How to Clean a Woven Area Rug? Area Rug Cleaning Guide

The best way to maintain the appearance of your woven area rugs is to adhere to these easy cleaning, maintenance, and stain removal guidelines.

Area rugs that are woven can be created using a variety of yarns or a combination of yarns and materials. The manufacturer of your rug may have provided special cleaning instructions and precautions, so read the label on your rug and pay attention to them.

Learn how to clean woven area rugs using the advice in this article to keep them looking nice and extend their lifespan.

How to Clean a Woven Area Rug?

Check rugs for stitching breaks before and after cleaning. To find out if small braided rugs can be washed, check the labels. If they are, place them in a zippered pillowcase or mesh laundry bag. Using a gentle cycle and cool water, wash the item and thoroughly rinse it. Tumble dry on a low setting.

Large woven rugs should be cleaned by laying them on a concrete or vinyl floor or a layer of old blankets. In accordance with the product’s instructions, apply commercial carpet cleaning foam all over the surface and rub it in. Vacuuming or rinsing off is the final step. Before putting the woven area rug back on the floor, let it dry completely.

Basic Maintenance of Clean a Woven Area Rug

You should read the care instructions tag before you begin cleaning a rug because they can be expensive. If there are specific cleaning instructions, follow them. If not, you can follow the instructions below whether you’re attempting to clean a large woven area rug or one that is smaller in size.

You’ll need:

• A two-speed vacuum with an upholstery attachment
• Baking soda

How often to clean: At least every week or two, unless your rug is in a high-traffic location.

1. Start by shaking off any smaller rugs as much as you can outside.
2. Check the settings on your vacuum cleaner. Many have a reduced speed of airflow setting for use on area rugs. By doing this, you can make your rug last longer and prevent it from getting stuck in the vacuum.
3. Prior to vacuuming, sprinkle baking soda on your rug. This will assist in eliminating any odors.
4. Vacuum the rug.
5. Roll up each side of your rug to clean under the edges. Any dirt or debris that has become lodged between the rug’s edges should be vacuumed up. If you have a mat under your rug, make sure you don’t suck it up in the vacuum as you work.
6. To get rid of any dust or dirt that may have fallen off the rug as you rolled it, vacuum around the surface’s edges.

How to Deep-Clean Rugs?

Small rugs’ care labels will tell you whether they should be dry-cleaned, spot-cleaned, or washed. A rug’s label that says “dry cleaning only” might not be colorfast. Before cleaning a specific area, test it. In the event that a rug can be washed, use the delicate cycle in the washing machine.

Long fringe should be divided into several hanks and each one should be wrapped in white string to lessen the chance of tangling. Wash the rug in cold water on the gentle cycle while securing it in a mesh laundry bag or zippered pillowcase to protect it from the agitator.

On a porch, patio, or breezeway, hang wet rugs over a clothes drying rack, a picnic table with slats, or a number of bricks stacked. A wet rug will lose its shape as it dries if it is hung over just one clothesline. Small counters or worktables that are covered by a drop cloth, old sheets, or towels can be used to dry small rugs made of carpet-like synthetic fibers.

Every 12 to 18 months, area rugs will benefit from a deep cleaning. When using commercial cleaning products for the first time, test a small area of the rug to ensure that it is colorfast and not otherwise damaged by the product.

Place a sizable rug on a vinyl or concrete surface, apply carpet cleaning foam, and rub it in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions to thoroughly clean it. Finish by vacuuming or rinsing. Prior to replacing the rug, make sure it is dry. For small to medium-sized rugs, dry cleaning may also be an option; check the labels for care instructions.

How to Remove Stains from Woven Area Rugs?

When your area rug is woven and gets stained, time is of the essence. Keep in mind to blot spills rather than rub them, and do so as soon as possible.

• Alcohol and soft drinks: Utilize a mixture of 1 teaspoon of liquid dish soap, 1 quart of warm water, and 1/4 teaspoon of white vinegar. Apply to the stain, rinse, and then blot it dry.
• Coffee or tea: Apply the detergent mixture to the stain, rinse it off, and blot the surface. Utilize a spot carpet cleaner if a stain is still present.
• Fat-based stains: For foods such as butter, margarine, or gravy, use a dry-solvent spot carpet cleaner.
• Gum: Peel off what you can, then put ice cubes in a plastic bag and place them on top of the remaining gum to harden it. Scrape the gum off with a spoon or dull knife. If necessary, vacuum the area and use a dry-solvent spot cleaner.
• Paint: Apply the detergent solution to the stain while it’s still wet to remove acrylic and latex paint stains. If color remains, dab it with rubbing alcohol. Use odorless mineral spirits to sponge oil-based paint, being careful not to soak through to the backing.
• Tomato sauce: Dab with a detergent solution or a citrus-oxygen cleaner, then sponge with cool water. Rinse with a solution of 1 cup white vinegar and 2 cups of water and blot until dry.
• Urine, feces, and vomit: Apply detergent or a cleaner with citrus oxygen, rinse, and blot until dry.
• Melted wax: Using ice cubes in a plastic bag to harden it, then scraping, treat it the same way you would gum. Rub alcohol should be applied to a clean, white cloth or cotton ball before blotting to remove any remaining wax.

Area Rug Cleaning Guide: Material-by-Material

Rugs of particular types also need to be cleaned with particular care and attention. When you purchase new rugs, keep the care tags in a file for easy access. A rug’s care instructions should be carefully followed when deep cleaning and shampooing it.

You can take better care of your specialty rugs by using the following advice, recommendations, and cleaning guidelines.

Cleaning Hand-knotted, Oriental, and Antique Area Rugs

Kitchens and other high-traffic areas frequently feature antique and Persian runners, which may require more maintenance than other types. Like carpet and wool area rugs, vacuum a new Oriental rug. When handling delicate vintage or antique rugs, exercise extra caution.

Protect them from the vacuum by placing a piece of nylon screen over the rug and weighting it down with books or bricks. The screen should be vacuumed.

Alternately, wrap a piece of nylon mesh around the vacuum attachment and replace it as the dirt builds up. Obtain a professional cleaning for these rugs once a year. Rotate rugs to ensure even wear; direct exposure to the sun will cause fading.

Cleaning Natural-Fibered Area Rugs

Most rugs made of coir, rush, grass, or sisal have an open weave, which lets grit and dirt fall through to the floor below. Regularly vacuuming them and the floor beneath is essential because they are frequently used as mudroom rugs or welcome mats.

Cleaning Sheepskin, Hair-on Hides, and Fur Area Rugs

Pour unscented talcum powder on these types of area rugs to clean them, then let them sit for a few hours. Shake out the powder by combing it through the fur or hair. Repeat these actions several times, depending on how long the fur is. The back of your rugs can be cleaned by dipping a clean cotton fabric or cloth into lukewarm, soapy water.

Conclusion: a Clean Woven Area Rug

Identifying the fabric of your rug is the first step in cleaning it. As different materials necessitate particular woven area rug cleaning techniques and materials, this is crucial to extending its lifespan.

Although thorough cleaning of woven area rugs is crucial for their longevity, there is such a thing as too much good. Make sure you’re not over-cleaning your woven area rug because it can dull the colors and wear out the fibers.

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