How To Clean A Rug: Complete Guide To Remove Dirt & Stains

Introduction:

In this article, we are going to show you how to clean your area rugs so beautifully that it would seem like a professional job.
Does not matter if it’s wool and cotton rugs, synthetic rugs, or the good ole shag rug.

This is a deep cleaning process and is as good as having your rugs professionally cleaned.

How To Deep Clean A Rug At Home?

Let’s Get Started

Before we get started, there are certain items and equipment that you will need to effectively deep clean your area rugs.
The weather conditions also need to be suitable for an adequate drying time.

Items You Will Need

Garden hose
Warm water
Rug shampoo/Detergent
Disinfectant
Soft brush
Sunshine
Flat surface
High-pressure washer
Squeegee
Watering can

Vacuum & Preparation

Thoroughly shake out the rug to remove surface dust and dirt.
Lay the rug flat on a clean, flat dry surface.
Vacuum thoroughly with a suitable vacuum cleaner to remove additional dust.

Mix Cleaning Solution

Mix a liberal amount of detergent (carpet shampoo) with warm water (preferably) in a large bucket.
We advise that you exceed the recommended mixing instructions as stipulated by the supplier.
This should get the cleaning solution quite soapy which is ideal for a deep clean.
Transfer this mixture to a watering can.

Do a Color Test

It is advisable to test a small section first before cleaning the entire rug as certain colors do run.
This is usually prevalent with an oriental rug and certain dyed rug fibers.

Should this happen on the test portion you should stop the process straight away to avoid any discoloring of the rug’s material

Spread Cleaning Solution Across Rug Surface

Spread the soapy water across the surface of the rug using the water can. (you might need to do this many times to cover the whole surface)
The carpet extractor can also be used to spray soapy water on the surface.
After soaking, hose the rug, so that the clean water mixes with the soapy water on the rug as shown in the image above.
This is to get the rug completely saturated.
Leave to soak for at least 15 minutes. Your perfectly optimized content goes here!

Start Cleaning The Rug

Next, use a rigid or semi-rigid, flat object like a squeegee or the wand from the cleaning machine to spread and work the soapy solution into the fibers of the rug.
You can also use a scrubbing brush with a handle, depending on the pile height and ease of use.
Do not rush this step, but take your time to make sure that all the stubborn dirt and stains get removed.

Remove excess water

Once satisfied, use the squeegee or wand to push the dirty water from the rug.
You can then use your carpet extractor (wet & dry) to further clean and extract any more dirt.
If no machine, then it’s advisable to repeat the above process.

Rinse the Rug

Once you are satisfied with the results of the cleaning process, then it’s time to rinse the rug to remove the soapy residue.
To start rinsing, you once again need to saturate the rug with cold water using the garden hose.
You can also use a pressure cleaner for this step if available.
You should be very careful when using a pressure washer as it could cause damage if used incorrectly. Make sure the nozzle is set to spray at a wide-angle, and not straight (jet-like)
Next, use the squeegee or wand to push all of the excess water from the rug.
Repeat the process until the water on the rug remains clean.
A carpet extractor is also a good option in this step to further agitate and get the rug clean.

Disinfecting Your Area Rug

When you are done with the rinsing part, then fill the bucket with clean water and add some disinfectant.
Transfer to the watering can, and then spread across the whole surface of the rug.
The carpet extractor can also be used to spray the rug.
Leave to soak for at least 10 minutes, or longer if you wish.
This helps to kill any germs and bacteria which are embedded in the fibers.
When satisfied, remove surface water using the squeegee or carpet extractor.

Drying Your Area Rug

To get the rug dry very little is required except to place it in a sunny area and wait.
Just leave the rug open in direct sunlight for the surface to dry.
This should take about 2-3 hours depending on the temperature and the thickness of the rug.
Once it is dry, fold the rug over in half so that half of the back faces the sun.
Once dry, do the same for the other half.
About 1-2 hours should be enough to dry the back.
When the backing is completely dry, once again open the rug so the top side can get more sun to remove any moisture left behind.
Finally, it is recommended to gently brush the rug to ‘soften’ the pile which might have become rigid from washing.

How Long Does It Take To Clean A Rug?

This will depend on a few factors.
If you have all the equipment ready, then the actual cleaning process should not exceed 1-2 hours.

However, you shouldn’t be overly concerned with time but rather with the end result as some rugs might take longer than others.
Large, very thick wool rugs will obviously require more time than synthetic fiber area rugs that have a low pile.

Why This Is The Best Way To Clean An Area Rug?

We strongly believe that this or similar methods are the best way to clean an area rug as it deals with the problem at its core.

No matter if it’s wool rugs or synthetic fibers the results speak volumes.

Most other methods allow for surface cleaning only as shown in the How To Wash A Mattress article

The best way to clean an area rug is to get rid of all the dirt and stains embedded within the fibers.
The only way to do this is to completely saturate the rug with a soapy solution.

This then needs to be extracted followed by a rinsing process and drying.
There is no short cut and it cannot be done from the surface… It needs to be wet completely.

Does This Type Of Area Rug Cleaning Remove Rug Stains?

It is without a doubt the best way to remove dirt as well as stubborn stains that are difficult to remove with normal cleaning.

Difficult pet stains are also easier to remove even in wool area rugs where they tend to discolor the natural fibers.

It does not matter if it’s a wool rug, dense shag rugs, or natural fiber rugs.
The process is nearly flawless and will deliver effective results.

How To Maintain & Care For Your Rug?

The Best advice is very simple, you need to regularly vacuum your area rugs if you to get the most benefit from it.
Mop up spills immediately when they occur to prevent it from settling within the fabric.
Most rugs will last even longer if you do regular cleaning by a professional is another way to prolong the life of your rug.

How To Remove Stains From A Rug?

The most important thing to do is to blot the stain with a towel.
This will soak up the liquid and push it into the rug pile.

The next step is to use a vacuum cleaner to suck up as much of the liquid as possible.
Finally, use a mixture of water and dish soap on the stain and rub it in with your fingers or a sponge.

Rinse off any residue with water, then let it dry for 24 hours before you put anything back on top of it.

If you spill red wine on a white rug, blot the stain with a towel.
This will help push the liquid into the pile of fibers, where it will be absorbed quickly.

Next, use a vacuum cleaner to suck up as much of the liquid as possible, and then use water and dish soap to clean it. Finally, dry completely before putting anything back on

How To Clean A Rug With Natural Products?

Rugs can be a magnet for dirt, stains, and pet hair. If you have a rug that needs cleaning, here are some natural products that will do the job without the use of harsh chemicals.

Vinegar: Mix 1/4 cup of vinegar with 1 gallon of water in a bucket or sink to create your own rug cleaner.
Vinegar is an excellent cleaner because it is acidic and will break down dirt and other substances on your rug.
It is also non-toxic so it won’t harm your children or pets if they accidentally come into contact with it while you’re cleaning the rug.

Baking Soda: Mix 1/2 cup of baking soda with 1 gallon of water to make your own rug cleaner. This is a great cleaner because it will absorb any dirt particles from the rug and lift them off into the solution, rinsing them out.
It also cleans stains and leaves a non-sticky residue on your carpet.

White Vinegar: White vinegar is handy if you want to clean a white or grey rug.
Use 1/4 cup of white vinegar to 1 gallon of water to clean your rug the same way you would do with the other ingredients.

Pine-sol: Mix 2 cups of Pine-Sol with 1 gallon of water in a bucket or sink.
Pour this mixture onto your rug while it is still damp, scrubbing and brushing the solution into each fiber.

Conclusion

Cleaning your area rugs this way or using a similar method of completely wetting, then drying, is, without doubt, the most effective way to clean a rug.

Doing it this way is the next best thing to buying a new carpet or rug.

We hope that this is helpful advice and goes a long way in helping you achieve your rug goals.