Key differences
| Factor | Wall-to-wall carpet | Area rug |
|---|---|---|
| Installation | Stretched over pad | Loose, on floor or pad |
| Fiber range | Mostly synthetic | Synthetic to silk, wool, jute |
| Edges | Hidden at walls | Binding or fringe exposed |
| Drying | Top only | Can dry both sides |
| Wear management | Furniture moves, runners | Rotate and flip |
| Specialist needed? | Rarely | For hand-made, oriental, natural fibers |
Rug-specific care
- Rotate every few months for even wear and sun exposure.
- Use a rug pad to reduce slipping and wear.
- Vacuum without catching fringe.
- Check dye stability before cleaning.
Carpet-specific care
- Vacuum traffic areas often.
- Protect with entry mats and runners.
- Periodic hot-water extraction, per CRI guidance (CRI).
What we clean
We clean wall-to-wall carpet and manufactured, synthetic area rugs. We don't clean oriental, delicate or imported rugs. See area rug cleaning, professional rug steam cleaning and carpet cleaning.
