Gaby
A bright rug and soft furniture usually enhance an apartment’s decor, creating a cozy atmosphere. But they also come with their fair share of challenges, as dust quickly accumulates in the rug’s fibers and on the upholstery, leading to stains and dirt. In short, cleaning is essential.
For the first six months, a new rug should only be cleaned with a soft brush or a special broom. Only after the fibers have settled can you use a vacuum cleaner. Remember: always clean the rug in the direction of the fibers, not against them.
In winter, lay the rug on clean snow with the fibers facing down, beat it with a broom, flip it over, and sweep off the dry snow several times.
You can restore the vibrancy of the colors by wiping the rug with a cloth dampened in vinegar.
To remove greasy stains from the rug, use a mixture of gasoline and potato or corn starch. Rub this paste into the stain, and once the gasoline evaporates, brush off the starch with a dry brush.
Ink stains are trickier to remove. While the stain is still fresh, immediately blot it with paper, a cloth, or cotton to prevent the ink from soaking deeper into the rug. Such stains can be treated with milk, lemon juice, or a strong vinegar solution.
Stains from beer, cocoa, or tea can be removed with cold water mixed with glycerin (one teaspoon per liter of water).
There are plenty of specialized carpet care products available. For instance, there are shampoos that clean, wash, soften the fibers, add shine, and refresh the colors. Other effective cleaning agents are also available for carpets and upholstered furniture.
Soft furniture and rugs can also be refreshed using synthetic cleaning agents. A warm, foamy solution applied to the rug should be scrubbed with a brush dampened in clean water, then thoroughly blotted with a dry cloth.
For velvet or plush upholstery, dust should be wiped daily with a clean, dry cloth in the direction of the fibers, while brushing or vacuuming should be done no more than once a week. Leather or faux leather furniture should be wiped with a soft, damp cloth.
You can also dust soft furniture by covering the chair or sofa with a clean, damp cloth and beating it with a special stick. Of course, it’s best to open a window during this process. When the cloth gets dirty, rinse it out.
Polished furniture should ideally be dusted daily. Once a week, treat it with special polishing products. These products refresh, add shine, and provide water-repellent properties to polished wooden surfaces.
A mark from a hot cup or glass can be removed from polished furniture using ash from a cigarette, which is sprinkled on the stain and rubbed with a cork. Alternatively, you can tie salt in a cloth, dampen it with a mixture of denatured alcohol and linseed oil, polish until shiny, and then wipe with a wool cloth.
Some homeowners remove rugs during the summer to make cleaning easier. Before storing a rug, it should be cleaned, dried, treated with a liquid moth repellent, tightly rolled up, wrapped in paper, and placed in a dry location.
