I see you’re looking to know how to clean classroom rugs, eh? Well, good news because you’re in the right place!
I love classroom rugs, they’re always a great addition to any classroom as they add fun, color, and coziness while also providing plenty of benefits that both teachers and students can gain from.
But as with any other type of rugs, over time they collect dirt, debris, spills, stains, and just everything that we don’t want to be staying there because in the classroom germs are a big no-no!
So what is the best way to clean and care for them? All that and other amazing tips are coming at you today, just read on!
How To Clean Classroom Rugs: 5 Easy Clean And Care Tips!
There are two reasons why a teacher should know how to clean and care for classroom rugs.
One is because germs are everywhere and one of a teacher’s duties is to maintain cleanliness to keep kids healthy and always ready to learn.
And two is to help preserve the looks of your classroom’s centerpiece that add warmth and color to a classroom.
And of course, you made an excellent choice to invest in a classroom rug and who doesn’t want their investment to last through the years, right? You’ll be able to expect years of use as long as they are properly maintained. We all want to make sure that we get our money’s worth because classroom rugs aren’t that cheap.
It’s also best to keep in mind that even though manufacturers back up their classroom rug products with superb warranties, some cleaning methods may void those warranties so it’s best to know the best cleaning methods that are still in line with those warranties and will keep your classroom rug in its pristine condition. (Check the link below for some of the best and most affordable classroom rugs!)
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1.) Daily Care
Daily care for classroom rugs is a must to help prevent damage to carpet fibers caused by dirt and soil build-up, and since it’s used for the classroom, other debris and spills can also add up to that dirt and soil.
One of the best ways to daily care for classroom rugs is to vacuum them. Alternatively, you can choose to sweep your rug with a broom with soft bristles to help with removing debris and other forms of dirt.
But it’s recommended that you give it a thorough vacuuming at least once or twice a week to help maximize the lifespan of your classroom rug.
Keeping it in its tip-top shape means you’ll help maximize its life span and its sustainability as you will not have the need to replace it after a few years of use.
And of course, for hygienic reasons, consistently vacuuming your classroom rug can help prevent your classroom rug from being a hotspot for germs which is as I have mentioned a big no-no for teachers.
JUST A TIP: when you’re vacuuming, please refrain from going over the edges also called the serge as it might get torn and damaged as serge damages are not usually covered by warranties.
Also the type of vacuum you use also matters. There are vacuums with CRI-approved seals that can help you know which type of vacuum can really do the job of cleaning and removing dust, dirt, and soil build-up and maintaining your classroom rug shape as well.
2.) Deep Cleaning
Just like our house that we clean regularly, it’s important to have an occasional general cleaning and major decluttering to keep your space spick and span. The same goes for classroom rugs. A good deep cleaning is a vital aspect that can prolong your classroom rug’s lifespan at a better rate.
Rug cleaning can be a bit troublesome, especially for teachers, but if you know how to do it correctly you’ll be able to do it in a breeze and you’ll be left with a fresh and vibrant classroom rug that students always want to stay on.
Now for deep cleaning of your classroom rug, which you can do at least once or twice a month, regular powdered dry cleaning products are your best bet, they can be vacuumed easily right after and they will not leave any form of residue or product on the rug after.
Never go for any cleaner with strong bleach and chemical products as this can damage the fibers of your rug and alter its colors as well. Strong cleaners can also leave a chemical scent lingering after cleaning that can be a bit strong for kids to smell.
And before you start to apply the dry cleaning product that you have, always try a patch test first. Apply it to a small area and see if it affects the colorfastness of your classroom rug. If it does not affect the fibers and alter the color, you’re all good to go!
3.) Spot Cleaning
Accidents are inevitable in the classroom, especially with younger students. That’s why it’s best to know what to do when the time comes and you need to clean up any liquid spills on your classroom rug, especially if it’s a drop of paint, juice spills, or just about any type of liquid that might become a permanent stain.
And we all know that once stains are there, they will always be there once it permanently settles—which can be kind of annoying.
But before that happens, know that you can do something but you need to do something as soon as possible in order to prevent that permanent stain.
It’s best to get it while it’s still wet because once it dries down it will be more difficult to get rid of.
Step 1: The rule of thumb when it comes to removing spills on rugs and carpets is to NEVER SCRUB OR RUB, this will make matters worse. ALWAYS BLOT, in this way you’ll get the excess liquid onto the dry cloth or tissue paper better as it will absorb it and not spread it further.
Step 2: Get enough water to saturate the area where the spill is, water is the least invasive solution that you can try to use first when removing stains from water-based liquids like juice spills, washable markers, and food spills, dirt, and even some forms of paint.
Step 3: Now if the water does not work, you can now grab warm soapy water and scrub the area of the stain with a soft bristle brush. After that, you can simply go over it with water and blot it down again to dry down the area.
Start from the outside edge of the stain and gently work your way inwards until you have covered all the areas of the spill or stain. Remember to avoid aggressively scrubbing as this can create a fuzzy area on your classroom rug.
It’s important to dry out the area as best you can as moisture can weaken the fibers of your classroom rug. Then lastly, just vacuum it, as usual, to give it that extra cleaning afterward.
NOTE: for removing sticky spots caused by gums, wax, or glue, ice is your friend. Simply put ice in a ziplock bag or any type of plastic bag and place them over the affected area.
Ice can help harden the affected area and once it solidifies, simply grab any tool that you can use preferably a spoon to scrape off the sticky residue and blot it with water or rubbing alcohol after to thoroughly cleanse it.
And after that, your classroom rug will be good as new again!
4.) Maintaining Tips
We have already tackled daily care, deep cleaning, and spot cleaning for classroom rugs. Now we will be going over some great maintenance tips to keep your rug in its best shape for it to last through your years of teaching.
Utilize paddings – One of the best ways to preserve your classroom rug’s condition is by utilizing paddings especially if you are going to place it in a high-traffic area. Not only will the paddings help preserve its shape they will also help stabilize it to reduce the risks of slips and falls.
Most educational or classroom rugs are already equipped with wonderful anti-skid features, but it’s always best to be extra safe especially when it comes to the safety of our students.
Classroom rug paddings are also a must especially if you have slippery floors in your classroom this is to give your rug that extra grip so that it will stay in place even if your students dance and jump on top of them.
You just need to make sure that the paddings or underlay that you will use will be a few inches shorter than your classroom rug to avoid the edges of your rug from lifting which can lead to trip hazards which teachers absolutely say no to!
Rotate regularly – Another thing that you can do to help maintain your classroom rug’s condition is to rotate it regularly and change its pathway. In this way, you’ll get to change the pathway of the traffic especially if it’s in a high-usage area.
Rotating it regularly every one to two months will ensure that the wearing of the classroom rug is even and will not create uneven piles of fiber throughout the lifespan of the rug.
Block sunlight – You might think that letting your classroom rug bathe in sunlight is a good thing, but sad to say that it’s actually not.
Harmful UV rays from the sun can greatly damage the fibers of your classroom rug and weaken them to the extent that they get brittle easily and break over time. Try to choose a spot in your classroom that gets the least amount of sun exposure that way you’ll better preserve your rug’s condition.
Let it breathe – Air out your classroom rug and let it breathe every now and then especially if you are going to use your classroom rug that’s always air-conditioned and has poor ventilation, this step is necessary for you.
Bacteria and germs love moisture, and if your classroom rug is always moist chances are it will start to be a hotbed for germs and bacteria to breed on which will later on cause a foul smell and other unpleasant experiences that we do not want happening in the classroom.
It’s ideal for you to do this every 3-6 months depending on the humidity of your classroom or you can do this every time your rug comes in contact with any kind of moisture. Just let it sit outside for a couple of hours and after that, it’s all good to use again.
Flip the rug – If your classroom rug has fringes that seem to be getting twisted and tangled easily, it can be quite bothersome. What you can do to help lessen the twists and tangles is to flip the rug whenever you can.
This will help straighten them out and you’ll have tangle-free fringes all the time. This would also present an opportunity for you to clean the underside of your rug because they need some cleaning action too!
5.) Seek professional help
In times of doubt and if you have already tried everything you can to try and remove the stain on your classroom rug but it just won’t do, never hesitate to call in the professionals because trust me they know what they’re doing.
Aside from the daily care and maintenance tips I have provided, it is also ideal for you to have your classroom rug washed and cleaned professionally every two to three years. This will best extend the life of your rug as your students also get to enjoy better comfort and quality whenever they sit on your classroom rug.
In Essence
A classroom rug is never a wrong idea for a teacher to make, and since you have already decided to buy one and use one, it’s best to know how to clean and care for them as soon as you get them.
As they give comfort and coziness to your classroom, it’s best to return the favor by simply giving it some TLC to help preserve its use and lifespan better. These are some general cleaning instructions, remember that it’s always best to follow the care label that comes with your rug in order to know the specific tips to follow to clean and care for your rug.
I hope this helped you figure out how to care for your rug and maximize its lifespan so that you and your students can continuously gain from its benefits!
Until our next one! Happy cleaning!
