Treat Your Rug Right (NAPSA)—Here’s news you won’t want to sweep under the rug. Thanks to the increase in hard surface flooring, area rugs are more popular than ever. If you’ve purchased a high quality area rug for your home, you may wonder how to protect your investment and maintain its beauty. Rugs may notlive in a vacuum, but they will look a lot better after they’ve been under one. The nonprofit Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) offers these tips for keeping your rugs looking like new: Vacuum rugs on a regular basis. Fringe should be handvacuumed only. When spills occur, scoop or blot up the excess. Then dilute the area with water and blot, don’t rub. Ideally, rugs should be removed from the homeoroffice to be professionally cleaned. Rotate your rugs once a year to ensure even wear. How often should your rug be professionally cleaned? The answer depends on its location in your home. Does it get heavy foot traffic? Are there any pets? To locate an IICRC-Certified Firm specializing in rug cleaning, visit www.certifiedcleaners.org or call (800) 835-4624.
