So you've found the perfect rug that suits your home and your personality, (if you haven't, take our matcherate test to find out which rug is best for you!), but now you're hit with the worry of how to take care of it so that it stays at its best for as long as possible. There are some tried and tested techniques to help you take the best care of your rugs and, luckily for you, we have compiled them right here in this handy guide.
How to clean your rug
No matter how careful you are, your rug is going to need cleaning at some point. Regular vacuuming can help to maintain your rug for a relatively long time but, after a while, the dust and grime will collect at the base of the material and a vacuum isn't going to be able to get all of it out. At this point, you could call in a professional but it also totally possible for you to tackle this job on your own.
When cleaning a rug, you should make some space outside because it is a messy job. If the weather is bad or you don't have any outdoor space, you could also use a bathtub.
Before you apply carpet shampoo, it is always a good idea to do a patch test first. Apply the shampoo to a small area in the corner of your rug, wait a while, and then clean it off. Check to see that it hasn't altered the colour or the material.
1) Vacuum first
2) Hang rug and beat it with a broom handle (or other tool)
3) Hose the rug down
4) Apply carpet cleaner and work it through the fibres with a sturdy brush
5) Rinse with garden hose again
6) Wring it out and then hang it to dry
7) Vacuum again to restore the fluffiness of the fibres
Rug material
Some materials can get ruined by getting soaking wet so you will need to care for them in different ways.
Wool, shag, or cotton
You shouldn't soak a wool rug. Instead, use a microfibre cloth to dab carpet cleaner in the direction of the material. Then do the same with water to rinse.
Jute
You shouldn't get your shag rug wet at all, ideally. Your best bet here is to use dry shampoo. Shake it on, leave it for a while, and then shake it right back out.
How to remove stains from your rug
Red wine - blot straight away and then blot with 3 parts baking soda and one part water. Wait until it's dry, then vacuum.
Tea and coffee - blot straight away and then blot with 1 part white vinegar and 1 part water.
Caring for your rug doesn't have to be a difficult job, as long as you understand the materials and the methods for how to clean them. You can even use household items to remove stains that
