People who own pets love them. Even though they become part of human families, pets maintain their animal instincts. Plus, the amount that they contribute to messes depends on whether they are indoor or outdoor pets.
As builders integrated open floor plans and removed carpeting from new homes, rugs became more popular with the public. So did pet ownership.
An estimated 90.5 million American families and households own pets. The majority own dogs.
Plus, an estimated 79% of households own at least one tapestry.
When households own both, it could become a recipe for rug damage. However, most rugs do live out their lifespan without pet-related incidents.
The Versatility of Rugs
Tapestries range in sizes, colors, and styles. For example, you can pick up a modern Kilim that measures just under 4 feet by 6 feet. You can also purchase an antique rug that measures 10 by 16 feet.
Both dress up a room. Each also climbs to the four-digit price mark. Thus, they become an investment. In the United States, Kilim rugs serve as decor. However, if you travel to some Middle Eastern areas, the population uses them as personal prayer rugs. Therefore, they can travel and take some wear and tear.
Therefore, rugs have versatility built into them.
Many rugs have a lifespan of 15 years and more so time will wear them out. The amount of foot traffic that they experience plays a role. Children and pets in the home are another factor.
Let’s look at five things that you can do if a pet damages an expensive rug.
1. Take a Breath
When you realize that your pet has damaged your expensive rug, take a breath. It’s so important to remain calm in this situation. Sometimes the damage is only superficial.
Common types of rug damage include:
- Stains
- Frayed edges
- Bulging
- Odors
- Ripping
As you take deep breaths, try to figure out what happened.
- Did your pet knock over a glass full of liquid from the nearby table?
- Did your furry friend walk over the tapestry with muddy paws?
- Was there something tempting that your fur baby could not resist?
Other tapestry owners can commiserate with you. Some know the bolting shock of seeing damage on their luxury rug.
As you gather yourself, take the following steps.
2. Assess the Damage
Now that you find yourself in a calm state of mind, assess the damage. However, avoid attempting to fix it yourself.
If something fell on the tapestry such as household items, remove them.
What’s left behind?
If you picked up a flower vase and the water spilled on the rug, clean up the vase and its contents.
Then, blot the water with a super absorbent and soft towel. Avoid pressing hard on the tapestry’s fibers though. The motion will crush them and ruin the integrity of the rug.
When your pet walks over the tapestry with muddy paws, that’s cause for horror. Cleaning up the mud requires patience and caution. If you do it in a frazzled state, you can easily spread it. Sometimes sweeping it off or vacuuming it up is not a good idea.
Tapestry fibers soak up all moisture and dirt quickly. Focus on picking up what you can by hand such as chunks. Then, blot the mud. The rest will require professional care.
3. Speak with a Professional
After assessing the damage, call a professional. High-end rugs require extra special care. Thus, start by calling the retailer where you purchased the tapestry.
Professionals in the luxury rug field give clients instructions on how to maintain their investment. Then, they remain a valuable resource. High-end tapestries have delicate qualities.
For example, those who purchase tapestries with a higher silk fiber count than wool, acquire a delicate work of art. The most sturdy and stain-resistant rugs come from majority wool fibers.
If your rug retailer does not have professional cleaners on staff who can make a house call, request a referral. Then, speak with those professionals.
Typical luxury rug maintenance includes:
- Sweeping off dust and dirt every other day
- Vacuuming weekly
- Spot stain treatment as needed
- Annual professional cleaning
- Professional deep cleaning every two to three years
Scheduling professional cleaning provides several advantages. If the rug requires small fixes, professionals can complete them. Plus, they will rotate the tapestry so that one side or corner doesn’t wear out faster than the rest.
4. Follow Professional Advice
Obtaining a referral from your rug retailer should lead to finding cleaning professionals who understand high-end tapestries. Plus, you should have confidence in their advice.
After you explain the situation, the next step is for them to see it in person. Ideally, they’ll make an appointment for the following day, if not that same day. Sometimes time is of the essence.
Keep in mind that the professionals might find that the damage is only superficial. Thus, they can apply a quick fix. If the rug requires alterations, they’ll explain them to you.
Sometimes no repair solutions exist. Thus, you’ll need to place furniture over the spot to hide going forward.
5. Take Steps to Prevent It from Happening Again
Indoor dogs must go outside too. Preventing dogs from gathering dust, dirt, and mud on their paws is impossible, especially if you live in a rainy part of the United States.
Nonetheless, you can take steps to prevent the damage from happening again and at all.
Some ways to prevent future pet-related damage include:
- Clean urine as soon as it occurs
- Potty-train your furry friend
- Groom your pet, especially their nails
- Steam clean monthly
- Add a rug runner during the rainy season
When you schedule regular maintenance, it’s a good time for professionals to fix snags, bunching, and tears.
In addition, you can purchase insurance to protect you financially in case of total loss.
Conclusion
Your pets can live in harmony with your home’s high-end rug. Accidents can happen to anyone including four-legged family members. Keeping the tapestry in good shape requires preventive measures. Then, remember to teach your pet that it’s not a toy. If they’re drawn to it anyway, make some changes to the tapestry’s location.
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