Best Tips For Cleaning and Vacuuming A Living Room Rug

We all love the look the area rug adds to our living room. Everything is cozy and warm, and you put in too much work to ensure it blends nicely with the rest of the room. But to keep the rug looking fresh and clean all the time, you need to give it a deep cleaning occasionally. 

How can you clean your area rug? Do you need to hire a cleaning service or it is something you can do yourself? 

Whether you hire a professional to clean your rug is up to you. Sometimes we can be busy that we may not even have time or our interior designer brain didn’t think about it when choosing the rug. 

But if you have time, you can clean your area rug yourself. And in this post, I am going to share with you some tips to help you out. 

Before we get started, let’s first look at different types of rug materials and their ease of cleaning. 

Wool 

These types of rugs tend to be durable due to the coil-shaped fibers that allow them to maintain their colors and shapes over a long period of heavy use. They also tend to be heavier so they won’t slide on the floor as much. Wool rugs also repel stains naturally but are not as water-resistant as other rugs. 

Another thing about these rugs is that they usually shed when they are still new, so vacuuming regularly could help. 

You can clean your wool rug using dishwashing soap and a soaked washcloth. 

Polypropylene 

Polypropylene rugs are very easy to clean and also one of the most durable synthetic rugs. Its material is also soft and cozy. To keep it clean, just spot clean it and vacuum. 

These rugs are also stained and water-resistant, so it will take longer to clean it. 

Jute 

A jute rug is one of the most common rugs. They are made from natural fibers obtained from tropical plants. As a result, jute rugs are usually very strong and long-lasting and also very cheap. 

It is also easy to clean jute rugs as all you have to do is blot stains or spills and hang it to dry. You can also vacuum it regularly to prevent grime and dirt buildup. 

Jute rugs are however not water, mold, or mildew resistant.

Seagrass 

These rugs are made using natural stain-resistant fibers. These rugs are usually easy to clean and durable and tend to preserve their earthy, natural look for a long time. 

Cotton 

Cotton rugs are also durable and less expensive, though not as durable as polypropylene and wool. The best thing about cotton rugs is that they are washing machine friendly. For small cotton rugs, throw it into the washing machine and dry it in the sun, but for a large rug, spot and steam clean it. 

How to clean living room rugs 

Collect the required tools

Cleaning your area rugs doesn’t require a lot of supplies and tools. Here is a shortlist of all your need: 

  • Bucket 
  • Water 
  • Rug shampoo or just a dish soap 
  • Sponge or a soft-bristle brush 
  • Rubble gloves (optional)
  • Wet-dry vacuum (optional)
  • Garden hose (optional) 

Vacuum to remove grime and dirt 

Thoroughly vacuum your rug on both sides. Start with the fibers and then turn it over and vacuum the remaining side. Then, roll it up and take it outside for the deep cleaning.

Test the shampoo 

Whether you are using dish soap or shampoo, it is always wise to test it out and see how it reacts with the fabric of your rug. 

So test your rug shampoo on a small area of your rug and see how it goes. Let it settle for an hour or so, and then rinse it and examine the spot carefully. If there is any fiber damage or color change, you should look for a shampoo design for your rug material. Avoid creating your own shampoo cleaner as this can go terribly. 

Wash the rug 

If you have access to a garden hose, use it. Rinse the rug thoroughly until it is wet before you apply shampoo. After pouring shampoo all over the rug, use a sturdy brush with a firm hand to work the shampoo deep into your rug fiber. 

You will get drenched, so make sure you dress accordingly.

If you don’t have a hose garden, just use a bucket to soak the rug with water.

Rinse the rug 

You will be required to leave the shampoo on the rug for several hours. Read the label for directions. After some time, hose down your rug and remove all the shampoo.

Dry the rug 

Wring the rug thoroughly to remove all the excess water. You can use a squeegee for this step. Leave the rug outside to dry for a couple of days before bringing it back inside.