How to Save Money when Shopping for a Classroom Rug

Classroom rugs provide a separate and inviting space for kids to gather at special times throughout the school day. Teachers may use rugs for story time, play time or to give individualized instruction to small groups. Educational rugs come in many kid-friendly styles and designs, including alphabet and animal themes, music prints and outdoor scenes. However, buying a classroom rug can be expensive, and teachers often have to make the most of a small yearly spending budget.

If you are a teacher or a child care provider, the following tips can help you get an educational classroom rug without breaking the bank.

Go Online

The Internet offers a wealth of options for teachers who are looking for a traditional classroom rug for less. Online retailers often offer classroom carpets at prices lower than the list price you will find in brick and mortar retail stores, and many even have seasonal sales especially for teachers. Plus, you can browse a large selection of styles, shapes, colors and subjects for every kind of classroom in no time at all. However, high shipping costs may negate the benefit of buying discount rugs, so be sure to purchase from a seller that offers free shipping on their classroom rugs for extra savings.

Shop the Sales

Whether you shop online or off, many children’s rug retailers carry what are referred to as ‘Factory Second’ rugs. Factory Seconds are rugs that have minor flaws such as very small dye spots, backing flaws or a seam that hasn’t been sewn perfectly straight. These production flaws are often so small they are not even visible to the naked eye. Because of these minor flaws, retailers have to sell them for a small portion of the original cost, which means big savings for you. Factory Seconds have the same quality as the full-priced versions making them the best option for anyone looking for cheap classroom rugs.

Don't Be Afraid of Discount Stores

Some department stores also offer area rugs at affordable prices. Usually used in the home, these rugs translate well to classrooms and come in a variety of colors and styles. Although these rugs are not traditional educational rugs, they will still work to make the learning environment more welcoming, comfortable and cozy. Buying rugs this way can offer you a better selection of styles than some other discount shopping options, including seasonal rugs for different times of year such as Halloween or Christmas. Seasonal designs will likely be less expensive at the end of a season, so planning ahead is always a good idea.

Look for Freebies

Sometimes it's possible to get classroom carpeting for free. Some stores may have leftover pieces or carpet samples that they no longer have any use for. There's no harm in asking about these options; in fact, there are stores that are more than willing to donate or otherwise give away their "leftovers" to schools and other organizations. This doesn't mean that teachers have to go begging for scraps of carpet and settle for secondhand junk; the rugs that stores use as display or samples are the same quality as those that may be purchased for full price. If a full-sized carpet can't be found, teachers may wish to consider combining two or three smaller rugs into a unique style that matches the personality of their classroom.

By using classroom carpets, teachers can divide their rooms into different areas without having to buy new furniture or do much rearranging. Getting kids away from their desks now and then helps refocus their attention, not to mention that a comfy carpet is a relaxing place to take a break from standard, uncomfortable classroom seating.

Before buying any carpeting, teachers should check with their school and local fire department to make sure that rugs are allowed and the carpet that they want complies with any local fire codes to ensure that the kiddos are safe as can be.

How to Clean and Care for Your Classroom Rug

Many classrooms around the country use small, educational rugs to decorate the space and enhance the learning process. Classroom rugs often contain bright colors that encourage learning, create a cozy environment, and bring fun to the day. However, when young children are present, you know that dirt and other stain-causing materials are close by! Besides regular vacuuming, it is often necessary to remove stains in order to preserve the quality of the rug and keep the learning environment a clean and healthy one. The following carpet cleaning tips will help you clean and care for classroom rugs.

Removing Urine Stains

It is not uncommon for young children to have bathroom accidents in the classroom. If not cleaned properly, this can lead to bad odors and stains. An easy and safe way to clean the mess is with a mixture of water and distilled white vinegar. The solution can be sprayed or sponged onto the stain and allowed to sit for up to 10 minutes. Then, it can be blotted with paper towels. Some baking soda may also be added to remove remaining smells. A fan should be used to dry the rug quickly.

Crayon and Marker Stain Removal

Most classrooms are filled with arts and crafts supplies, which means crayons and markers are commonly used. Young children often find it fun to write on everything, which means marks on the rugs are not rare. To remove crayon stains, it is best to scrape the wax from the surface. To remove the color that remains, a mixture of one part rubbing alcohol and two parts water can be mixed and dabbed onto the area. To eliminate marker stains, dish washing soap may be the answer. Since most children's markers are washable, applying just enough dish soap to a wet rag will help blot away the stains.

If the culprit is finger paint, it is best that the paint is allowed to fully dry before attempting to scrape it away. To get rid of residual paint stains, liquid laundry soap should be mixed with water and dabbed over the mess.

Erase Juice Stains

What would snack time be without juice boxes? Juice and other food stains are some of the most common offenders. But fear not! They are generally easy to remove by using a mixture of laundry soap and water. After the solution is applied to the stain, blotted away and allowed to dry, it should magically disappear.

General Carpet Cleaning Tips

• Avoid saturating rugs with liquids, try an over-the-counter dry cleaner instead
• Avoid harsh cleaners that contain bleach or any other caustic chemicals that may cause the dye to run, fade or become damaged
• Always spot-test before using any cleaning products; choose a small, inconspicuous area to test on before attempting to clean a large portion of the rug
• Avoid aggressively rubbing or scrubbing the messed area; gentle blotting and dabbing will help pull the stain upwards, away from the rug, and won’t create a “fuzzy” area on the carpet
• Using a dry cloth, blot up as much of the stain as possible before utilizing a cleaner. This will reduce the amount of cleaner you will need to use
• Start at the outside edge of the stain and gently work your way inward
• Thoroughly vacuum the carpet after removing the stain

Maintaining a Rug on a Weekly or Monthly Basis

Regular vacuuming is necessary and will help maintain clean rugs in the classroom. If the rugs are small, it will be possible to shake them outside if a vacuum is not available. Regular vacuuming will reduce the amount of dust mites, germs and surface dirt that accumulates.

Some general vacuuming tips include:

• Maintain vacuum brush heads to ensure you are getting the cleanest clean possible and that you are removing more dirt and germs than you are depositing
• Daily vacuuming in high-traffic areas is ideal so that dirt and other deposits can’t penetrate deep into the rug making future carpet cleaning more difficult
• Most importantly when vacuuming your classroom rug, be sure to stay away from the surged edge. Getting too close to the edge may suck the rug up into the vacuum and damage it

A great way for a teacher to add interest to a classroom is with kids' rugs. These items are inexpensive tools that enhance learning environments. Children love to play on them, but dirt and stains tend to build over time. This is why it is important to find rugs that are colorfast, antimicrobial, and stain resistant. The above tips will help maintain and keep rugs clean, without the threat of damage or the use of harmful chemicals. With proper care, these rugs should last a long time and become regular additions to normal teaching material.

*Note* These are recommendations for general rug cleaning, please consult individual manufacturer instructions for cleaning and care of your specific rugs. Failure to do so may result in damage, staining, running, and fading of colors and materials.

About the Author: RTR Kids Rugs provides a wide variety of children's rugs that are the perfect addition to any school, church or daycare facility. Visit www.rtrkidsrugs.com to shop classroom rugs for kids or for more information.