Your Year-Round Rug Care Calendar: Month-by-Month Maintenance Guide

Most rug damage happens not from a single event, but from months and years of small neglects. Skipping a rotation, forgetting moth treatment, putting off cleaning until “next season.”

This calendar gives you a simple, month-by-month framework for rug care guide— tailored to the Bay Area’s specific climate, pest patterns, and lifestyle. Bookmark this page, print it, or set reminders on your phone. Your rugs will last decades longer for the effort.

January: Post-Holiday Assessment

Inspect all rugs for holiday damage — wine stains, food spills, candle wax, and heavy foot traffic wear from entertaining. Spot-clean any fresh stains before they set. Vacuum thoroughly. This is your reset after the busiest rug-use period of the year.

February: Schedule Spring Cleaning

Book professional cleaning now for March-April pickup. Spring is our busiest season and slots fill fast. Call (510) 240-7360 to get on the schedule early. Add moth prevention treatment to your order — moth season begins in April.

March: Rotate All Rugs

Rotate every rug 180 degrees. This distributes wear patterns and sun exposure that accumulated over winter. For dining room rugs, rotate 90 degrees to shift chair-wear zones. Check rug pads while you’re at it — if any are compressed, crumbling, or sticky, order replacements.

April: Professional Cleaning Month

This is the ideal time for your annual professional cleaning. Your rug has accumulated winter’s soil, and moth season is beginning. A clean, moth-treated rug enters the warm months protected.

Check for moth activity: look under furniture for bare patches, webbing, or small casings. If you find any, mention it when scheduling — we’ll prioritize treatment.

May: UV Protection Check

As days get longer, check how sunlight hits your rugs. South and west-facing rooms get intense afternoon sun May through September. Adjust blinds, install UV-filtering window film, or reposition vulnerable rugs away from direct beams. This is also a good time to read our sun fading prevention guide.

June: Fog Season Preparation

Bay Area fog season begins. If you’re in a fog-belt neighborhood (Sunset, Richmond, Pacifica, coastal Marin), start running a dehumidifier in rooms with rugs. Target 30-50% humidity. Increased moisture promotes mold and attracts moths — two threats that work together to damage rugs silently.

July: Mid-Year Vacuum Check

By now, six months of regular vacuuming may have dulled your vacuum’s effectiveness. Check and replace the filter (especially HEPA filters). Inspect the brush roll for wrapped hair or string. A well-maintained vacuum is your primary defense between professional cleanings.

August: Summer Entertaining Prep

Summer barbecues and outdoor-indoor living mean increased foot traffic and spill risk. Place runners or washable rugs in high-traffic paths between outdoors and indoor living spaces. Position a doormat at every entrance. Have your stain emergency kit stocked and accessible.

September: Rotate Again

Second rotation of the year — 180 degrees on all rugs. Sun patterns have shifted from summer, and this rotation ensures even exposure going into fall. Inspect fringe and edges after summer’s increased traffic.

October: Pre-Holiday Cleaning Window

If you’re hosting Thanksgiving or holiday parties, schedule cleaning now for November return. This is your last comfortable window before the holiday rush. A clean rug for the holidays is both beautiful and practical — it handles heavy entertaining better when starting from a clean baseline.

November: Moth Season Wind-Down

Bay Area moth activity typically decreases as temperatures cool (though our mild winters mean they never fully stop). Do a moth inspection — check under furniture, in dark corners, and along baseboards. If you see any activity, call us immediately. Late-season moths can establish populations that overwinter and explode in spring.

December: Holiday Protection Mode

Holiday entertaining is peak stain-risk season. Keep your emergency stain kit stocked (white cloths, cold water spray bottle, mild dish soap). Position candles away from rugs (or use flameless alternatives). Brief holiday guests on the shoe situation — a friendly shoe tray near the door keeps winter mud off your rugs.

The Two Non-Negotiable Annual Tasks

If this entire calendar feels like too much, commit to just two things:

One professional cleaning per year (spring is ideal). This alone extends your rug’s life by decades compared to never cleaning professionally.

Moth prevention treatment once per year (applied during your annual cleaning). This single addition protects against the most devastating rug damage in the Bay Area.

Everything else on this calendar is beneficial. These two are essential.

We Make It Easy

Call (510) 240-7360 once a year, and we handle the rest — free pickup, professional cleaning, moth treatment, inspection, and delivery back to your door. That one phone call is the single most impactful thing you can do for your rugs all year.

Save our number. Set a reminder. Your rugs — and your future self — will appreciate it.