Rug dusting is an integral part of area rug cleaning. There are two types of soil: dry and sticky.
- Dry soil is abrasive by nature. It erodes the foundation yarn and scratches the colorful pile of rugs. Approximately 80 percent of the soil in a rug is dry particulate soil consisting of loose and dry dust, dirt, sand, hair and allergens. This is what you find in vacuum bags.
- Sticky soil is the grimy film that adheres tenaciously to the rug.
Dry soil builds up in the base of a carpet. The tight warp and thick pile of hand woven rugs are great hiding places for dry soil. Even rugs that look clean are often found to have dry soil build-up. To check a rug for dry soil, lift a corner and hit the backing with your hand or a flat object. If you see a puff or cloud of dust then the rug needs dusting. Another benefit of dusting is that some dry soil becomes sticky soil when wet, making it more difficult to remove from the depths of the rug. Thus, to dust is a must.
