828 greets spring with Flora area rugs

Greenville, S.C. – Spring is the source of inspiration for the newest area rug collection from 828 International Trading Co., dubbed Flora, which depicts a field of fresh flowers amid fronds and other botanicals.

Included in the series are transitional floral arrangements, all of which colored in soothing combinations. One palette combines dusty blue with sandy beige, chocolate brown and sage for the flowers, set on a black background.

Flora is a hand-tufted collection made of a polyester-and-acrylic blend in cuts and loops with an extra twist added for dimension and texture.

Sizes include 3-foot-5-inch-by-5-foot-5-inch, 5-by-8, 8-by-10 and 9-by-12. The suggested retail price point is $369 for a 5-by-8.

Latex may cause rug odor

Q: I bought an area rug and now it really stinks. I've tried airing it and cleaning it. Is there anything else to be done? What causes rugs to stink?

A: Odors, unless caused by pets or mildew, have to do with how the rug was made.

Typically, odors occur when rugs are made by punching fibers into a latex backing, sometimes called hand-tufted. It's the type of latex used that causes the odor, which is sometimes described as a burning rubber smell, moldy or acrid. It can start within weeks or over time. Odors can become more noticeable with high humidity or when there's less air movement in a room. Cleaning or treating the rug won't help. It's best to move on.

If it isn't a punched rug, however, cleaning may solve the problem. A rug cleaner can help you identify the type of rug and determine whether it's better to clean it or throw it away. But don't invest in cleaning if the rug is punched unless the cleaner will guarantee odor elimination.

The next time you buy a rug:

• Learn about the different types of area rugs: hand-knotted, hand-tufted, machine-made, etc. Although not all machine-made or hand-tufted rugs will have odor problems, they are more likely to cause problems.

• Buy from a reputable company or store, one that will be around if you should have problems. Carefully review the company's return policy.

• Keep copies of sales slips and all materials that come with the rug purchase.

• Be careful when buying secondhand rugs, especially those you can't "nose test," such as from online sites such as eBay or Craigslist. What seems like a good deal may not be.

Area rugs on carpets keep moving

When I lay area rugs over carpets with kids around the area rugs move around and turn up at the corners and gets ruined.

How can I keep these area rugs from moving ?

We used the rubber/latex available at Home Depot. Using this, the area rugs hold on tile but not on carpet.

Can anyone suggest anything ?

Thanks,

Kim

Could try one of those things for "sewing" on buttons that use plastic fasteners - like what price tags are fastened onto clothing with. It might not be real secure, but should give in case someone trips on the edge of the rug. Or a curved upholstery needle to stitch them down with?