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.
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