Posted on November 19, 2019 by Behnam Rugs

Robotic Vacuums are Not Rug Safe

It’s a tale as old as time- a customer brings their fine handmade rug in for repairs at Behnam Rugs because they believe their dog has chewed it. While this does happen, the more likely culprit is actually your vacuum cleaner, especially automatic robot vacuums. Robotic vacuums spell disaster for your precious rugs.

Rug Damage: How to Tell the Difference Between Pet Damage and Vacuum Damage

So, how can I tell if Spot chewed my rug or if the vacuum cleaner is to blame?

Well, when dogs chew on rugs, they typically remove whatever they have been chewing on completely, leaving a torn spot. Whereas robotic vacuums and vacuuming with a beater brush chews up the edges of your rug but leaves the damage without removing it.

These machines almost always damage the corners of a rug. They can’t tell a stray piece of yarn from handmade fringe, which is the first casualty when it comes to robotic vacuum damage. Still unsure if your dog is responsible for the damage or the vacuum? Check out the image below.

As you can see, the dog damage looks like someone hacked the edge off the rug with very dull scissors. On the other hand, the vacuum damage creates torn fringe and a look that says, “I’ve been chewed up!”

Robotic vacuums and the beater brush simply don’t have enough power to remove the damage they cause. Instead, they chew the edges without removing them, resulting in tears, damaged fringe, and general unraveling.

So, what can you do to prevent vacuum casualties? Don’t use robotic vacuums! And never vacuum with the beater brush. You may be wondering how you will clean your fine rug. Luckily, vacuuming is completely safe when vacuuming without an extension or beater brush. Sadly, it’s probably time to retire your robotic vacuum.

However, having to put a bit more effort into cleaning your home is a small price to pay for a rug in perfect condition. As for dog damage, this is harder to prevent. Keeping an eye on your pet and not leaving them unsupervised with a fine rug is about the extent of preventative measures.

If your fine handmade rug has been chewed up by vacuum or dog, don’t despair! Bring it to the experts at Behnam Rugs. Most damage done by these culprits can be repaired. The value of your rug won’t be the same, but repairs can restore at least some of the worth to your rug. Call 972-733-0400.