Article by Julie Cox
Rugs add a touch of elegance to any room, but maintaining their beauty requires regular cleaning. Whether it’s a quick refresh or a deep clean, this guide covers everything you need to know about rug cleaning.
Can Rugs be Washed in a Washing Machine?
Yes, most rugs, especially those made of cotton or synthetic fibres, are suitable for machine washing. Place them in your washing machine with towels on a gentle cycle using cold water. However, be cautious with rugs that have rubber backs, as frequent or intensive washing can cause damage.
Is Tumble Drying Rugs Safe?
Tumble drying rugs is generally safe, but always use a low and cold setting. This precaution helps extend the life of your rug.
Check out our blog post on how to dry your rug.
How Often Should You Clean Your Rugs?
Deep cleaning your rugs every 12-18 months is ideal. For spills, act quickly to prevent stains. Start by removing dust and dirt, either by beating smaller rugs outdoors or vacuuming larger ones. Treat any stains before proceeding with further cleaning.
How to Clean Your Rug
The first step to cleaning your rug is to ensure it is free of dust and dirt. This can easily be done, if it is of a manageable size, by taking it outside and hitting it with a carpet beater. If you don’t have one of these then, anything similar will do, like a tennis racket. After this is done, you should check for any stains and make sure they are treated before going any further.
The way you clean it further will depend on what it is made from, so it is important you check the label before putting it in the washing machine. Most rugs will be able to go straight in the washing machine, however, certain rugs may require a specialist instead.
After being washed it is important to get it dried as quickly as possible so mould or mildew doesn’t grow on it. Whether you are using a washing line or tumble dryer, just make sure it is completely dry.
How to Clean A Large Rug
If your rug is too large to actually hold and beat the dirt and dust off, there are alternative methods instead. Hoovering on the top, bottom and under it will work too. After doing this, get a stiff brush and brush it over the carpet to remove any hairs from humans or pets but make sure this is a plastic brush rather than a metal brush, otherwise, it could ruin the carpet.
Find out what material your rug is made from and look online for a rug shampoo for that specific material. Once you have your rug shampoo, take your rug outdoors and hose down the whole rug until it is saturated with water. It is best to do this on a warm and dry day.
Then you can scrub the shampoo into the rug with a soft bristle brush, apply the recommended amount on the bottle. Once this is done, you can rinse the shampoo out with the hose. To remove excess water after it is clean you can use a squeegee as this will help to speed up the drying process.
Finally, you should lay the rug on the floor inside, somewhere out of the way, for 1-2 days until it dries. Once one side is dry make sure to flip it over to then dry the other side.
Contact Us
If you are looking for a new rug, you can get in contact with our team. At Kings Road Carpets, we supply a wide range of rugs as well as other flooring types like carpet and vinyl. Call us on 01664 500 911 or fill out our online contact form.