
Your indoor-outdoor rug is built to function as stain- and mildew-resistant, but it could still start to look dingy and dull with time. A good scrubbing with bleach rectifies the problem, killing away mildew, eliminating refreshing and stains the rug. Because your rug is probably made of the thermoplastic resin Olefin or a similar artificial, the dye is part of this carpet’s fibers and consequently bleach-safe. If you’re not sure what your rug is constructed of, test the bleach solution in a concealed area before you get started.
The Ideal Workspace
Even though your indoor-outdoor rug is probably bleachable, the surrounding surfaces and vegetation where the rug is located probably aren’t. Move the rug to your drive, a color-fast hardwood deck or cement terrace. Cover any surrounding vegetation, including your lawn, with tarps when you have no way to divert the run-off in a safe direction during cleaning. Bleach can kill plants, bushes and certain kinds of grass, even though you’ll be using a heavily-diluted edition. Lay down a tarp to protect the surface you’re cleaning the rug on from unnecessary exposure to substances. If the rug is small, it is possible to simply clean it in the bathtub.
Vacuum First to steer clear of Wicking
Olefin and other synthetics have a sneaky habit of making you believe the fibers are clean when wet, yet surprising you with stains, spots and an overall dinginess once dry. This is because the dirt sinks to the bottom of the rug when it is wet, yet produces its way back to the surface since the humidity dissipates. Because of this, it is important to vacuum the rug thoroughly with a wet/dry vacuum to pull as much dirt and dirt from this material as you can. Your household vacuum probably is not strong enough to pull out all the dirt, and you will need a wet/dry vacuum for cleaning. If you don’t have one on hand, you can usually rent one from the local hardware store.
Wash With Diluted Bleach
Mix 1 cup of unscented household bleach with 8 cups of water. Wearing gloves and a face mask in case you’re sensitive to fumes, wet a stiff scrub brush with the option and apply it to the rug, working the option to the carpet’s fibers. Keep re-dipping and scrubbing, working from one end of the rug to another. A harsh hand is not necessary — only let the bristles of the brush do the job for you. Wait about five minutes before rinsing it to give the bleach time to eliminate the seams and lighten stains. Utilize your wet/dry vacuum to suck just as much excess moisture from this rug as possible.
Sun Drying and Future Cleaning
You can’t throw your indoor-outdoor rug in the drier; even if it’s little enough, the dryer’s heat can warp the artificial fibers. Rather, set the rug outside in a sunny area to complete drying once you remove the extra water with the wet/dry vacuum. It should only take a couple of hours, and the sunlight will eliminate any lingering mildew or moss in the rug. Even though bleach-cleaning is a fantastic choice on event, it is ideal to clean the rug with mild dish soap and water every couple of months to lessen the demand for bleaching and keep the rug clean.
A Notice on Non-Bleachable and Natural-Fiber Rugs
If the dye bleeds when you test the bleach alternative, use the same method explained with undiluted white distilled vinegar for a similar deep tidy. The uncommon all-natural fiber indoor-outdoor rug shouldn’t be nourished, and some could take a dry cleaning powder in lieu of soap and water. If this describes your rug, refer to your rug’s care manual for cleaning directions.