Summer is coming and before you know it, school will be out! (HOORAY!) So what's the best way to store your classroom area rug over those months?

KidCarpet.com loves repeat customers, but not because your precious rug was ruined by improper handling! Here are some points for proper storage:

Clean the Rug Thoroughly

Before you put your rug away in storage, be sure to give it a good cleaning. To properly clean your rug, start by vacuuming it with a high-quality vacuum. Avoid vacuuming over the serging (the binding around the edge of the rug). You may want to have it professionally cleaned, which is a good idea as long as it is thoroughly dry before rolling it up. Always follow our cleaning instructions, which can be found on our website under the heading “What you Need to Know Before you Buy”

Tightly Roll the Rug When Storing

Folding a rug can cause the backing to break and once that’s done, it’s game over! All sorts of creases and folds will appear and your rug may never lay flat again. Therefore, you always want to roll your rug into a tight cylinder. Typically, you’ll want to roll the rug with the pile facing inward (the pile is the top side of the rug).

You’ll also want to make sure you keep the rug as straight as possible when rolling. Once the rug is rolled, you’ll want to wrap it in some sort of protective fabric. We recommend keeping the plastic the rug came in. It’s a polyurethane wrapping, which will help protect it from dust and moisture. If that is not available, you can use plastic or a sheet to protect it. 

Store in a Cool Environment

Last but not least, make sure you store your rug in a cool, dry environment, and preferably one that’s off the ground. Also, don’t place anything on top of the rug, as this can cause cracks and creases.