The holiday season is a time when people come together, be it on Christmas Day or midnight on New Year’s, and you’re likely hurrying to get your house in order if you’ll be hosting any festivities. But what should you do with your beautiful area rugs? Is it OK to leave them out?
Large and small area rugs make your home more welcoming and often provide a sense of warmth, so we’d recommend leaving them out. You may be nervous because you invested in these rugs and you don’t want them to be damaged or stained by a careless guest. Just for you, we put together some tips to help you make the most of the area rugs in your home — whether you’ll be celebrating in Scottsdale or Scotland — without putting them in harm’s way.
Tip 1: Prevent rugs from slipping across the floor.
While it might make a good story later, let’s prevent your tipsy cousin from losing his footing by ensuring your rugs stay in place. You have several options to keep your rug in place.
- Purchase a non-slip underpad that will attach to the bottom of the rug. Make sure you get the right size. Don’t use rubber or foam pads on laminate, resilient, or hardwood floors, because these pads could discolor the floor. If you aren’t sure what type to get, give us a call and we’ll help you find the right solution.
- Use double-sided carpet tape to attach non-slip rubber shelf liners to the bottom of your rugs. This can work on carpeted floors as well.
- Look for tape designed to stick to your floor and the rug. Just be sure it won’t cause damage.
Tip 2: Keep the wine and food away.
We’re not saying you should hover over your guests to be sure they don’t carry that glass of pinot noir over your rug. You shouldn’t, however, place tables with drinks or drippy foods over your designer area rug. Find another area for these items to avoid common spills.
If wine or food is spilled onto your carpets & rugs, you may be able to remove the stain. Though the best cleaning method varies by rug type and material, you should take care of the spill immediately. For most rugs, lightly blot the spill using a paper towel or cloth, then dilute the area with water and continue blotting until all moisture is removed. Dry the area with a blow dryer on cold or by draping the rug over something. Gently comb the nap in the correct direction so it dries correctly.
Still can’t get the stain out? Talk to our rug cleaners.
Tip 3: Bring out your favorite area rugs.
If you’re thinking about using your good dishes, why not show off your favorite area rugs at the same time? Consider hanging a designer or silk area rug so others can appreciate it fully. If it makes sense for the layout of your home, you can bring rugs from other rooms into the area where guests will mingle. Just be sure it is durable enough to handle foot traffic.
We hope you have a fantastic New Year’s!
