Before and After Modernistic!
At Modernistic, when we say we’ll get it clean, we mean it! You may have to reconsider the 5-second rule after you see these 22 before and after photos.
Tips For How to Care for a Shag Rug
Posted Monday, November 21st, 2016
Do you know how to care for a shag rug?
Shag rugs are in this year, and it’s easy to see why Sterling Heights residents love them. Soft underfoot, warm, and available in natural, long-lasting fibers like wool, they are a clear winner in home décor. Still, for all their appealing features, shag rugs are not easy to clean. Here are a few ideas to help you care for a shag rug.
Have you chosen the right rug for the right space?
The long fibers of a shag rug will collect more dirt than other types of carpeting. If it is plush enough, it will also swallow LEGOs, crumbs, dirt, small leaves, and any other thing your pets and children might leave behind. It’s important to choose the right rug for the right space. Shag rugs are not always the best choice for high traffic areas, like the dining room or playroom. It’s harder to keep a Flokati rug clean when it’s laying under your table, than when it is in the bedroom.
Vacuum the back of the rug.
There’s a special trick to vacuuming shag rugs. First, roll your rug and unroll it upside down. Then use your vacuum as normal on the back side of the rug. This will suck out dust and dander, and the beater will loosen dirt caught in the fibers of the carpet. Roll the rug back up again. While the rug is rolled up, run the vacuum over the floor sucking up all the dirt that fell out of the carpet. Finally, unroll the rug right side up.
Vacuum the front of the rug with the upholstery attachment.
Shag rugs can snarl on the vacuum’s rotating brush, or begin to “blossom,” which means that the individual strands of fiber fray and untwist. The beater brush will quickly damage the rug, aging and loosening the fibers. Switch to an attachment with a soft brush head – the type designed for drapes and upholstery. Because it uses only suction, it is gentle on the carpet fibers, while the bristles loosen debris caught on the strands.
Soak up as much of a spill as you can right away.
You should soak up spills and spots with a soft white rag or towel as quickly as possible on any kind of rug, but especially on shag rugs. The depth of the carpet ply makes a shag rug like a sponge, and once that wine has really soaked in it’s hard to get out. Take your time, and really try to blot out every last bit of moisture.
Treating individual spots with care.
Once you’ve soaked up as much of a spill as possible, you can treat spots on a shag rug. However, use extra care in picking the correct cleaner. Because of how dense the ply is, too much water on a shag rug will take a long time to dry. A damp rug is breeding ground for mold and mildew, which can cause allergies and respiratory issues. Try misting the stain with a vinegar and water solution, allowing it to sit for a few minutes, and then wiping with an absorbent cloth. This should lighten stains and not overly saturate the rug.
When should you take a shag rug to be professionally cleaned?
How often you take your rug to be cleaned by a professional will depend on several variables. A rug in a sitting room will likely need cleaning more often than one in the guest room. And if you have children and pets you may need to take rugs more often still. A good cleaning company will have the right equipment to deal with the most delicate and expensive shag rugs, using specialized cleaning solutions, and a labor intensive washing and brushing process.
This kind of cleaning is impossible to DIY at home. However, to extend the life of your rug, and keep it sanitary, professional cleaning is a worthwhile investment. We know that taking every necessary step to care for a shag rug is a big job. When you are ready to trust your rug to the experts, contact us at Modernistic.
Serving Sterling Heights, MI for 40 years.
How to Care for Your Sheepskin Rug
Posted Wednesday, October 5th, 2016
Lake Orion Decorators’ Tips for Keeping Sheepskin Rugs Clean
Sheepskin is gorgeous, soft underfoot, hypoallergenic, and, thanks to the lanolin in the wool, naturally antibacterial and dirt repellent. Still, despite its superior grime resistance, you will still need to clean it occasionally. Many Michiganders are attracted to the look of sheepskin without knowing how to care for it. They grow frustrated when an expensive rug starts to look dirty and matted. Follow these pro tips to care for your sheepskin rug and keep it looking lovely.
Check the tag
You can’t clean every sheepskin at home, so check for a ‘Dry Clean Only’ tag. Even in the absence of a tag, you should never immerse a dyed sheepskin in water. Finally, be sure your sheepskin is a genuine, as you will need to treat artificial fur differently.
Gently Remove Dirt
Begin cleaning your rug by shaking out any dirt, followed by vacuuming the wool with a brush attachment. Do not run your vacuum over the rug, as this could damage both the rug and the machine. After vacuuming, brush the wool with a special sheepskin carding brush, which will remove anything trapped in tangled fibers.
Wash with Sheepskin Shampoo
If your sheepskin is small enough and machine washable, wash it on the delicate cycle with cold water with sheepskin shampoo. Never use traditional detergents on sheepskin, as the enzymes can damage the wool and destroy the leather backing. If it your rug is too large to put in the washer, lightly spray the rug with a combination of lukewarm water and diluted sheepskin shampoo, then wipe clean with an absorbent towel.
Dry Away from Heat
Heat will harden the leather backing of the rug, and direct sunlight can yellow the wool. Instead, spread your wet sheepskin outside on a windy, overcast day, or let it dry indoors. Never put sheepskin in the dryer. While it dries, stretch and massage the leather so that it remains supple.
Brush the Wool
To get that fluffy, like-new appearance, brush rug once it’s dry with a sheepskin brush. Don’t worry if the wool appears curly after a washing. This is its natural state, and your brushing will bring back the appearance you’re familiar with.
Too Big? Not Machine Washable?
Sometimes your beautiful rugs should be cleaned by professionals. Don’t take any chances with rugs that are too large to fit in your machine, older rugs that may be in more delicate condition, or ones with a ‘Dry Clean Only’ label. With Modernistic’s customized rug care, your delicate sheepskin will get the individual attention it needs to stay a showstopper for years. Contact us today to schedule an appointment.
Your area rug needs some specialty cleaning
Posted Thursday, September 1st, 2016
Hey Birmingham: we can help you with your area rugs.
When most people think about carpet cleaning, they think of wall-to-wall services. Often times, area rugs get overlooked. You move them aside when you clean the rest of the floor, or maybe give them a good vacuum. Sometimes you even take them outside on occasion to beat dust out. And many owners haven’t given their rugs a thorough cleaning because they don’t know where to start. But it’s true: your area rug needs some specialty cleaning. Here’s why.
Can you clean your area rug like you clean your carpet?
Well, maybe. While steam cleaning is appropriate for wall-to-wall carpeting, the same approach won’t always work for your area rugs. In-home steam cleaning is sometimes appropriate for rugs made of synthetic fibers, and even then you may not remove all odors. And because area rugs are often made of specialty materials (animal hide, wool, or other natural fibers), even spot cleaning them can cause damage. While you might tentatively try a club soda and water solution, even that you must treat with extreme caution. Area rugs often use rich dyes, meaning they’re more likely to bleed or discolor.
Trust your area rug with a professional
Every rug is a custom job. Their treatment will depend on their fibers and weave. At Modernistic, we carefully inspect each carpet to determine pre-treatment. Then we dust them and clean them with eco-friendly agents to remove any damage from smoke, floods, pets, or anything else. We spin them to remove any excess cleaning agent, and then fully immerse them in our 1200-gallon tub. Then we rinse them, spin them, and then hang them to dry. We don’t use any heat in our drying process.
After all of this, we comb and groom the rug to be sure the fibers don’t tangle into clumps or knots and restore lift and softness.
So if you haven’t had your rugs cleaned in a while, be in touch. We will be sure it receives the best attention.