How to Clean an Area Rug

One of my favorite ways to inject some life, color, and texture into a space is with a good area rug. They’re cozy underfoot, they’re beautiful, and they add so much personality to a room. But, with any area rug comes stains. And dirt. And other debris. It’s really important to know how to clean an area rug, and today that’s exactly what we’re going to talk about!

Thankfully, it is really easy to deep clean area rugs yourself. And, lucky for you, I’m an accident-prone person with two messy children, so I have a lot of practice.

Basic Care for Your Area Rugs

Let’s start off by talking about the basics. There are a few simple steps that you should be taking on the regular, regardless of what type of rug you have. Here are the very basics of keeping your area rugs clean and well-maintained:

• Vacuum regularly.
• Clean up spills immediately.
• Brush out pet hair. The vacuum won’t get everything, so a brush like this can help!
• Rotate rugs 1-2 times a year.

These simple steps will help make sure that your rugs stay looking good in-between cleanings! Now, let’s get into the details.

Cleaning Different Materials

Different area rugs will be made of different materials, and different materials require different care methods! To find out what material your rug is made of, look for a tag on the bottom of the rug. The care label should not only tell you what material your rug is made of, it will likely also have some care instructions!

Be sure to follow the care instructions on your specific rug when you’re cleaning it. But, here are some general tips for various materials.

Cleaning Antique Rugs

Antique and Persian rugs require a little more care than most synthetic rugs will. You can vacuum them normally, but when it comes to deep cleaning, you should let professional cleaners handle it.

Cleaning Natural Fiber Rugs

Natural fiber rugs like jute and sisal rugs have a more open weave and can really hold onto dirt! If you have a smaller natural fiber rug, it can be beneficial to flip it regularly (most of them are the same on both sides). You can vacuum regularly to remove dirt, but what happens if it gets a stain? Lay something down underneath the rug to protect any hardwood floor, and then use a soft-bristle brush and some warm water mixed with dish soap to scrub up the stain. The soapy water should do the trick! Be sure to rinse with warm water, then blot off the excess with a towel when you’re done.

Cleaning Fur or Sheepskin Rugs

Regular vacuuming will go a long way, but for a deep clean you can sprinkle some unscented talcum powder over the rug. Brush it through, then shake it out. Repeat this a few times to fully clean the rug!

Cleaning Outdoor Rugs

Outdoor rugs are incredibly easy to clean – just use your garden hose or pressure washer to fully remove any dirt or grime!

How to Clean an Area Rug

Now, let’s talk about how you’ll clean most area rugs. This applies to most rugs you’ll have in your home, just be sure to double-check that it doesn’t have any more specific care instructions on the label!

Weekly Cleaning

You should vacuum your area rugs at least weekly, twice a week for rugs in high-traffic areas. This will remove any dust, dirt, or loose debris from your rugs and will keep things looking nice on the daily.

Deep Cleaning

A couple of times a year, your area rugs should be deep cleaned with a carpet cleaner. You can rent one from most home improvement stores, but I actually recommend having one at home! I have this BISSELL carpet cleaner, and it’s been well worth every cent. With how much I’ve used it, I’ve certainly saved quite a bit of money over if I had rented one every time!

Here’s the basic process of carpet cleaning using a carpet cleaner:

• Mix your cleaning solution with warm water in the vacuum’s water container. Double-check your rug material before doing this – wool rugs should only be cleaned with cold water!
• As you’re cleaning the rug, it’s a very similar process to vacuuming. I do one pass of an area while spraying the carpet shampoo onto the rug, then two more passes of the same area (slowly!) to remove the excess water.
• Continue working around the area rug until you’ve finished!
• Note that the cleaning instructions may be slightly different for different carpet cleaners. Be sure to read yours before you start!

Be sure to spot test an inconspicuous area of your rug before you do the whole thing. It’s always a good idea and ensures you won’t accidentally ruin your rug.

Be sure to take a moment when you’re done to fully appreciate how disgusting the water you pull up is. All of that dirt was in your rug! And it isn’t anymore! It’s a good feeling.

Doing a regular deep cleaning with a rug cleaner will help remove odors, keep your rug well-maintained, and make sure you always have clean rugs in your home. It only takes a few minutes to do, and I promise it’s worth it!

Cleaning Stains and Spills

What about smaller stains and spills that don’t necessarily require a full cleaning? Those are simple to clean up too!

The first key is to remember to clean up any spills right away. The longer you let it sit, the harder it will be to clean up. Start by blotting up any of the spilled material with a towel – don’t scrub! That just pushes the mess further into the rug’s fibers. If you’ve spilled something oil-based, sprinkle the spill with cornstarch or baking soda before blotting it up.

Once the excess liquid has been removed, you’re ready to clean. You have a couple of options, here. Here are my favorites:

• Folex is a fantastic cleaner that can get up almost any mess. Just spray generously onto the stain and then use your fingers to rub it in a bit. Then, blot it up. You’ll be amazed at how well it works.
• This Latex Paint Remover works wonders for paint spills. I’ve removed paint from carpet many times with this.
• And finally, I often bust out my Little Green Machine for stains. It’s basically a carpet cleaner for smaller stains, and it works wonders, trust me.

And that, my friends, is everything you need to know about how to clean an area rug! Now, go forth and get those rugs clean.