Sixty-four percent of U.S. homeowners have rugs in their homes, according to a recent survey by the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification, but only 40 percent clean them on a regular basis.

Like carpets, rugs require proper maintenance to retain their appearance and durability.

The Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification, or IICRC, recommends the following steps to keep rugs looking great:

• Know what type of rug you own be-cause machine-made rugs, hand-knotted rugs or tufted-construction rugs, as well as various fibers used in the rug, affect the method of cleaning.

• Use padding underneath the rug to protect floors, keep the rug in place and lessen damage.

• Blot spilled liquids quickly with a dry, white cloth or paper towel.

• Vacuum rugs regularly front-back-front to remove particle soil.

• Store clean rugs wrapped in paper in a clean, dry location.

For cleaning, call a certified professional.