Could your area rug use a deep clean? Probably. Learn how to clean a rug and bring your floor coverings back to life in less than an hour. Area rugs may bring a room together, but they also take a beating, from foot traffic to pets to spills. After a while, vacuuming just isn’t enough to get it truly clean—and that’s when a deep clean is in order.
“You'd be surprised to hear that clean rugs are constantly absorbing indoor air pollutants, and even fumes from gas fireplaces and steam produced while cooking,” says Ali Hafezi Mashhadi vice president of Babash Rug Services in Los Angeles.
Even if you don’t already have washable rugs as part of your decor, knowing how to clean a rug at home is completely doable. There’s no need to hire professional rug cleaners for the task—unless your rug is extremely delicate (for example, an antique rug, Persian rug, or Oriental rug). Read on for expert-approved cleaning tips on how to refresh those well-worn wool rugs so they look as good as they did when you first unrolled them.
Regular cleaning with a vacuum cleaner and prompt spot-cleaning can go a long way when it comes to helping area rugs look great and last for years, but every rug needs a little bit more attention from time to time.
The type of rug you own will determine how you maintain and clean it, says Scott Johnston, owner of Carpet Care of the Carolinas in Raleigh, North Carolina. “Natural fiber rugs have to be treated differently than a synthetic rug. No question,” he says. Johnston notes that wool rugs should only be cleaned with a cold water process, which protects the fibers from damage or distortion. “You can be much more aggressive when cleaning synthetic rugs, as they can handle hot water and stronger cleaning solutions,” he continues.
But for some rugs, professional cleaning is always best. “In general, Persian and Oriental rugs, as well as rugs made of silk or viscose, should only be professionally cleaned,” Mashhadi warns.
Here’s exactly what you’ll need to have on hand to complete a successful DIY area rug cleaning:
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