How To Wash An Area Rug

Area rugs are a great way to add warmth and personality to your decor but after prolonged use they will need a good cleaning to look like new.

How to wash an area rug.

Moths don t like vacuums or light so those hard to clean places on your rug need vacuuming every three months to ensure moths aren t making a home there soleimani says. Our handy area rug cleaning guide will introduce you to the many types of rugs and offer tips and instructions for area rug cleaning and stain removal. Then return your rug to the room. Prepare the space for a thorough area rug cleaning.

Blot clean rug. Polyester is another machine washable option and my pick below is super thin which might let you fit a larger area rug in your washer. If your rug is tagged with specific cleaning instructions follow those. However you should never steam clean an area rug made from sensitive natural fibers like wool as the mechanical cleaner will damage the fibers.

Apply a little to a small corner or patch mix in some water and let it settle for a few hours. Run a vacuum or a clean soft bristled brush over your area rug to loosen up the fibers of the rug as they may have compacted during the washing drying process. This is important in prolonging its life as different materials require unique area rug cleaning methods and materials. Roll up the area rug and move it to one side.

Vacuum the area rug. If the rug needs a thorough cleaning and cannot be moved to an area with a vinyl ceramic tile or stone floor the hardwood must be protected. Soleimani says rugs partially covered by a large sofa or bed need some t l c. For most modern rugs cleaning can be a once a year diy project that saves you the expense of professional cleaning.

Dip a sponge in the water squeeze out excess moisture and blot the cleaner onto the rug working in sections until you ve covered the entire surface. As a general rule when finding out how to clean area rugs always test out the carpet shampoo before you apply it to the whole rug. As far as spot clean only rugs go your options are mainly. Even rugs deserve a vacation.

Check carefully to see if there is any color damage or fiber damage. The first step to cleaning an area rug is to identify your rug s material. Go back and rinse that spot off.