean and organized environment, and I take pride in knowing that my articles are helping people achieve that goal. Stay tuned for practical and useful cleaning tips!
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