Floor covering advice needed

[PeAceOuT]

Hi folks,

I'm feeling the need to change the flooring in my treatment room... it's carpeted, with a light color, inexpensive carpet that's seen better days and shows dirt much too well. Unfortunately, I can't change it permanently, so I need to cover it with something. I'm not familiar with solving a problem like this at all.

This "something" will inevitably get lotion or oil on it and be walked on with bare feet after a session. So while it needs to look and feel good, I can't see putting an expensive rug down. Are there any options that are possibly machine washable?? Or maybe I should invest in a steam vac?

 

[Tan Boon Hwee k]

Seagrass rugs are nice, the texture is unusual and not "soft" but very organic. I worked barefoot more often when I had the seagrass than I do now with a plush area rug.

If you have clients who come in with pantyhose on, you need to make sure that your dressing area is not covered with any natural fibers like seagrass or jute, it will snag the hose.

Area rugs are nice, but need to be heavy enough so they don't bunch easily and become a tripping hazard.

Steam cleaner would work well, and is more economic in the long run, I suspect. I have to replace my rug under the table about every 12- 18 months. Toward the end of that time, I dread seeing it in brighter light.

Using your hot towels on the feet at the end of the session will reduce the amount of oils being tracked around by your clients. Using lotion will reduce the amount of oils you are dripping on the rug. (I'm messy. Most of the oil stains that are on my rug are from me depressing the pump top too enthusiastically and squirting the floor, or bending too low and catching the pump on something which causes it to dispense on the floor or my pants. Whew, nice run-on.)

 

[Pompal 09.]

Thank you, that's exactly the kind of info I'm looking for.

Wow, so you replace it regularly. Is that with steam cleaning? How often do you steam clean it?

I've never felt seagrass, I assumed it would be too rough, but I will have to check it out.

 

[Herbie]

There are different weaves of seagrass that will be rougher or softer, depending upon how mature it was when harvested. Jute is another nice natural fiber, and can be woven soft.

It's very difficult to steam clean an area rug. If you have somewhere to hang it outside to dry, it can be done, but keep in mind you will have to block it too as it will end up very warped. Blocking will not fix the warping and it will not look the same after. If you were lucky enough to have a large waterproof area to let it dry, (like concrete,) you can steamclean your area rug, block it with cinder blocks, and it would be mostly back to normal.

Wool rugs steam clean more easily than synthetic fibers and last longer. Rugs with backing are nearly impossible to clean yourself. I don't clean my rugs, I freecycle or recycle, depending on the fiber content.