I think it is because children are always so busy playing. They never need the time to just sit and rest like adults do and the open expanse of the floor provides them with the space they need to play. When I was a child it was all about toy cars and building blocks (and a set of plastic farmyard animals with which I spent hours recreating the drama and socialist oppression of George Orwell’s Animal Farm). These days there is more of a tendency towards bizarre Japanese video games but one thing never changes – children need a lot of space.

So if your children are going to spend a lot of time on the floor it only seems right that you give them a comfortable rug to play on. Their very own kid rug to call their own. But what styles of kids area rugs are out there. With the internet it’s easy to find quick pictures and prices on all types of kid rugs.

The most famous of all kids rugs, and still the most popular by far is the classic street-map rug. This design has been copied many times. I never had one myself but I always envied those who did (perhaps if I had one I would have let the bloodshed of the farmyard spill out onto the streets and called in my green plastic soldiers to restore order. Although these rugs are equally suited to children who enjoy simply playing with toy cars). Of course this rug, or any other kids rugs might not be suited to your living room, but it would make a great addition to a child’s bedroom or playroom.

The great thing about rugs is that they are easy to clean. This makes them ideal if you have children, as we all know how sticky they can be. You can also shake your kids rug outside, removing the dirt and dust that will inevitably build up on your floor, which will help to keep your children clean and healthy. Why do kids always sit on the floor? Well why would you want them to sit on your nice clean sofa when they would be happier when left to play on their own comfortable kids area rug?

One of the great things about rugs is that they are usually relatively easy to clean. Many modern rugs can be machine washed (although you might not want to do this with expensive or more delicate rugs) providing that they are small enough to fit in the machine. Others can be easily hand washed. On a more day-to-day basis, all rugs can be shaken or beaten outside to quickly remove dust and dirt. An ordinary carpet cleaning solution or fabric cleaner can also be effective on some rugs.

Of course, some stains are more difficult to clean and require special attention. In this instance you might want to call in an expert or take your rug to a rug cleaning service. If you feel that you want to tackle that difficult stain on your own, however, here is some advice that might help you. This information was compiled by Nourison and first published on their website (nourison.com). As such this rug cleaning advice is written to be used with Nourison rugs specifically, however it should be relevant to most rugs.

Detergent or white vinegar can be used to remove the following stains: Beer, blood, chewing gum, candy and chocolate, fruit juice, gravy, ice cream, lipstick, mustard, salad dressing, shoe polish, vomit, wine and tea

Urine and excrement can also be removed this way and should be removed immediately as chemicals can damage the dyes used in some rugs. For stains caused by pet urine or feces you should contact a professional cleaner or rug cleaning service.

Fat and oil should be first dabbed clean with tissue, then ironed to evaporate the remaining oil before cleaning with cleaning fluid.

Jam can be removed with nothing more than warm water.

Ink, paint and grass stains should be removed using methylated spirits or turpentine. But remember to use this substance sparingly as it can also remove the dyes used in some rugs. In most cases it would be preferable to consult a specialist rug cleaning service before using this technique.

This advice may be generally useful for Nourison rugs and for other types of rug, but remember that different types of rug will require special attention. Because of this it is important to always check the manufacturers guidelines on the label. When in doubt, or if your rug does not have a label, you should always contact a professional rug cleaner for advice.

If you do accidentally spill something onto your new rug, the most important thing to remember is not to panic. People often make matters worse by acting rashly and hurriedly trying to remove the stain without checking the best way to do this. There is an answer to every problem and your rug can be easily restored with the right know-how.