| Area rugs have been around for centuries. In | | | | called steam cleaners, I say so called because |
| modern decorating the usages seems to have | | | | they do not use steam to clean the carpet or rug |
| peaks and valleys that cycle ever 10 to 15 years. | | | | they use hot water, do a better job than a |
| Right now, area rugs are definitely the "in" floor | | | | vacuum, but they still do not remove all the dirt, |
| covering. There are a number of reasons for their | | | | dust and other contaminants that have made |
| current popularity. | | | | their way through to the under padding. As well, |
| Carpeting in one manner or another has always | | | | cleaning with water has the potential of doing |
| been a popular floor covering. The decorating | | | | damage to the floor beneath the carpeting. |
| cycle that seems to be prevalent is between area | | | | Now that other floor coverings, such as hardwood |
| rugs and wall-to-wall carpeting. One of the inherent | | | | and laminates have come down in cost and are |
| problems with wall-to-wall carpeting is the difficulty | | | | being manufactured for installation by the home |
| in cleaning. Carpeting is one of the worst enemies | | | | handyman, wall-to-wall carpeting is decreasing in |
| of individuals with respiratory or asthmatic health | | | | popularity and area rugs are being used to create |
| problems. It traps, dirt, dust, mold spores, animal | | | | warmth and decoration. Where wall-to-wall |
| dander, and a host of other allergens. | | | | carpeting is generally a flat color, area rugs give a |
| The better the carpet, by number of fibers per | | | | homeowner the ability to decorate with an |
| inch, the worse the problem. Vacuum cleaners, no | | | | assortment of colors, patterns, and even |
| matter how powerful, never remove a 100% of | | | | textures. |
| the dust or other contaminants. If you don't | | | | Area rugs are not an economical replacement for |
| believe me, use your current vacuum over an | | | | wall-to-wall carpeting and although you can find |
| area of wall-to-wall carpeting (after vacuuming, | | | | area rugs for three and four dollars a square foot, |
| with the power still on, hold the hose in the air, | | | | you can find area rugs that are hundreds of |
| stretch and shake the hose as best you can to | | | | dollars per square foot. A Persian hand made area |
| remove any dust that may be trapped in the | | | | rug can be in excess of ten thousand dollars. |
| hose). Clean out the bag or canister, ensuring that | | | | Many wall-to-wall manufacturers sell their end of |
| there are no dust remnants. Vacuum the same | | | | roles to other manufacturers who cut the |
| area again check the bag or canister and you will | | | | remnants to standard sizes and apply edging to |
| see more dirt and dust! | | | | the boarders. Although these are sold by the big |
| Area rugs have the same inherent problem of | | | | box retailers as area rugs, the base material is |
| trapping dirt, dust, and pollen, however they have | | | | not made to lie flat on a floor. Wall-to-wall |
| the advantage that they can be conveniently | | | | carpeting is manufactured to be stretched when |
| removed from the home and taken to be | | | | installed. This is important to maintain the |
| dry-cleaned a process which will remove all | | | | connection of the fibers to the backing. |
| contaminants including animal dander and other | | | | Wall-to-wall carpeting used as an area rug, will curl |
| contaminants. The residential and commercial so | | | | and will a relatively short life span. |