5 Ways Rugs Can Improve Your Home

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rugs home improvement

Is it time to update the look and feel of your home? If so, there are a lot of things to consider, and one of them should be whether or not to invest in area rugs! Would your home benefit from the addition of rugs? Here are 5 benefits of adding rugs to your interior design.

  1. Rugs protect your wood floors. Fact: Floors are meant to be walked on. It just can’t be helped. But over time, all that walking can cause residual damage to your beautiful hardwood or laminate wood floors! One awesome benefit of area rugs is that they protect the bare floor underneath. If you’ve noticed scuffs, scrapes, gouges or staining on your wood or laminate floors, placing area rugs in high-traffic areas can put a stop to the problem. Over time, this will save you money on floor repairs and refinishing.
  2. Rugs prevent cold feet. You get out of bed in the middle of the night to use the bathroom, and by the time you get back, your feet are so cold that it takes you thirty minutes to get back to sleep. Or you lay in bed after the alarm clock goes off, dreading the moment when your bare feet make contact with the frigid wood or tile. Socks don’t help, and even your fuzzy slippers let in the cold. Sounds like it’s time to insulate those floors with some nice, soft, warm rugs!
  3. Rugs can tie a room together. Maybe it’s a lack of color or vibrant patterns that help to tie together the interior design of your living space. Or maybe your living room just feels stark and somber with all the bare hardwood. Either way, there’s something missing, and it can only be remedied with rugs!
  4. Rugs make a room more welcoming and comfortable. A home full of hard surfaces is an unwelcome place for guests. They might not say anything about it, and probably they aren’t even consciously thinking it. But somewhere in the back of their minds, they are subconsciously yearning for the lush, soft comfort that only rugs can provide.
  5. Rugs help keep your little ones safe. Babies love to roll around on the floor. But hard, bare wood or tile floors are not conducive surfaces for infants to roll around on and explore! Introducing area rugs to your living space will make your little ones more comfortable and less likely to be injured.

At Five Step Carpet Care, we don’t sell rugs, but we do clean them! We even offer a convenient pick-up and drop-off service! If you live in the Asheville, NC area and need professional rug cleaning, give us a call at 828.237.3237.

 

How to Get Oil Stains Out of Upholstery

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oil stain

Oil can be one of the toughest types of stain to get out of fabric. And when the fabric in question is attached to a sofa or armchair, it can be an even bigger head-scratcher. It’s not as if you can just spray stain remover on and throw the sofa in the washer! But don’t worry. Grease and oil stains can often be removed by tried-and-true DIY methods. Here’s how to get oil stains out of upholstery.

Whether it’s a splash of vinaigrette, a pizza grease stain, or smudges of oil-based lotion or makeup, getting oil and grease stains out of upholstery can feel a bit daunting. But there are a few cleaning tricks that can be tried using items you probably already have around the house. Try one of these methods to get that oil stain out.

If the stain is fresh and still wet, use a rag or plastic utensil to remove the oil that hasn’t yet seeped into the upholstery fabric. Then begin with the following methods.

The WD-40 Method

WD-40 is great for lubricating squeaky hinges and wheels, but did you know you can also use it as a stain remover? This lubricant contains solvents that break down oils and lift stains to the surface of the fabric. As always, perform a spot test in a small, out-of-view area of the upholstery to make sure it doesn’t damage the fabric. If you get the go-ahead, then spray the stain lightly with WD-40. Let sit for five minutes, then wash with a mixture of mild dish soap and warm water. Blot dry.

 

The Baking Soda Method

Liberally sprinkle baking soda onto the grease stain. Let sit for ten to fifteen minutes, then scrub lightly with a toothbrush. Vacuum the remaining baking soda and repeat as needed.

 

The Vodka Method

Alcohol can lift oil stains from fabrics as well as carpets. Spray the stain with a bit of vodka, then blot dry. Follow up by blotting with a wet cloth to remove any remaining alcohol. You may have to repeat this trick a few times.

 

If these DIY methods don’t do the job, it may be time to call in some professional help. If you live in the Asheville, NC area, give Five Step a call at 828.237.3237 today!