Buying a rug online from local marketplaces can be a great deal.
You can score great deals on area rugs & oriental rugs that have been listed in your area, but sometimes you cannot see spots or smell odors when you view it online. Below are some tips for getting the great deal you bargained for and actually coming out on the winning side. If you are buying a delicate rug, read more about whether oriental rug cleaning is a job for the pros.
Secondhand Rug Odor Issue
- Ask before driving out to look at the rug or purchasing online whether or not it comes from a smoking household. Smoke absorbs readily into rugs and can last long after a cigarette is put out. It is up to you whether you want to buy a rug from a smoker. The most thorough and complete way to rid the odor from the rug is to call Angelo’s Carpet Cleaning and have a professional rug cleaning. If you want to attempt it yourself, try getting a box of baking soda and sprinkling it over your rug. Wait a few hours and vacuum it up. The odor may be lessened by doing this. Also airing it outside is a good idea if the weather is cooperating. Make sure to hang it on chairs or a bench to ensure that air circulation gets to both sides of the rug.
- Did you also ask if the rug comes from a household with pets? You may not see a stain in the pictures or even in the owner’s house, but a previous attempt to clean up a cat or dog accident may not have been as thorough as you, the new owner of the rug, would like. Urine odors are extremely hard to get rid of in a carpet and can linger. You may not smell old spots on a rug but your cat or dog may be able to detect them right away and get the wrong idea. If the rug is in your house and you believe there could be old urine areas on it, a great way to find them is to watch where your dog or cat is sniffing. Another way is to get a black light. Believe it or not, black lights can show spots in a rug that the visible eye cannot see. Once you know where the areas are there are many products on the market that can neutralize the odor. We also offer a pet odor service to make this unsavory chore an easy phone call or click away. You can also review our pet urine removal directions for carpets and rugs.
- Oh no – you unrolled the carpet and found a small hole, what should you do? Examine the entire rug. If you find other holes or areas where fibers are worn away, it could be a sign that the rug had a moth problem. If you have a wool rug this is probably the case and it is extremely wise to make sure that there are no living bugs, moths or larvae living in the rug. A rug that is infested could be a problem because they could travel to other rugs in your home. One way to deal with this awful issue is to call Angelo’s. We can give your carpet a deep and thorough clean to help address the problem. If you are a do-it-yourselfer, follow product labels carefully and avoid bringing the rug indoors until you are confident the issue is resolved.
For general maintenance after you buy a rug, see our area rug cleaning tips and professional care.
