Rugs are a great addition to any room, adding warmth and texture to your space. However, over time, they can become dull and lose their lustre. If you're looking for an easy and budget-friendly way to freshen up your rugs without having to replace them entirely, we've got you covered! In this blog post, we'll cover some simple yet effective tips on how to breathe new life into your old rugs and make them look brand new again.

Rugs are often subjected to foot traffic, pet accidents, and spills, which can leave them with unpleasant odours. Luckily, there are some easy ways to deodorize your rugs using common household items.

One of the simplest methods of deodorizing your rug is to sprinkle baking soda over the surface of the rug and leave it to sit for 30 minutes. I recommend pouring the baking soda into a sieve and sprinkling it evenly over the surface of the rug. Then walk around on top of the rug (don't do this barefoot) so it presses into the carpet. Now leave the baking soda for 30 mins so it can seep all the way to the bottom of the rug. After you've let it sit, vacuum the baking soda up but make sure that the beater bar attachment in your vacuum has been removed as it can damage the fibres of the rug.

White vinegar is a versatile and effective cleaning agent that can be used to deodorize your rug. For this method, you'll need white vinegar, warm water, a teaspoon of dish soap and a spray bottle.

Mix equal parts white vinegar and warm water together in the spray bottle and shake it well. Then add a teaspoon of dish soap. Spray the solution on the carpet and then leave it to air dry. The vinegar should neutralise and disinfect the odours and the rug. Be careful not to apply too much solution as you could over-saturate the rug which can lead to a mildew problem.

Mildew smells may be more of a challenge to remove from your rug. If your rug has been subjected to moisture and dampness from being in a humid area then it can develop an unpleasant, musty smell.

If your rug is damp and there is water in it then you need to dry it. You can do this by either using an air humidifier or having several fans blowing on the rug. You could also move the rug into the sunlight to let it dry.

Once the rug is dry, you should clean the rug with white vinegar. You can do this by following the steps above, under the white vinegar section.

Urine stains and odours can be particularly tough to remove from rugs. If you have pets or young children, accidents are bound to happen. Fortunately, there are some effective ways to get rid of urine smells and stains.

First, blot up as much of the urine as possible with paper towels or a clean cloth. Avoid rubbing the stain, as this can push it deeper into the fibres of the rug. Then, mix 2 cups of warm water with 2 cups of white vinegar and SLOWLY add 4 tablespoons of baking soda to a spray bottle. Apply the solution to the affected area and leave it to sit for 5-10 minutes. After you've let it sit, blot dry the area with a soft cloth or towel.

If you act quickly, sparkling water is a great alternative to baking soda because the aerated carbonation can lift stains up and remove them from the rug fibres.

Start by blotting the stain up as much as you can. Then take your sparkling water and pour it over the stain and leave it to sit for a few minutes. You may also want to open a window or turn on a fan to help the rug dry faster. Then blot up the remaining sparkling water and leave it to dry. If the odour is still lingering then repeat the process.

In addition to basic odours, rugs can also become saturated with sweat smells. This is especially common in rugs located in high-traffic areas, such as near a sofa or in the lounge. Luckily, there are a couple of ways to remove the smell depending on how potent the smell is.

If the smell on your rug isn't too potent then you can spray your rug with Febreze Fabric which will help eliminate any nasty odours and replace them with fresher scents.

If you've tried Febreze Fabric and your rug still smells then I recommend using the Baking Soda method I showed near the top of this post. All you have to do is sprinkle baking soda in an even layer across your rug and leave it overnight then vacuum the rug in the morning.

If you've had your rug for a while, it might start looking flat and lifeless. If that's the case, keep reading as there are multiple ways to bring your rug back to life.

Before trying other ways to fluff your rug, I would recommend vacuuming. The suction from the vacuum might be able to pull the fibres up and give them some lift. When vacuuming, make sure that the beater bar has been removed otherwise it can cause damage to the rug. Vacuuming the rug won't be enough to fluff the fibres for most rugs but for some, this is all it needs.

If you are looking to fluff up a small rug or a small area on a rug then I would recommend placing a clean, damp towel (I recommend washing the towel in the washing machine and then removing it once the cycle has finished) over the area you want to fluff. Then, go over the towel with a warm iron - NOT HOT. Repeat until the fibres are nice and fluffy again.

Using a hair brush or a carpet rake, go over the rug raking up the fibres. This should hopefully give your rug a much-needed lift. If you don't have a hairbrush or carpet rake, then you can also use a fork or the edge of a spoon. This method may not be ideal if you have huge area rugs as it would take a long time but it would do just fine for smaller rugs.

Using a blow dryer is a simple process and shouldn't take you more than a few minutes. First start by filling a spray bottle with clean, warm water. Then spray the flat area with water making sure to cover the whole area with water but make sure not to soak the rug. Now grab your hairdryer and put it on low heat mode. Hold the dryer about 15cm away from the rug and move it back and forth across the area you are trying to fluff up. Once the rug is mostly dry, rub your hand across the fibres to straighten them up.

*We do not accept fault if you damage your rug by trying any of these methods.

If you found these tips useful then you should check out this great post from FibreSolve about How to Keep Your Carpets Looking New.