Helpful Tips for Cleaning Your Area Rug

To keep your rug looking showroom ready, you'll want to give it a deep clean every 12 to 18 months, on top of your regular vacuuming. These helpful tips for cleaning your area rug will guide you through the process of shampooing, so your spring cleaning goes off without a hitch.

Vacuum and Shampoo

You can DIY deep clean your rug with carpet shampoo for water-resistant rugs, such as synthetic materials. Just follow this step-by-step guide:

1. Vacuum – Before you shampoo, you'll want to vacuum both sides of the rug to remove any large pieces of debris, dust, and crumbs.
2. Rinse – Take your rug outside, and with a hose, give it a good rinsing.
3. Test shampoo – In the corner of the rug, test out the carpet shampoo on a small spot of the pile. You're checking to ensure that the shampoo doesn't cause the colors to run.
4. Shampoo – With a sturdy brush, scrub in the shampoo. Then, let it settle for a few minutes before rinsing.
5. Rinse – Rinse it off again, this time removing all the shampoo.
6. Dry – Once clean, leave the rug outside until it's dry. Make sure to hang it so mold doesn't grow on the bottom.
7. Vacuum – Give the rug one last vacuum to reset all the fibers into their original positions.

Cleaning Natural Materials

Before you clean your rug, you'll want to check the fabric to make sure it’s water-resistant. Natural materials, like sisal, aren't water-resistant, so a deep shampoo cleaning could ruin it. Instead, you'll want to clean it using a soft brush with soapy water. Clean only small spots at a time, quickly drying them with paper towels and a fan or hairdryer. The water will weaken the integrity of the material, so you must dry it as quickly as possible.

Removing Stains With Shaving Cream

If you have a stain on your rug that you can't get rid of, shaving cream is excellent at removing a variety of spills on modern-style area rugs. Simply scrub in the shaving cream, then let it sit for a few minutes. Then, remove with a little bit of water. For deep-set stains, you may need to repeat the process a few times to remove it completely.

Now that you've learned these helpful tips for cleaning your area rugs, you’ll give your home a much-needed makeover.