Red Hot Red Wine

My days can seem a bit monotone some days, I come to work, check e-mails, call clients to let them know their rugs are ready for pick up, write a blog or do other online work. It is the variety of phone calls, area rugs and clients that make each day just that much more interesting.

Take today, Sat May 28, at 8am on the dot the phone rings, I think wow we just opened they must have been waiting for the time to be 8am to call.

I was wrong, he needed to know when he could bring in his rug for cleaning today and it was a fluke on the timing.

The guy on the phone said that he woke up this morning to a red wine spill and dog urine on his rug. Not the best things to wake up to, especially when you did not cause either of them to happen.

The arrows show where the red wine mostly is and the darker areas are where the rug is wet.

He said that he took his rug out on the patio and tented it over two chairs and poured a very diluted mix of liquid laundry soap and warm water through the rug to get the wine out.

Not the best recommended red wine treatment. The water is fine, but it should have been cold not warm in case the dye was not stable and the laundry soap if not rinsed completely out would leave a residue and attract dirt.

Blotting the spot with a dry white cotton towel, pouring table salt or dry oats on the spill works better. If you own a wet vac and the spill is wet this works best. When a wet spill or accident occurs you need to get it off the rug. When you scrub or add more moisture to the spill you are pushing the original spill deeper into the fibers making it a more permanent stain.

He just brought the rug in to our office for cleaning and it is an 8x10 wool Chobi rug. It is a beautiful rug that his boss bought in Istanbul and that he just recently inherited from said boss. The wine stain is pretty big and is all the way through the rug. The people who spilled the wine had tried to clean it up themselves and ended up spreading it more. The couple were getting amorous and the wine glass got knocked over. Oops kind of a major mood killer.

I am confident that Luv-A-Rug can remove most of the wine stain. There may still be some pile distortion from the scrubbing done, but that will look like a shadow on the rug.

I couldn't help but smile as the two guys were talking about how the wine spill happened. What a horrible mood breaker- spilling wine on your buddies rug. Wine spills happen no matter how careful you are or how little wine is in the glass.

The urine came from the rug owners girlfriends little Chihuahua. I guess he felt that since the rug already had a spill on it he would just add to it.  The urine was recent and it got soaked up quickly and is the least of the rug owners worries. having the rug look new again is his main concern. He did a good thing in keeping the area damp, this helps the wine not completely set into the fibers and bringing in the rug right away for cleaning.

When you have a wet spill happen on your rug, whether it be wine, urine or other liquids, the best thing to do is not panic and grab the nearest spot remover, but to use a white towel and soak up what you can and then take another white towel get it damp and keep the spill moist until you can get it professionally taken care of.

On Vancouver Island and Victoria, BC you can call Luv-A-Rug at 250-590-6210/ 1-800-886-2802 and we can arrange pick up of your rug or you can bring it to us at 445 Beta St, off Alpha St.

Here is to many sober rugs, RugloverMary

ALERT!!! MOTHS ARE ATTACKING VICTORIA'S WOOL RUGS

Just because you aren't using your rug doesn't mean that something isn't. When you roll up your rug and store it away without cleaning it, even for a short time, clothes moth can make it their home.

Clothes moth like the climate in Victoria, BC and have done a lot of damage to many wool rugs. Clothes moths are very small, about an half an inch long, and are a golden colour, but it is their larvae that eats the wool on your rugs and clothing. After the egg hatches into a very tiny worm like larvae they immediately start eating your wool rug and it doesn't take long for them to do a lot of damage.

On May 12, 2011 Luv-A-Rug received 3 phones in a row about moths that have eaten area rugs. The first call came from Duncan, BC about many rugs that had moth damage to them. The rugs were cleaned then rolled up and store in the same room that their pet Parrots slept in. The owner was wondering how the clean rugs got infested since the rugs were not used.

The small feathers and bird droppings would have attracted the moths and then they would have moved onto the rugs for a more undisturbed food source. That is why wrapping your rugs properly after cleaning is so important. Even though the rugs were cleaned if they aren't wrapped up, NEVER IN PLASTIC, they can collect the organic dust from humans and pets in the air and moths will move in on your wool rugs.

Out of sight is not the best when it comes to your wool rugs. It may seem like an hassle or and added expense to get your rugs cleaned, but what is cheaper; getting your rugs cleaned or having to deal with a moth infestation or worse having to replace the rug?

The second call came from a storage facility here in Victoria that had a client who stored a very large rug in one of their units for under a year. The rug was around 15x20 feet and stored standing on one end and when they took it out of the storage unit one end had a lot of moth damage. Chances are that a rug that size had moths present on the rug before storing and it was not cleaned or wrapped prior to storing. The owners of the rug decided to toss the rug and the owners of the storage place called up and wanted to know how much to clean and repair it.

The third call was from a lovely retired lady who lives in Cordova Bay here in Victoria. She had a flood in her home and her British Indian rug got wet, so the rug was rolled up and put away while the flood damage was fixed to the rest of the floor. When she went to put the rug back she discovered that moths had damaged one end of it.

She called to get us to take a look at it, she had done a Google search for moth damage, to see if it could be trimmed back and re edged. The boss is going to go take a look at it on Saturday when he does free pick up and delivery. I can tell you without looking at the rug that we can save her rug and make it usable again.

This rug is a 9x12.8 wool British India (Aubusson)and we are cutting both ends of the rug back to the same point of the pattern to make it symmetrical and serging the ends.

The rug got flooded and had a piece of furniture on it, so along with sever moth damage there is the rust stains as well.



There is also a twist to this story, the owners are moving into a small place and having to trim back the rug to a smaller size means that they can use the rug in their new dining room. It just goes to show that not all rug disasters end with the rug getting thrown out.

Now I bet you are thinking that we always say we can fix any rug no matter what shape it is in, but you would be incorrect. The staff at Luv-A-Rug know how the different types of area rugs are made and the cleaning concerns for each rug and stain.When you have us clean your rug we let you know if it is worth cleaning and what the cleaning results will be.

Before you throw away your old, really dirty, or damaged area rug bring it to us or get us to pick it up first. If you like your rug we will do our best to save it and make it lovable for you.

Here's to less rugs in the landfill, RugloverMary.

What is The Best Rugs for Your Home

When buying an area rug:

• You want the most for your money. 
• You need a rug to add colour, texture and function to your home. 
• You want a rug to last for years.

How you choice a rug that fits all your needs? I have written an article to help you choose the right rug for every room in your home.

 I outlined the pros and cons of most types of rugs I see for cleaning. Having knowledge before going shopping for rugs saves you a lot of headaches and money. This applies to new and second hand rugs. Not all great deals are good when it comes to area rugs.

If you have any questions about the different types of rugs, call or drop by Luv-A-Rug in Victoria, BC at 445 Beta St, off Alpha St..

Here's to the perfect rug for you, RugloverMary-area rug guru

Do You Send Thank You Cards?

An Appreciative Client

I don't know about you, but I am really bad about sending thank you cards and not just for the big things. In our technology driven  lives it is easy to over look the small things. When someone gives us great service we forget to let the person know some of the time.

I find it kinda sad that getting great, let alone good, service is an exception and not the norm. When we do find a person or business that gives great service we don't usually thank them for it. Since they give good service they should just know that we appreciate and then we tell our friends and family about it and that is it.

At Luv-A-Rug we do make people happy with our cleaning results all the time and our clients thank us for our good work and service, but some clients go beyond just telling us. This was waiting for us this morning at our office:

The story behind this thank you card is:

This rug was bought at an estate sale and the couple didn't get to see all of the rug before purchasing it. The rug had a musty smell to it from being rolled up in a basement. Luckily though there wasn't any new damage on it, just missing fibers from years past.

The new owners spent a couple of days literally beating the rug trying to get all the dust and dirt out of the rug. The rug was 8x10 wool rug, so trying to beat the rug was a huge job, especially since the wife is expecting their third child. They called Luv-A-Rug to find out about cleaning cost and what they could do to make their rug clean and fresh.

We discussed all their options:

1. Have us do our deep cleaning
2. Have us do our rugbadgering service only
3. Have them rent our dry carpet cleaning system (Host Sponges)

Since it was hard for me to know exactly what kind of rug they had over the phone, it was not easy to give an exact price for cleaning or rugbadgering. They brought it to our office on Wilkinson Rd. and I identified it as a machine made Belgium wool rug.

They had decided to get us to badger the rug and then they would use the dry carpet cleaning Host sponges to freshen it up. Partly because of the cost and partly because they wanted it in a few days due to the soon to arrive baby.

The wife came and picked up the rug and I had some good news for her. Shane, our rug cleaners, had given her rug an initial cleaning. He didn't see that it was for badgering only until after he had started cleaning it. She was very happy that her rug got an accidental cleaning.

Her rug really needed to be professionally cleaned anyway. With a good cleaning it is healthier, brighter and softer for her family. She thanked us for our accident and said she was going to recommend us to any one who needed area rug cleaning. It was very nice to receive the thank you card from the family, especially since her little ones helped decorate it.

A card is a small piece of paper, but it delivers a lot of happiness. We all need to celebrate the little things in life and let people know that we appreciate what they do because we only this small window of life to do everything we can. All it takes to brighten someone's day is a smile, a thank you, or a small card.

So thank you for all the small things you do, RugloverMary and thanks for reading my blog.

Evening Purse Became a Napkin

Cat vomit is NOT an Accessory!

No matter how much we love our cats, they don't seem to have the same appreciation for our things as we do.

This was the case for a small evening purse. It was the day after graduation for one lucky lady and when it came time to clean out the purse she found that the cat had left her a present. An unwanted present, but the cat didn't know that.

Evening purse before and after cleaning

The father of the graduate took it to their dry cleaners to see if they could clean it. Unfortunately it was not an item that dry cleaners will clean anymore.The materials used to make purses cannot handle getting cleaned by immersion.

The dry cleaners recommend that he bring it to us, Luv-A-Rug to see if we could clean it. We can clean handbags and purses because we can them by hand. Since there wasn't a lot of cat vomit on the purse, you may be wondering why would they pay to get it cleaned. Wouldn't it be easy to clean the spots themselves?

Sure they could have cleaned the purse themselves, but the bigger question is what would the results have been? The material of the evening purse has a silky/satiny finish and if you took a wet towel or paper towel to it you would be left with less cat vomit, but lots of white bits. The slight texture of the purse would grab the lint from the towel and that is hard to remove. Plus if they rubbed in a circular motion that will cause the texture to distort and that is permanent as well.

Yes do-it-yourself is cheaper, but not if you cannot use the item afterward. As ladies know evening purses are not cheap and can last many years, so why chance having to replace your purse because of a spill or cat vomit?

The cleaning cost to remove the cat vomit was very low compared to having to buy a new one and after cleaning it looks new again ready for the next big night out.

When something gets spilled on your purse or handbag, don't throw it out bring it to Luv-A-Rug on 445 Beta St, off Alpha St. We can clean the unclean-able items for you. 250-590-6210.

Here's to many more evenings out looking fabulous, RugloverMary-accessory lover

Attn Rug Hookers.......A History of Your Passion

Rug hookers are a passionate folk. They sit down each day and pull thin strips of fabric through a backing to make a wonderful lasting piece of art, but where did this art form start and why?

The answer is easy to find on one of my favorite blogs, Tea and Carpets. Here you will find a deep history about area rugs and their origins.

Rug hooking came from necessity and has evolved into an art form. Unlike most fabric art forms rug hooking has thrived through the decades. You don't have to look very far to find a rug hooking group in your city. 

 One of my favorite places to see the magnitude of how far rug hooking has come from a floor rug to a highly sought after art form.
Deanna is one of many influential ladies in rug hooking art, April is another note worthy lady to follow.

As with most craft hobbies, rug hooking is relaxing, rewarding and fun. I think everyone should have a hobby that they can do anytime and anywhere. A hobby opens you up to new people and fills time appropriately.I don't do rug hooking, but since I am from Nova Scotia it is only a matter of time before I do.

Here's hoping that you take up a new or pick up on an old one, RugloverMary

Luv-A-Rug does more than clean Area Rugs

For over twenty years Luv-a-Rug, previously Lug-A-Rug, has been cleaning area rugs from all over Victoria and Vancouver Island, plus we clean the hard to clean stuff too.

We repair hand knotted rugs, bind and serge rugs and carpet pieces, and replace or remove fringes.

We also clean boat sails, boat dodgers, boat canvas, loose cushions, luggage, mascots, and sheepskin rugs.

Last week we had an unique request from a lady who had bought three 3'x6' and six 2'x4' rag rugs from Capital Iron here in Victoria, BC and she wanted them turned into runners.

Here are two of the 2'x4' rag rugs she wanted turned into a 2'x8'  runner.
This is not something we get asked to do very often, but we can do it with most rugs depending on how they are made.

If you find a rug that is too big Luv-A-Rug can also trim it down to the size you need.

First photo shows where the two rugs were joined, middle is the finished runner, last photo shows a close up of how the rag rugs were sewn together.

Here is what the two rag rugs looked like after being sewn together into a runner. These rag rugs had the ends folded over and sewn to the rug, so it was easy to unfold one end and sew it to the other rug. This made the rugs almost seamless and remain a two sided rug.

The client was thrilled with the finished look and that her runners could be used on both sides.

If you have a similar desire to turn small rugs into bigger rugs give Luv-A-Rug a call in Victoria, BC 250-590-6210 or 1-800-886-2802 or bring it to 445 Beta St, off Alpha St.

Thanks for reading, RugloverMary, helping you create your area rug vision

Are the 40 thieves trying to sell you an area rug?

 Are you getting a great deal or throwing your money away?
Fly-by-night rug sellers in auctions, hotel sales, airport hangers are a too good to be true deal 

We are very happy when we score a great deal, no matter what the product or service, but we should also be thinking about quality along with the great price. It is not good to buy an wool area rug for cheap only to find out that it is really a synthetic rug.

Last year I wrote a blog post about  the dangers of fly by night rug sellers. Yesterday in the mail Luv-A-Rug received a flier for a huge rug bankruptcy liquidation where you can buy authentic rugs for 80% off with a 2nd rug free. Wow! that is quite a deal.

It is a very enticing offer, but it sets off a few red flags. For one there is no information about who is selling the rugs, no company name or contact numbers or website. How are you to trust that they are an above board company to deal with? What are their qualifications, education, how long have they been in business?

Second they go on about how only the finest materials were used to make the rugs. Only the best wool, silk and cotton are used, I don't know about you, but I question the the validity of such a statement when they are selling them at such low prices.

It is easy to say that a rug is silk when it is not real silk. We have had a lovely lady bring in her "silk" rug that she purchased during her travels to China. She paid a large amount for the rug because she had watched the rugs being made and was told her rug was silk. It turned out to be an fake silk that had silk fringes added to the rug. It is always hard to break the news that the rug you bought is not the rug you paid for.

The third thing that jumps put as a red flag is the exchange warranty. The way it is written cancels out most of the rugs they would be selling, plus how do you exchange a rug when the people selling them won't be in town for more than a few days?

With events like this that sell area rugs in volume it is all about buyer beware. It is easy to get a great deal on a rug, but there is no after the sale service. Anyone can say that rug is worth a lot, but if you don't have trust in that person or company how do you really know?

The best way to see if they are a trustworthy company is to ask questions? Find out where they got their knowledge on area rugs, who and where they get the rug from. Shady companies don't like questions. Buying area rugs from a store that is located in your community, where the owners live, and they care about your needs for an area rug is always the best way to get a great deal.

If you do find a rug that you love, but want a second opinion ask if you can take the rug to get evaluated. Bring it to Luv-A-Rug and we will tell you what kind of rug it is and if you are getting a good deal. We are at 445 Beta St, off Alpha St. or call 250-590-6210/ 1-800-886-2802.

Here is a spoof of the tactics rug businesses use when going out of business.

Thanks for reading, RugloverMary sharing my rug knowledge to make you knowledge too.

Small Rugs and Washing Machines- Not a match made in Heaven

The hardest thing about being an area carpet rug cleaner is having to explain to our clients that their rugs can no longer look like new. The reason for this can be too many permanent stains, sever moth damage, flood damaged, but the biggest reason is improper cleaning.

Just because an area rug will fit into your washing machine doesn't mean it should be cleaned in it. A lot can go wrong when using a washing machine to clean your little rugs. Not only can the damage be done to your rug, but also to your washing machine. When a rug gets wet it gets heavy, depending on how it is made some get very heavy and can break your washing machine. The pump can be ruined by the loose fibers and glues from your rug. The colours can bleed, your rug could shrink or wrinkle, or your rug could come apart.

Some area rugs are not made to get completely wet or submerged in water it will even say dry clean only on the cleaning tag. Your manual for your washing machine doesn't have a section on how to clean area rug either.

You may be thinking that it is a little rug so what if it gets ruined I can always buy a new one for cheap and you are correct, but what about the washing machine? Can you afford the repair or replacement cost?

The easiest way of cleaning your small rugs is not always the best way. Luv-A-Rug recently had a client come in with her little hand tufted rug that she washed in her washing machine. She asked us why her washing machine stopped working after she washed her rug. The reason is because her rug was glued together and the glue jammed up her pump. That made the cost of cleaning her little a lot more than she wanted.

This little rug was washed in a home washing machine and the colours have bleed and the sides are rippling. We did a repair on the ends cause they had gotten tattered in the washing.

No matter the size of your area rugs they should always get a professional cleaning to keep them looking their best and lasting for years, plus it saves you costly repairs. Call Luv-A-Rug at 250-590-6210/ 1-800-886-2802 or visit our website to get a no obligation cleaning quote

Thanks for reading, RugloverMary-protector of little rugs

Pet urine and your area rugs...not a match made in heaven

This is my adorable Texas, who as cute as he is has forgotten to wake me up in the middle of the night when he has had to go outside. So what can we do to protect our rugs from midnight accidents?

It seems that our pets enjoy our rugs just as much as we do, but sometimes in a different way than we would prefer. They like to use some rugs as an indoor bathroom. Not the best use of our rugs that is for sure.

I have recently had an article about Pet Urine and area rugs published on the site Ezine Articles.

Here at Luv-A-Rug, we receive a lot of area rugs for cleaning because of pet accidents from mild to sever. No rug should ever get to the sever point. Pet urine damages your rugs. As soon as you notice that your rug has been peed on get it cleaned. The longer you wait the harder it is to get all the urine smell out, especially on wool and shag rugs. When you are puppy training try to not have any rugs on your floors. Puppies will find your rugs very convenient and the more they use your rug the more they know to always use your rugs.

The best way to not have your rugs used as a bathroom is to deter pets from your rugs right from the start. Sprinkling pepper, either white, black when you first lay your rugs down works as a good deterrent. Remember that nothing is full proof, but if you have pepper in your rugs for the first few days and your pet inhales it, they are not going to like it.

Dogs have been known to not pee or vomit on rugs that they use as a place to sleep. They don't want to lay on a dirty rug either, cats don't seem to have that same sense. It is good to have a nice soft warm blanket or rug just for your dogs to use and keep them away from your nice area rugs.

Luv-A-Rug has safe, effective and in most cases guaranteed pet urine and odour removal methods. Bring your smelly, stinky rugs to us for a no obligation quote on cleaning and pet urine removal. We are located at 445 Beta St off Alpha St.

Have you tested and had success keeping your dogs from using your rugs as a bathroom or napkin?

Do you agree/disagree with what I wrote?

Thanks for reading, RugloverMary and pet lover.

The Beginnings of moth damage to a Wool rug

Eagle eyes can stop Moth damage

I have written a lot of blogs about moth damage, but it was after the larva had eaten away a lot of the wool fibers. On Saturday we picked up a large Chinese rug from the Oak Bay area that had the beginnings of moth damage. Now when you inspect the back edges of your rug you will have a better idea what to look for.

As you can see the damage is very slight, but after a few weeks the larva can eat several inches and you wouldn't know it until you vacuumed and a hole appeared.

Whenever we find any evidence of moth larva activity we have to put your rug through our non-toxic moth treatment. The moth eggs are too small to see with the naked eye and the female moth can lay up to a hundred eggs at one time. There is no way of knowing how many eggs have hatched or how many are waiting to hatch.

Contrary to popular myth moth eggs do not go dormant for months like flea eggs. After a few weeks of not having the ideal hatching conditions they die, but again there is no way to tell if the eggs are still alive. That is why we must do our moth treatment to all rugs with any signs of moth activity. We cannot have cross contamination to our shop or another rug, plus it isn't good business to send a rug home and have the moth larva hatch and eat the rug.

If you can catch the moth damage early enough there is no visible damage to your rug. Remember a clean rug doesn't attract moths, so get your rug cleaned professionally every year or two, vacuum your entire rug often and check under the edges (4-6 inches) for the starting of moth activity.

If you do find moth activity call us and we will come pick up your rug and start our moth treatment right away.
250-590-6210/1-800-886-2802. Or if your rug is small you can bring it to our place at 445 Beta St (off Alpha St) Victoria BC.

Thanks for reading, RugloverMary

Gabbeh Rugs-From Tents to Your Home-A History

I love Gabbeh area rugs. They have been my favorite rug since I started working at Luv-A-rug, here in Victoria BC, 3 years ago. Gabbehs are thick, plush and whimsical. I enjoy the traditional designs of random characters throughout the rug more so then the symmetrical designs.

The history of Gabbehs is rich and doesn't really have a starting point. The word Gabbeh loosely translated means bedding. The first mention of them is in the 16th century, but they were probably made for centuries before that. There is just no written proof of any earlier Gabbeh rugs.

The reason for lack of beginnings for the Gabbeh is because they were woven by Nomads who migrated in the summers to higher pastures with their livestock. The history of the tribe is woven in the rugs instead of on paper.

The Nomads made rugs to cover the floor of their tents that were easy to carry with them during their migration from the valley to mountains. Gabbehs are still made today in the same traditions. The designs are more symmetrical for today's rug buyer though.

They are made by the women who use the landscape and everyday life events to inspire their designs. Gabbeh rugs are woven in more daring colours then most hand knotted rugs because of the unrestricted nomadic lifestyle and because the rugs were made for personal use more so than commercial. That was until a Swedish furniture company mass produced them and sold them world wide.

Gabbeh rugs add a nice punch of colour to any room and are thick and plush. Gabbehs look like they were painted as there looks like brush strokes in the main body of the rug.

A few weeks ago we picked up two Gabbehs that belong to a local computer store owner. I was kinda hoping that they would forget about one of their rugs. It had a blue background with a single female character about 2/3 of the way up the rug. It looked like she was standing in the middle of an ocean because the background looked like waves.

When I look at a Gabbeh it is calming and intriguing. I try to figure out why the weaver used the characters and what story they are telling.

So next time you are in a Rug Gallery in Victoria or beyond that sells hand knotted rugs ask if they have any Gabbehs. They aren't everyone's taste, but everyone should see and touch a Gabbeh at least once.

Thanks for reading, RugloverMary, Your Victoria BC area rug cleaning and Gabbeh loving specialist!

Surprise! Your Wool Area rug can be Cleaned.

At Luv-A-Rug I can receive anywhere from 10-30 calls a day about cleaning area rugs

I had just that type of phone call. It lasted almost 15 minutes and boy did she get a lot of information about wool area rugs and repairs.

The simple question of, "Do we dry clean wool rugs?" lead to fringe replacement and then onto hand repairs. I love shocking people when I tell them that we can wet wash a wool rug. Almost daily I encounter a client that still believes that wool area rugs should not only never be cleaned, but should never be wet washed.

Here are some myths and truths about getting a wool area rug cleaned:

• Wool rugs will shrink-----only when cleaned improperly. After a wool rug is made it is placed in a pool of water and scrubbed. Wool rugs are made to withstand cleaning.
• Wool rug will felt up like a sweater when washed-----since the wool on a rug doesn't rub against itself like a sweater in the wash it doesn't felt and tangle up. Cleaned correctly a wool rug looks the same after cleaning just with a lot less dirt.
• Beating out the dirt like grandma did is all a rug needs----that is one step, but what about the oily dirt that sticks to the bottom of the wool fibers? This is harder to remove by just a good whacking with a broom. FYI: Luv-A-Rug's first step in cleaning is turning a rug upside down and vibrating the rug to remove the loose insoluble dirt before we even touch the rug with water.
• Cleaning a wool rug will wear away the fibers-------not true at all, it is the dirt that sits at the bottom of the fibers that wears away the rug. Getting your rug professionally cleaned helps your rug last longer.
• Wool rugs only need to be cleaned when they look dirty or when it gets a stain---waiting years or decades to clean your rug is doing more damage than cleaning ever would. The loose dirt your rug collects every day rubs against the fibers and cuts them away making your rug look older than it is.
• Wool rugs should never be vacuumed----not only should they be vacuumed often to remove the loose dirt they should also be turned upside down and vacuumed. Using a rotating/beater bar vacuum on the back of your rug loosens the deep dirt and you get out so much more dirt. For the top of the wool rug use suction only as the rotating/beater bar pulls the small wool fibers and wears away the rug faster.
• Wool rug is the same as synthetic carpet and can be cleaned the same way-----NO! wool rugs are completely different and need to be treated as such. Using many stain removers or cleaners from a hardware//grocery store can ruin a wool rug. Most of the stain and carpet cleaning products are made for synthetic only. If the label does not say wool safe IT IS NOT FOR WOOL. 
• Wool rugs can be cleaned in home along with my carpet------Again NO!  If a wool rug isn't cleaned and dried properly it can damage your floor, cause mold/mildew to grow, cause your rug to rot, colours to bleed, the rug to shrink or smell bad. Professional cleaners know that to fully clean an area rug it must be done in a rug cleaning facility NEVER in your home.

Wool comes from sheep, it is hair that grows and gets cut and then turned into beautiful rugs, clothes and many other things. I tell people that wool is just like the hair on our heads. It requires water and soap to get cleaned and is sensitive to harsh solutions. Using anything too strong or harsh on our hair results in disaster, so why would we use it on wool?
I recently read that there isn't a science to cleaning a wool rug, but there is a soap science. Professional cleaners have the knowledge to know the boundaries of wool and what can be used to clean it.

Don't be afraid to ask the questions about how the company such as: how they cleans rugs and more specifically wool rugs, how long has the company has been cleaning area rugs (not carpet, but specifically area rugs), how the company treats specific trouble problems (pet urine, red wine, moth damage, flood damage).

You invested a lot into your rug make sure the company who cleans it has invested a lot into knowledge and training about area rugs.

Thanks for reading, RugloverMary

Another Rug Victim to Moths

What lurks in your basement could be eating your area rug

Last month we had a lovey lady come into Luv-A-Rug asking about getting a very large rug cleaned. The rug had been rolled up in the basement for years.

She was hosting a very special musical event here in Victoria and needed a rug to go under the piano.
The rug size was estimated at 12x16 feet, a very large rug by today's standards.

The area rug was not professionally cleaned nor properly wrapped for storage. My first thought and concern was that the rug was home to a lot of moth larva and damage. Moth's only leave a rug when they run out of the food source, ie wool.

The boss went to her house to look at the rug, and I am sad to report that it was very moth damaged. We could have cleaned the rug and did our moth treatment to it, but it was unusable. The moths had eaten away too much of the fibers to hide the damage.

All too often area rugs are rolled up and put in basements and storage units without being professionally cleaned and wrapped correctly for storage. Moths love dirty, dark, undisturbed area rugs. Having a dirty rug rolled up and stored improperly is prime for the little moths. Luv-A-Rug cleans and wraps area rugs for storing.

Do not take for granted that if you use a professional storage unit that your rug will be safe. Two weeks ago I had two phone calls from a client here in Victoria and one from Vernon, BC where their rugs were in Storage Places and their rugs got wet. Both were caused by carelessness of the Storage Places not the people renting the units. If the rugs were wrapped in Tyvek for storage they would have been safe.

No matter if you are storing it for a few months or years. It doesn't take long for a pregnant female moth to lay 50-100 eggs and for them to hatch and start eating your beloved rug. It saves you time and money to get your rug cleaned before putting it away.

You may think that I have written enough about moths and the damage they cause, but I don't think so. If that were the case I wouldn't see a lot less rugs that had moth damage. It is as simple as that.

Thanks for reading, RugloverMary wool moth expert

Another Shag Story

If you have ever tried to vacuum a shag you know the frustration of having the rug fibers get stuck in the rotating brush. Shag rug are not easy to vacuum using the rotating brush or even the vacuum itself.

I had previously written about the best way to vacuum your shag area rug. Here is another way to remove even more loose dirt from your shag. By using the little upholstery brush, that we hardly use, it grabs the dirt and not the rug.



Shag rugs require more care and attention than most rugs. Using suction only to vacuum the loose dirt cuts down on your work and frustration. By turning the rug upside down first and vibrating the loose dirt closer to the tops of the fibers, then use the brush to vacuum the fibers you are making your shag last longer.

Thanks for reading, Ruglovermary

The Best way to Vacuum a Shag Rug

There is no point in denying it Shag Area Rugs are back in fashion. They come in many different colours, textures and fibers. They compliment any decor and pets love them. They are not my favorite type of rug due to the fact that they are high maintenance.

Yes Shags are very high maintenance. They need to be cleaned more often than lower pile rugs, and they need to be vacuumed carefully. Here is a short video showing how to get a lot more loose dirt out of your shag rug



Shag rugs should be vacuumed weekly. Since the fibers of a shag rug act like Velcro they trap dirt easier than most other rugs, along with earrings, small toys, coins, and crayons. Those are just a few of the things we find hiding in shag rugs when they come in for cleaning.

Shag rugs are nostalgic for some and retro chic for others, no matter why you fell in love with your shag remember that it needs lots of attention in the cleaning department. You paid a lot for your shag make the most of your investment by vacuuming often and shaking out the lost treasures.

Thanks for reading, RugloverMary

Seeing double with Area Rug Pad

At first glance you may think that this rug is very faded on one side, but that is not the case.

The grey faded area is actually the sticky rug pad that was used to hold the rug in place on carpet.

It is a double sided sticky under pad and it is used to hold rugs in place on wall to wall carpet. It adheres to the carpet and to the rug. It is used to stop rugs from moving so much on carpet. It has a short life span though and stops working once it gets dirty. It loses it's stickiness and stops holding the rug in place.

It also can take the colour from your rug as shown here.

The Sticky pad could almost be used as a rug in this situation, it would be a bit tacky to the touch though. This is a great example to why you need to use the right pad for your rugs, but since the most common type of flooring is a hard flooring there are more options for area rug pad.

But what about when you have carpet? There are less options. Many may say that since you have carpet why use an area rug? Most people use a small rug in front of entrances and if you are renting using an area rug helps keep the carpet clean. Plus area rugs add colour to a room that carpet cannot do.

So what do you do for rug pad on carpet?

There are a few types, there is the sticky pad, and one that has small plastic nubs and non slip top, for large rugs there is a half inch pad that is soft on one side and stiff on the other. Those are the three ones I know that can be found in Victoria, BC.

Nothing will completely stop a rug from moving on carpet, the carpet fibers move with every step, but the rug pad helps your rug not stretch out of shape. Just be aware that not all rug pad is good for every rug and every floor type.

Thanks for reading, RugloverMary

Wool Felt Area Rug Not Grey Swiss Cheese

You may think that area rugs can get boring after awhile and you would be partly correct. When I see the same types of area rugs every day with the same issues it can get tiring. I still love the rugs, but I also enjoy rugs that are different and have a story behind them.

In the last two weeks we have some very unique and interesting area rugs for cleaning and repair. Today I am going to highlight one of those unique rugs.

At first glance you wouldn't think it was an area rug, but Surprise! it is.



This rug looks a lot like gray Swiss cheese, but it is a modern take on area rugs.

I love this rug purely for the fact that it is non traditional. Put this under a silver legged table with granny apple green walls and white sheer curtains, voila the rug adds texture. In a living room with a red sofa and chocolate brown coffee table and a funky lamp, ah home.

Going against the grain and using different types of area rugs should be embraced. I enjoy most classifications of decor, but I lean more towards modern, and sleek with classic lines and colours.

Wherever you draw inspiration from to decorate as long as you make it your style you can never go wrong.

I always love to write about unique area rugs and rugs with a great story or history. If you have a great rug, please bring it in and I will feature it on my blog.

Thanks for reading, RugloverMary.

40 Years and Still going Strong

Yesterday we received a 9x12.5 wool Chinese area rug. The owner has had it for around 40 years and it has a lot of memories tied into it. The golden colour is very retro, but still can hold it's own even today.



Large area rugs are prime targets for damage from moths or carpet beetles. I know it wasn't moth that ate this rug. There was no larva casings any where on the rug.

When ever a large rug comes in for cleaning I always look for moth damage. Large rugs have furniture on them and have areas that are not used.

Moth damage can take weeks to happen, so it doesn't mean that you are not diligent in your cleaning. It only takes one pregnant female to lay her many eggs in an area that doesn't get walked on or vacuumed often.

To prevent moth's from making your rug lunch:

• vacuum the entire area rug at least once a month
• rotate your rug often
• have your rug cleaned professionally deep cleaned every year or two
• if you find any evidence of moth activity get your area rug taken care of by a professional

Moth's are wool''s natural enemy. By keeping your area rugs as clean as possible it is a lot less likely you will have moth damage.

Thanks for reading, RugloverMary

DIY Cleaning tips-Are They From a Professional?

A couple times a week I search other blogs about area rug cleaning. The most popular usually are the Do-It-Yourself (DIY)/Green Cleaning/Money Saving blogs.

Nothing wrong with trying to save money and keeping your house chemical free, but where is the advice coming from?

The blogs about DIY rug cleaning are mostly by every day people and not always by professional area rug cleaners.

One of the most important things missing from a lot of these blog posts is what kind of rug/carpet they cleaned. They usually don't say and that is where problems can arise.

Cleaning a synthetic area rug is much easier than a wool area rug. Synthetic rugs are mostly made from Olefin or Polypropylene (types of plastics). They are a great rug to have around small children, pets and in entry ways. They don't absorb spills and last a long time.

When spills or pet accidents happen on a synthetic rug, it is the cotton and jute foundation that absorbs the liquid and smells not the actual rug fibers.

Most cleaners and spot removers are made for synthetic carpets and area rugs, not for wool. They are too strong to use on Wool area rugs. A lot of the spot removers were made when carpet was the most used floor covering. Now hardwood/tile are the most used flooring.

Using the wrong spot removers on a wool area rug can ruin your rug. I use the analogy that wool area rugs are just like the hair on our heads. It is the hair of a sheep, it has cuticles and grows just like our hair and is sensitive to a lot of chemicals. We don't use harsh chemicals or strong shampoos on our hair, why use them on our wool rugs? The results are similar. Use bleach on a wool rug and the wool lightens or dissolves, same as our hair.

Since you cannot be sure of what kind of rug they are talking it about it is like playing Russian Roulette with your cleaning results.

There are safe spot removers for wool. Water is your safest spot remover. A damp White Cotton towel can get rid of a lot of every day spills.

White Vinegar and water is good for fresh, wet pet accidents. Once a pet urine has dried it is pretty much a permanent yellow stain, on wool, cotton, jute and sometimes synthetic.

For red wine put a White Cotton towel on the spill and stand on it. Keep stepping on the towel until either the towel is saturated or you are not getting any more wine off the rug. If you are still seeing wine come up, change to a new towel and keep stepping around the spill.

Club soda, water, salt, dry oatmeal also work at helping remove red wine. The salt and oatmeal absorb the wine, also works for any wet spills.

If you can still see the wine spill, wet a White Cotton towel until it is damp, and keep the spill moist and get it to your rug cleaners as soon as you can. Keeping the spill wet helps the wine not set and stain your rug.

Things to Never use on a Wool area rug are Baking Soda, and any other spot treaters that do not have a Wool safe symbol or say safe for wool. Always do a test spot no matter what you use for spot treatments. Every area rug is different and will react differently even to the same type of spill.

Out of all the stain, cleaning and spot removal advice out there the best things are a White Cotton towel, water, salt, and your professional area rug cleaners.

In a perfect world spills would never happen, in our world they happen every day. Drop by Luv-A-Rug to get your free bottle of our own spot remover. 445 Beta St, (off Alpha St) Victoria, BC 250-590-6210

Thanks for reading, RugloverMary, Your Victoria BC area rug cleaning expert!