How to wash a area rug

How to Clean Area Rugs

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Photo: Michael Hession

Messes happen. Often where you least want them to. Whether the mess is caused by a pet having an accident, kids (or adults) spilling snacks, or someone tracking in mud, the area rugs in your home are especially primed for the messy parts of life. Some stains will be more stubborn than others, but the sooner you tackle them, the better your chances are of removing them. In addition to our own experience with cleaning up messes while testing dozens of rugs, we also spoke with Lisa Wagner, a second-generation rug cleaner and blogger at Rug Chick.

What you need

Various cleaning materials rest on a flatweave wool rug. Photo: Daniela Gorny

A vacuum cleaner: It’s important to remove as much dust and debris as possible from your rug before wetting it.
White cotton towels: Use these for blotting stains. Just make sure you use white towels, to avoid color transfer.
An old toothbrush, a carpet brush, or any soft-bristled brush: You’ll need a brush to work soap or stain remover into stubborn spots.
Mild dish soap, diluted with water: Dish soap (ideally dye-free) will gently remove stains without damaging rug fibers. Avoid using too much soap, especially on wool.
Stain remover (like Zout or Resolve): A stain remover will help with those stubborn stains.
Water: Use water for diluting soap, washing, and rinsing.
A garden hose: Use this to wash and rinse large rugs (if you don’t have a hose, you can use buckets of water).

Optional

A portable upholstery-and-carpet-cleaning machine: This is a heavy-duty option for attacking stubborn or old stains.

Who is this for?

Rug care can vary widely, depending on the type of rug you have. There are many different types of weaves and materials, so no single guide can easily—or briefly—cover how to clean all of them. But there are some general guidelines. We narrowed our focus to a few of the most common rug styles (which are also the ones we cover in our area rug guide):

Flatweaves: 100% cotton, cotton/polyester, or wool/cotton
Low-pile: polyester, polypropylene, or wool
High-pile: polypropylene or wool

For extra-large or delicate antique wool rugs, you’re better off consulting a professional in your area. Rug Chick has a great resource for finding local rug specialists.

Could I ruin my rugs by washing them at home?

Washing an entire rug at home will always carry a risk. In order to do it safely, always look at the care instructions, either on a still-attached tag or the manufacturer’s website. You can also reach out to local experts. In general, it’s worthwhile to clean thin, inexpensive rugs at home because the cost of professional cleaning can be more expensive than the rug itself. But thicker or more valuable rugs are risky to DIY, so proceed with caution, or reach out to a professional.

Not all rugs can be washed at home, especially extra-large, thick, antique, or heirloom ones. Wagner emphasized that it’s important to gather whatever information you can about your rug’s material and the type of care it needs, so that you don’t inadvertently introduce any mildew issues.

With at-home washings, low-pile wool rugs—especially multicolor ones—will likely bleed their colors. Some bleeding may not bother most rug owners, myself included, but this is a personal preference.

Always test a small area first. Wagner said, “I would rather have clients with clean and bled rugs than embedded with soil. ” Synthetic rugs don’t have dyes that bleed, but they can still buckle or develop mold due to natural fibers used in other parts of the rug (like the outer edges or interior fibers). To limit bleeding and deter any fungal growth, it’s important to dry rugs quickly.

How long will it take to clean?

For spot-cleaning messes, active cleaning time can take anywhere from 15 minutes to an hour. Most of the time spent will be passive, like letting the stain remover soak in and waiting for your rug to dry. The drying process can take anywhere from a few hours to a full day, but a fan or cool blow dryer can help speed up the process.

If you decide a rug is safe to wash at home, deep-cleaning the entire thing can take the better part of a day. But the active cleaning time shouldn’t take more than a couple of hours. Drying a rug, one of the most important steps, can take a few days, depending on your climate and how thick a rug is. With some smaller flatweave rugs that you can toss in the washer, the process is much easier. But you’ll still have to air-dry most of them.

How to clean an area rug

For spot-cleaning messes

After blotting, use a soft toothbrush to work some of the mild cleaner into the stain, if needed. Video: Daniela Gorny

When in doubt, first test an inconspicuous area to make sure the colors don’t run or the soap doesn’t stain your rug. Wagner recommends checking the Carpet and Rug Institute’s Spot Solver to find advice about dealing with specific stains on synthetic rugs.

If a mess contains any solids (like food, vomit, and the like), remove those first. Then use a clean white towel to blot the stain and remove as much liquid as possible.

Using a fresh white towel, apply a mild solution of dish soap or laundry detergent diluted in warm water. Use just enough of the mixture to soak the stain. But don’t overwet the area because that can spread the stain and take longer to dry, risking mold or mildew.

Rinse out the soap with warm water, and keep gently blotting the stain until it’s gone. This may take several passes, so be patient. Avoid the urge to scrub—blotting while applying pressure is the best way to avoid damaging fibers.

For stubborn stains, you can try an enzymatic stain remover like Zout or Resolve. Just be sure to check whether it’s safe for your rug’s material, or test a small area on your rug first and follow the instructions on the bottle. This process usually involves letting the product soak for a few minutes and then going back in with a damp rag or a soft brush to scrub the stain.

If all else fails—or you’re dealing with an old, set-in stain—consider investing in a portable carpet upholstery cleaner like the Bissell Little Green. These are wonderful tools for households with lots of rugs. And they’re also great at cleaning messes on carpets, couches, and other kinds of upholstery (like in your car).

Once your stain is gone, to avoid mildew forming, make sure the area dries completely. If needed, use a fan or hair dryer on “cold.” Improper drying can cause mold to form, especially on natural fibers, such as wool and cotton. If the rug stays damp for too long, it can also damage the floor underneath. Fully drying the area is essential!

For deep-cleaning small- to medium-size area rugs

A flatweave wool rug gets a pre-wash soak. Expect some colors to bleed on multicolor wool rugs like this one. Video: Daniela Gorny

For small flatweave synthetic or natural-fiber rugs

Vacuum or beat out as much dust as possible. If a small rug fits in your washer, you can likely toss it in there. But check the care label to be sure, and always err on the side of using a cold and gentle wash cycle. Afterward, lay the rug flat and air-dry it. To deter color bleeding on wool and cotton rugs, speed up the drying process by using fans.

For medium flatweave, low-pile, and high-pile synthetic rugs (or flatweave natural-fiber rugs)

Before wetting your rug, remove as much dust as possible. A good vacuuming of both sides can take care of dust, but if possible, take a rug outside and beat it over a balcony or rail. Rug Chick’s site has a great how-to video on vacuuming as well.

Using mild dish soap, first test a small area of the rug to see if the colors bleed too much or if the cleaner leaves a mark. If the colors run, you’ll likely need to take the rug to a professional cleaner. If your cleaned test area looks fine, you can continue, using a soft bristle brush to scrub the cleaner into the rug’s surface—treating any spots and stains according to our advice above.

If the thought of scrubbing an entire rug by hand sounds unappealing, senior staff writer Tim Heffernan relayed a far more fun and gentle process he was taught by a family member who sold antique Persian and Central Asian rugs:

“You lay the rugs out on a smooth, clean outdoor surface, soak them with a hose, work in some plain mild soap (not modern enzymatic detergent, which can destroy the otherwise immortal vegetable dyes and harm the wool) with your feet, like old-school grape-crushing, rinse thoroughly, and let dry flat. I’ve done this with our heirloom rugs on our balcony in Queens, and it works great.”

Video: Daniela Gorny

Once you’ve worked the cleaner into the entire rug, use a garden hose equipped with a spray nozzle to wash away the soap. If you don’t have a hose on hand, you can also use buckets of water. After rinsing, use clean, dry towels or a squeegee to remove as much excess water as possible. If you have a wet-dry vac, you could also use it to absorb more water.

Lay the rug flat and let it air-dry completely, which may take a couple of days, depending on your climate. Turn the rug over after a few hours to let both sides dry. Setting fans around the rug can help speed up the process and deter bleeding on wool rugs. “One tip would be to roll them inside large cotton towels and stand on the roll to press out as much excess water as you can, and then lay them out,” Wagner said.

Photo: Daniela Gorny

How often should I clean my rugs?

To extend the life of a rug, it’s crucial to regularly vacuum it and tend to messes early. Ideally, you would vacuum a rug once a week, but this will vary depending on lifestyle, pets, kids, and so forth. Rug Lady Seminars, a wonderful source of rug-cleaning information, has great advice for regular rug maintenance. Flatweave rugs that fit in the washer should probably get washed two to three times per year, depending on where they’re located and how dirty they get. To extend the time between washings and to avoid worn spots, Wagner recommends rotating rugs and flipping flatwoven rugs to use the other side.

We know that taking furniture off of rugs and moving them is no easy feat. So if you have a big rug that’s a pain to move, just try to stay on top of your vacuuming, and consider getting a portable upholstery cleaner (which also comes in handy for cleaning couches). Big, heavy rugs can probably go three to five years without a wash, as long as they’re cared for in between.

A good way to tell whether your rug needs a cleaning is if it looks gray and dull. After you vacuum a rug, run a damp white rag across it, and if the rag comes up dirty, it’s probably time to give the rug a bath.

A 5-by-8-foot antique wool rug that the owner washed and dried herself. As long as you’re okay with some colors potentially bleeding (as this one has over the years), and you make sure to dry the rug thoroughly, washing more-delicate rugs at home is an option. Photo: Daniela Gorny

About your guide

Daniela Gorny

Daniela Gorny is a supervising editor covering home goods, linens, and furniture at Wirecutter. She previously worked as an architect and received a master’s degree in city design and sociology. You can usually find her walking her dog and exploring the hilly trails of Los Angeles.

How to Clean a Rug in 9 Steps: Area Rugs, Oriental Rugs, and More

During the cleaning process, threads and fibers can get compacted and squished. Revive them by running a vacuum over the now-dry rug, or brush with a soft-bristled brush.

How do you clean area rugs made from fibers like jute?

“You absolutely do not wanna get jute or sisal rugs wet,” Mashhadi says. “They will more than likely start browning.” Instead, he suggests regular vacuuming and gently dusting the rug. For a deep clean, follow these steps.

Take the jute or sisal rug outside and shake it or use a rug beater. Since these rugs have an open weave, the dirt and dust should come out.

If your jute or sisal rug has a stain, skip the dish-soap solutions. Instead, place the rug flat on an even surface and apply dry rug shampoo, Arm & Hammer Dry Carpet Powder Cleaner, or plain baking soda and let absorb for a few hours. Then vacuum it up.

Hang rug up to air out. If taking it outside, make sure it is a sunny day, as the UV rays work as a natural disinfectant and deodorizer.

Bring it back indoors and vacuum, disengaging the beater bars. Keep in mind that vacuuming in the direction of the rug fibers will restore the material and keep it looking like new.

How do you deep-clean a rug by hand?

Be sure to pay extra attention to stubborn stains. Instead of a store-bought stain remover, Johnston recommends using a light soap and water mixture for spills. “Do not use too much, as the soap can buildup and cause more soiling,” he warns. Johnston recommends hydrogen peroxide can be used on blood, red wine, pet stains, and clay mud. Put it in a spray bottle and mist lightly, then wait six to eight hours before you dab it clean. You can also use fresh club soda for lighter stains.

Those who need to wrangle pet stains from an area rug will love Rocco & Roxie Professional Strength Strain & Odor Eliminator. AD tested it to get out a (surprise) accident that was weeks old, and the yellow stain came out of a wool rug in seconds.

For a Persian or Oriental rug, which is typically a hand-knotted wool rug that has densely woven rug fibers, clean with caution. First, check the care label for instructions. “More often than not, small spills turn into huge restoration projects because people use chemicals that can permanently alter the feel of the pile, cause colors to bleed and so forth,” says Omri Schwartz, general manager of Nazmiyal Collection, an antique rug purveyor in New York City.

You can then shake the rug and beat out the dust. A broomstick can work great here. To spot-clean, apply a small amount of water with a sponge and scrub gently. “Before you do anything, test a small area first to see what happens,” Schwartz say. “When cleaning a [Persian] rug at home, never use chemicals and the harshest solution that you should use is a tiny drop of dish washing solution.” Once the area is clean, dab the Persian rug with clean water to remove soap. Elevate the rug and let air dry. “At the end of the day, if you are not sure what to do, or how to proceed, reach out to a reputable expert before doing anything,” he notes.\

How do you clean a large area rug at home?

Cleaning a large rug can be laborious, but this DIY project is doable for homeowners. Ideally, you will want to move the area rug outside and follow the steps above. You can do this with the help of a partner; the process is easier if you roll it up and carry it out.

How to wash a carpet at home - articles by the company "Clean Everything"

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Decided that it would be good to wash the carpet at home or in a factory? Then this article is for you. The experts of the company CLEAN EVERYTHING have collected the most valuable information about the dry cleaning of rugs and rugs. Before you get started, read it to find the correct solution to the problem. Not all things washing is suitable as a method of getting rid of dirt. The coating can be spoiled by inept actions or a mistake in choosing a detergent.

Do you want to calculate the cost of carpet cleaning? Up to 30% off for you now!

Look at the label or stamp on the wrong side of the product. Most likely, washing is not listed among the acceptable care methods. The manufacturer recommends dry cleaning not just like that, but for objective reasons. Let's analyze them in more detail.

Fiber type . Water is contraindicated for most natural fibers. 100% viscose and natural silk. Such things cannot be wet. Wool, and this can be seen from the labels not only on rugs, but also on other products, can also be spoiled by washing. Woolen yarn falls off, gets off, deformed. You can wash synthetic carpet. The main thing is to do it right.
Base type, manufacturing technology . Adhesive-based coatings cannot be washed. The pile will fall off, bald patches will form. Handmade products experts in dry cleaning carpets company CLEAN VSE categorically do not recommend washing. Even wet cleaning with a vacuum cleaner is not suitable for them. Only dry cleaning of the carpet in the workshop. Processing in closed equipment filled with an organic solvent is harmless to delicate, antique, rare carpets. The technology uses professional cleaning products that guarantee deep cleaning and gentle effect.
Type of dyes . Expensive pile coatings are painted with durable dyes. Amateur washing of a carpet from the budget price segment is fraught with molting and loss of its original appearance. With follow the general rule - test the effect of the cleaning agent, mortar, foam on a small area of the coating. Take a white cloth, soak it in a cleaner, rub the carpet. If it is stained, the carpet may lose its brightness, become faded, and the patterns may “leak”. It is better to clean the carpet in a dry cleaner.
Pile length and carpet size . Think about where you will dry a large carpet with a long pile? How long will it take to dry it with a hair dryer to bring the moisture content of the pile and the base to at least 10%? What is the electricity bill? And in the undried pile, mold and fungus quickly start up. The musty smell caused by them cannot be removed. Apparently, home conditions are not the best option for washing carpets. Profile companies will perform it for you inexpensively, efficiently and quickly. Call us, we are available 24/7.

Carpet washing: basic rules

As you can see, there are many warnings. If they do not stop, then we study the correct washing algorithm. Keep carpets clean and beautiful:

Before cleaning the carpet, it must be vacuumed dry. Carefully, 2-3 times, treat each area of the coating. This is necessary to remove as much dust as possible from the pile. And according to statistics, in 1 square. meter long uncleaned carpet it can be up to 2 kg.
Buy an expensive wet carpet cleaner. Let it be a well-known brand with a good reputation. For example, Karcher, Amway or Vanish.
Prepare a laundry area. It is clear that you will not immerse a large carpet in the tub or washing machine tub. Processing is carried out on the floor, thoroughly washed, tightly covered with oilcloth. Well, if the room is warm, dry, there is ventilation.
Prepare cleaning solution in a bowl or bucket. In order for the active foam to reach its full potential, follow the instructions on the package. Thoroughly clean the entire surface of the carpet. Finish by rinsing with clean water to remove detergent residue. If you have a vacuum cleaner with a suction nozzle, use it.
Dry the carpet. Do not walk on it while it is wet, so that the pile does not lose its splendor, shape, beauty.

We did the washing of the carpet! Congratulations. Don't want to do this anymore? Call us!

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How to wash a carpet at home

Not all of us have super washing vacuum cleaners, but in almost every house there is a carpet or rug. This is probably why the question of how to wash a carpet worries many people. How difficult do you think it is to do this?

How not to wash

The first rule is that the carpet cannot be washed with hot water. The maximum allowable temperature is 50 degrees. The fact is that the fibers of almost all carpets keep their shape due to adhesive bonding. If it is washed, then the carpet will come into disrepair.

Also, washing in hot water is contraindicated for colored and natural materials. In the first case, the fabric will shed, and in the second it will simply deteriorate.

Do not use hard-bristled brushes when washing carpets. They can damage the pile.

Do not rub the carpet against the direction of the pile.

Do not soak the carpet, leave it damp in closed, unventilated areas. This can lead to holes.

If you want to remove a stain on the carpet, wash only the stained area, and then dry it with a hair dryer from the inside.

Do not wash the carpet with ordinary powder, its particles remain in the pile and spoil the structure of the product. Purchase a special carpet cleaner. Use liquid detergents. If the product has greasy stains, use dishwashing detergent or shampoo.

Bath wash

Before washing, it is mandatory:

Vacuum the carpet or remove surface dirt with a broom.
inspect the product and determine where the stains are located that need separate treatment.

So, if dimensions allow, cleaning and washing of carpets should be carried out in the bathroom. It is necessary to roll the floor covering into a roll and place it in the bath. Then unscrew the top end and rub with a brush with washing gel. It is better not to use laundry detergent, because it does not wash well. If there are stubborn stains, the carpet can be left to soak for a while, and then wash off the foam with a pressure of water from the shower and proceed to cleaning the other part.

Washing liquid can be made by yourself. It will be better because it includes affordable and inexpensive components. For a bucket (5-6 liters) of warm water, take 2 tablespoons of liquid dishwashing detergent, 50 grams of vinegar and the same amount of ammonia. The solution perfectly launders all kinds of stains from carpets, refreshes the color and eliminates odors. The smell of ammonia quickly disappears.

Sometimes it is recommended to add kerosene during washing. You should not do this, because the smell of kerosene is very difficult to get rid of. And if you used it to clean the rug at home, then be prepared for the fact that you will have to ventilate the room for several hours a day for a week or two.

A small carpet can be completely put into the bath, filled with water and detergent added, and when the dirt gets wet, drain the water and rinse the product clean.

Washing directly on the floor

This method is not suitable for large carpets. Firstly, at home in the bathroom, messing around with it is difficult and inconvenient. Secondly, in the apartment it will dry for a very long time if it is completely wet. Modern technologies help to find a way out.

Take one of the carpet cleaners. It can be the notorious Vanish, or a more expensive and rare substance. In fact, there are quite a few of them. If you are interested in the question, you can easily find in any company that sells detergents, liquid or powder, with which carpets are cleaned at home.

The liquid must be foamed and applied to the surface, the powder can simply be sprinkled. Particularly dirty places are carefully rubbed with a brush. When the substance adsorbs dirt and dries, it is collected with a vacuum cleaner. In this way, you can clean any carpets of medium and low degree of soiling.

If the pile is so dirty that it even stinks, then it is advisable to wash it more thoroughly.

Laundry in the yard

For those who live in their own home or travel to the country, it is most convenient to wash the carpet in the summer outdoors. You can spread it directly on the pavement or hang it on a crossbar that acts as a sports bar and horizontal bar. You can't do that in a cramped home.

If carpets are washed on a horizontal surface (asphalt or concrete), this area must be swept and rinsed.
Knock out the dust from the carpet, sweep it with a broom or vacuum. Wet the carpet thoroughly with water from a hose or bucket.
Take some liquid detergent (dish gel, special shampoo, etc.) and apply it evenly.
Lather the product with a brush and use it to wash the entire fleecy surface. Similarly, you can wash a smooth carpet.
Finally, wash off the dirty foam with a hose.

This method is the best way to get rid of bad smells if the carpet stinks. In the fresh air, everything is weathered, and drying is not a problem.

How to wash a carpet with Karcher

The principle of washing a carpet with Karcher is the same as when washing outside. Fill the sink with carpet cleaner, put a special nozzle on the hose and apply cleaning foam to the carpet. After that, walk on the coating with a pressure of clean water - the foam will be washed out along with the dirt.

At the car wash

Before entrusting your carpet to car wash workers, ask them how cleaning is done, what detergents are used, under what conditions the product will be dried. Be careful, because if unscrupulous workers do not follow the washing rules, use low-quality powder and do not dry the product thoroughly, it may be irretrievably damaged.

Dry-cleaner

The most effective and safest way to wash carpets is to entrust this task to professionals. In dry cleaning, the carpet will be treated with the most suitable product for it using special equipment. Specialists will definitely not make a mistake with the choice of washing method and cleaning composition. In addition, the carpet will be thoroughly rinsed and dried, which is possible only under special conditions.

Dryer

When washing carpets at home, there is a need to dry them as quickly as possible. In summer, when the air temperature is high, it is enough to open the windows and turn on the fan so that the moisture evaporates faster.

In winter, you can turn on the heater, heat fan or use a hair dryer if the mat is small. It would be nice to hang a carpet on the balcony or put it on 2-3 stools so that it dries both above and below.

Some carpets cannot be wetted too much, because they are glued with special glue.