Rugs can lose their originality, beauty and appearance with time.
You can’t do anything about it. Right? Wrong!
Kids and pets can be hard on rugs. They love to run, play, jump, crawl, climb, and more!
If you are planning to buy Gabbeh rugs for sale online or any other handmade rug with a pet at home, then you need to learn how to keep your new rug safe!
Rugs are not designed to stand up to kids or pets playing day after day and can be easily damaged from general wear and tear.
However, you don't have to replace rugs after every accident! In fact, there are a few simple tricks that can prevent damage from kids or pets playing on them.
This article will educate you about how to prevent rugs from damaging in almost every possible scenario.
How to Keep Kids from Damaging Your Rug?
Machine-made rugs are more prone to get damaged in no time as kids and pets love going for plush area rugs.
They feel cushiony underfoot, and it's soft enough for a child to lie down on it but since these rugs are not made with natural fibers they may not last as long as a handmade rug.
Kids love playing in puddles! They often jump right into every little spot of water that comes their way, especially if there's no one watching them. If their wet and mussy shoes get to your rug, the dirt can set deep in the fibers of your rug and cause wear and tear.
What’s the Solution?
The trick is to get an area rug with a more durable foundation, like a Shawl rug or Baluchi rug.
These materials are natural wool with a cotton foundation which will prevent rugs from breaking apart when kids or pets play on them.
This material is also ideal for preventing wool rugs from becoming deformed due to the constant moisture that comes with heavy foot traffic.
Moreover, to save your rugs from kids playing in rain is to place a waterproof doormat at your front door to warn kids before they go out in the rain.
Plus, if it's raining for days on end, you'll have a little spot where everyone is encouraged to wipe their feet clean and not drag mud all over your rug.
Prevention Tips
Kids love pushing their toy cars on the floor, riding bikes around the room, playing games like jump rope, and more!
Make sure they don't eat or drink on area rugs (for their own health, of course).
Even little drops of juice or small crumbs can be harmful to rugs, so put your rug where kids can't reach them (putting them under high furniture legs is a great idea).
They often end up pushing these objects right into one's living room wall or wooden doors in your home if it's not protected by a barrier.
If you have a large area rug in your living room, this can cause problems for you.
The constant pushing of objects on the rug will eventually leave noticeable ruts and tracks, which can make your room look unattractive to guests!
Get a barrier wall or object (preferably something lightweight like chairs) to keep children or pets away from your handmade carpets.
This way they won't be able to push objects on it, and the rims will stay protected from any potential damage. Plus, you'll be saving money in the long run!
How to Keep Pets from Damaging the Rug?
Pets are fantastic companions because they love to play, but are also incredibly destructive when allowed around expensive rugs!
If you have pets, never let them on area rugs, as their body oils can cause damage to carpets that cannot be reversed.
Cats especially love tight spaces where they feel secure, like under furniture or between the legs of chairs.
However, these objects were not designed with pet safety in mind. When cats jump up onto cabinets and tables, they can easily topple them over.
This can cause severe damage to carpets, as well as your precious furniture, lamps and other home decors!
How to Tackle the Situation?
Place a small pet bed or stool under these items so pets feel secure, but won't be able to jump onto the table or cabinet.
You could also place a pet fan under the desk or table legs to help prevent them from wobbling around whenever cats play on the rugs, which makes it more stable for kids and pets alike.
This way you can keep your cats away from the danger, and prevent rugs from being damaged!
Did you know? Rugs can also be damaged by cat scratches?
Kids and pets don't even have to jump onto rugs to cause damage!
They also love using their nails as a tool to scratch the surface of the rugs. They are usually curious about what's underneath, and end up accidentally scratching it!
General Tips and Tricks
- Never allow kids or pets to make an area rug their bed; this will cause irreversible damage in the long run.
- Use a protective pad for all types of area rugs. This will not only keep them protected against spills and stains but also reduce noise when you walk over them.
- Be sure to vacuum area rugs at least once a week to rid your home of dirt and grime that could become embedded in the fibres over time, causing irreversible damage!
You can even consider buying specific rug vacuums that work without the use of a rotating brush.
- Don't use chemicals such as bleach, ammonia and vinegar on your area rugs, as they can cause irreversible damage to the fibres over time! Only use rug shampoo for cleaning rugs.
- If you spill alcohol, oil (including cooking oils) or milk, tea on your rugs, make sure you blot it up immediately with paper towels or tissues. Don't rub it into your area rug as this will only spread the stain out!
- If you have a lot of traffic in an area where you've placed a rug, it's best to rotate it so that it is evenly worn over time.
- If you have to use a steam cleaner on your area rugs, make sure you don't overheat them and never leave the steam on the rug for too long. This can cause irreversible damage!
- Make it a habit to check that all legs of furniture sit securely on floor protectors when moving heavy furniture around an area rug. This will help prevent accidental damage from being caused to rugs by heavy pieces of furniture.
You don’t get exciting discounts daily searching Gabbeh rugs for sale online, so following these tips and tricks will surely save you from a bad day!
Now you have read everything you should know to prevent your handmade rug from damaging. So, what’s stopping you from investing to buy Gabbeh rugs for sale?
