Roll out the welcome mat and get acquainted with our guide on how to clean a rug—because how long has it been, honestly?

Q: My mother gave me two very nice Oriental rugs for my apartment, which has old pine-board flooring. What’s the best way to clean them? Can I steam clean them? — Megan, via e-mail A: Steam cleaning ...

My neighbor is moving and gave me her 8-by-12-foot Persian rug. She says it needs to be cleaned. I found out it might cost $500 or more to have it professionally cleaned, and I might not even like the ...