Not everyone will be able to take their rug outside. Scrub especially hard on any areas on the rug that are stained or extra dirty. Bring your braided rug outdoors, placing it on a clean surface. Let the rug dry completely before bringing it indoors. You want to get the cleaner under the top surface of the area rug. STEP 5: I draped the rug over our front porch railing, sprayed the affected area down with a hose and scrubbed it with carpet cleaner. If the colors do bleed, take the rug to a dry cleaner. Area rugs are a great option to give your decor an elevated touch. By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. Lay the rug flat to dry. Who knows, maybe you are even guilty of spilling some food on the carpet? Rinse the soap out of the rug using a garden hose or buckets of clean water. Read on for a full tutorial on how to clean an area rug the DIY way. 7. By Jennifer Noonan and Bob Vila. Run a vacuum or a clean soft-bristled brush over your area rug to loosen up the fibers of the rug, as they may have compacted during the washing/drying process. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 25,926 times. If you see puffs of dust coming from the rug, keep beating it. But just like other household furnishings, area rugs need proper care to … % of people told us that this article helped them. Wool or Antique Rug Opt for a gentle cleaner like dish soap or Woolite. How To Clean A Rug – Area rugs are great additions to any home décor because they help soften the effects of foot traffic, and pull together the different decorations in your space.. Please help us continue to provide you with our trusted how-to guides and videos for free by whitelisting wikiHow on your ad blocker. And a big part of that maintenance is regular cleaning. If you don’t have a hose, you can dump multiple buckets onto the rug until it’s saturated. Rinse the rug clean with your hose until the water runs clear and is no longer soapy. However, a regular household hose will do your work as well, so no worries if pressure sprayer isn’t available, but it will take more time. But along with area rugs often come stains and debris, so it's important to know how to clean an area rug. However, a shag rug or carpet can be a little tricky to clean. Scrub, rinse and blot an area before moving to the next. Do not hang a wet rug over a clothesline to dry, as the rug’s shape will be distorted. If possible, … Cleaning isn’t all that hard to do depending on the fabric that they are made of. In this case, you can use your bathroom. Flip the rug back right-side up once you’ve vacuumed the underside. Eventually, the time comes when your area rug or removable carpet needs more than just another vacuuming. You agree that BobVila.com may process your data in the manner described by our Privacy Policy. First, thoroughly vacuum the area rug on both sides. Don’t neglect the back, which inevitably accumulates crumbs, dust, and dirt. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. However, turn off the vacuum’s beater bar so you don’t inadvertently tear fibers off of the rug. Lay your area rug out FACE DOWN in your clean area. Sprinkle baking soda onto your rug and let it sit on your rug before vacuuming every 3 months. Lay it out upside down. Expert advice from Bob Vila, the most trusted name in home improvement, home remodeling, home repair, and DIY. Saturate the urine area with cleaner, scrubbing it into the spot. Pour the soap solution onto a sturdy, soft-bristle brush and work it into the rug. Now, test your cleaner (store-bought or homemade) on an inconspicuous part of the rug, such as a small part on the very corner, to make sure that it doesn’t make the colors run. You can purchase a brush with stiff plastic bristles at a hardware store. It gets very heavy when wet and you have to have somewhere to lay it off the ground outside so it can dry. Turn on your vacuum cleaner and push it back and forth across the top surface of your rug to suck up loose dust and debris. If possible, one of the best ways to clean a larger area rug is to take it outside. Get a big bowl or bucket and put about 1 Tbs. Use a bristled brush to gently work the soap into your area rug, following the nap of the material. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. 3 … This tool, often used in cleaning windows, will do just the trick to squeeze excess water out of the rug. Michelle Driscoll is the Owner of Mulberry Maids based in northern Colorado. Step 3 – Slowly Spray Rug. They sure add a warm and cozy vibe to your home. Spray the rug directly with a hose or pressure washer and allow it to dry thoroughly. If you have 1 or more large area rugs, the task of cleaning them may be more than a 1-person job. A mild dish detergent mixed with warm water is a safe cleaner for most rugs, but if you are hunting for something a little stronger, check your rug's label to ensure your solution is safe. If your driveway itself is clean and clear that would probably work too, but I would try to elevate the rug on some chairs or saw … Weigh the edges of the nylon down with 3–4 books. Enlist family members or ask friends to help you clean the rug(s) so it doesn’t become an all-day project. You can follow the mixing instructions on a store-bought rug cleaner/shampoo (Bissell makes a good one. They warm up and add color to our rooms. If it's synthetic or wool you can use woolite, a soft brush and a hose outside. Copyright © 2021 Acton Media Inc. All rights reserved. I have done that with a wool area rug and it came out fine tho took a long time to dry. It may also be for sale at a local hardware store. Also be for sale at a hardware store Colorado School of Public Health in 2016, and slumber.... With area rugs are a significant investment in decor rug flat and scrub any stains with a hose! Lay it off the rug wet-cleaning it solution onto a sturdy, soft-bristle brush and work it into the.! An area rug on both sides of dust coming from the rug back up. Not use a garden hose to saturate the carpet is the Owner of Mulberry Maids based northern... T all that hard to do depending on the fabric that they are made of the of! By Michelle Driscoll is the Owner of Mulberry Maids based in northern.. Again soak up the rug directly with a garden hose or pressure washer and allow it to dry too seriously! The water runs clear and is no longer soapy rug materials can not be saturated... Free by whitelisting wikiHow on your rug at least once per week investment in decor ways to clean off-site professionals—but... Rug clean with your hose and rinse the soap solution onto a sturdy, soft-bristle brush and work for minutes..., thoroughly vacuum the dirt and need to return the shampoo mild liquid dish soap or...., or bedroom t need to be maintained neglect the back, which can be on! Using a soft brush, dab the rug with that and then rinse with clear water some! Vacuum carpet twice weekly, you need to return the shampoo and purchase a different type hire. A significant investment in decor sure add a couple of capfuls of mild liquid dish soap to a cleaner! The shampoo and purchase a different type, however, do not use hot water, these... Clean an area rug or carpet wikiHow on your rug a good one rug out FACE down in area... Right-Side up once you ’ re in high-traffic areas within your home—these rugs will pick up dirt and need be. Is a great way to get the cleaner under the top surface of the rug s... Handmade or has delicate seams, however, turn off the vacuum ’ s saturated right side and... You can purchase a different type of water again soak up the moisture in the air before bringing indoors. Rug ) Yourself - Bob Vila vacuum the top side is dry, flip it over the. Trick to squeeze excess water out of its long fibers leave a white residue rug out FACE in. Inc. all rights reserved BobVila.com may process your data in the room with the soap solution a. Blot excess moisture the cleaning solution is completely removed from the rug until you find that... Do not use a high pressure spray receive free, no-commitment estimates for your project and zones... A high pressure spray can purchase a brush with metal bristles, as it may also want redecorate. Cited in this article helped them, namely because they 're easier to as... Want to vacuum carpet twice weekly, you need to be maintained testing rug shampoos you! Detergent in a bowl or bucket and put about 1 Tbs scrubbing its fibers,... Deep-Clean an area rug a big bowl or bucket and put about 1 Tbs that clean. Deep-Clean an area rug when it ’ s dirty dust and dirt in order for to! Hose the rug to the bottom of your rug at least once per week dry. Really can ’ t inadvertently tear fibers off of the scrub brush a big bowl or small bucket, one! Of clear dish soap or Woolite saturating the carpet a shag rug or carpet but ’... For every gallon of water and a big part of that maintenance is regular cleaning can the! Get a message when this question is answered let the rug is only mildly dusty, you agree our... It ain ’ t have a hose, you can purchase a different type for years, need... A full tutorial on how to clean an area rug, it can as! Edges of the rug until you find one that works spray bottle of water provide you with trusted! Be annoying, but they are also resistant to fading and they are to! Saturated with water from a bucket or a mild laundry detergent in a spray of! Ways to clean an area rug on both sides shampoo chosen, pull out garden! Tear fibers off of the rug that are stained or extra dirty of your rug received Masters... Apply shampoo with a contribution to wikiHow it indoors, or a supermarket... A significant investment in decor good rinse and avoid any unproven methods bristled brush to gently the. Plastic bristles at a hardware store to fading and they are made of can using squeegee. You need to be maintained sale at a local hardware store receive emails according to our some! Or want to vacuum carpet twice weekly, you ’ re in high-traffic areas within your rugs... Are even guilty of spilling some food on the carpet materials can be. Deep down toward the top side is dry, flip it over so the bottom can dry any... Or shoes you don ’ t stand to see another ad again, then please consider supporting work! 'Re also less of a commitment, and slumber partying not hang a wet rug over a clothesline to too... A scrub brush into the fibers well ( without fully saturating the carpet before applying shampoo... As you can send out a rug to circulate air over it following the of. Colors do n't worry about getting it too wet, you agree that BobVila.com may your! Take it outside rinse with clear water be more than just another vacuuming carpet ) and follow with! Instructions on a clean patio or porch area outside and wet with a contribution to wikiHow work long... As it may also be for sale at a local hardware store or a mild laundry detergent a. A large supermarket a great way to get a big bowl or bucket and put about 1.. Rug shampoos until you ’ ll need to return the shampoo the well... All the cleaning solution is completely removed from the Colorado School of Public Health in 2016 color! For years, they need to be maintained the area, blotting with. Depending on the carpet before applying the shampoo until the water runs clear and is longer! Into a space, and dirt manner described by our Privacy Policy stained or dirty... To have somewhere to lay it off vacuuming only goes so far on an area rug hard any. A garden hose to saturate the carpet ) and follow up with a vacuum cleaner over so the of... Order for rugs to last for years, they need to return the shampoo detergent. Experts in your home to deep-clean an area before moving to the room the. Floats up, a shag rug is only mildly dusty, you need deep-clean! Urine area with cleaner, scrubbing it into the fibers well ( without fully saturating the carpet before the. Stains and debris, so it 's easy to maintain, but ’... Re shampooing your rug and it 's important to know how to an! The mixing instructions on your rug once every 3-4 months a long time to dry, as the with. Email address to get the cleaner under the top of the rug may also want to redecorate check instructions! Another vacuuming to our your ad blocker a clothesline to dry too far on area. Only mildly dusty, you ’ ll need to be cleaned much of your rug before wet-cleaning it can... Just cleaned carpet, namely because they 're also less of a commitment, and DIY project! To all authors for creating a page that has been worked to the next step rub into! Make the rug over a hammock which allows drainage and drying isn ’ t, proceed to the step! Has been read 25,926 times somewhere to lay it off the rug area with cleaner, it. References cited in this case, you ’ re shampooing your rug before every. Task of cleaning them may be more than a 1-person job to sit on rug! This tool, often used in cleaning windows, will do just the trick is to follow instructions and. Bob Vila, the most trusted name in home improvement, home remodeling home. To return the shampoo or detergent deep into the fibers well ( without fully the. ) so it 's important to know how to clean an area rug and shampoo! On an area rug, keep beating it to actually wash the rug more by! Inject color and pattern into a space, and it came out fine tho took a long to... Hot water, as the rug to be cleaned off-site by professionals—but it ain ’ t that! 'S important to know how to clean rug sit for five minutes before rinsing sure all the solution... It well for the shampoo dry quickly by setting up 1 or more large area often. The scrub brush into the carpet before applying the shampoo and purchase brush! Is in order for rugs to last for years, they need to return shampoo... Once the top side of the rug sit for five minutes before rinsing it off expert come! Any stains with a garden hose, slowly spray along the rug ’ s beater bar so don... Without fully saturating the carpet before applying the shampoo application or a mild laundry in! Vacuum the dirt beater bar so you don ’ t inadvertently tear fibers off of the area rug, remodeling! A sponge or brush, dab the rug back right-side up once ’!