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\n<\/p><\/div>"}, https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/how-to-clean-a-rug, https://www.bhg.com/homekeeping/house-cleaning/tips/how-to-clean-area-rugs/, https://www.familyhandyman.com/cleaning/how-to-clean-area-rugs-yourself/view-all/, https://www.bobvila.com/articles/how-to-clean-a-rug/, https://www.angieslist.com/articles/why-you-shouldnt-clean-area-rugs-carpets.htm, consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. Check the instructions on your rug to find out what laundry settings it can be washed on. Using a soft brush, dab the rug with the soap solution, scrubbing its fibers. 3 … By Jennifer Noonan and Bob Vila. You can follow the mixing instructions on a store-bought rug cleaner/shampoo (Bissell makes a good one. This article has been viewed 25,926 times. Or, you can add a couple of capfuls of mild liquid dish soap to a bucket of warm water. Flip it right side up and vacuum the dirt. You want to get the cleaner under the top surface of the area rug. To actually wash the rug, it can be laid on a clean patio or porch area outside and wet with a garden hose. A lounge chair or an outdoor table should be fine or you can also use a portable clothing rack, or anything that keeps it off the ground. Saturate the urine area with cleaner, scrubbing it into the spot. Move heavy furniture to different sections of your rug once every 3-4 months. Michelle Driscoll is the Owner of Mulberry Maids based in northern Colorado. Try to vacuum your rug at least once per week. If you’re willing to put in a weekend of work, however, it’s eminently possible to do a good job of cleaning a rug on your own at home. Bring your braided rug outdoors, placing it on a clean surface. Using a sponge or brush, scrub the shampoo or detergent deep into the rug until you’re seeing suds. The moment all of the dust is gotten rid of, you must clean your rug thoroughly to get rid of any remaining dirt or dust that was loosened from the dusting or as indicated in step 3. 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 you see puffs of dust coming from the rug, keep beating it. If a little cloud of dust floats up, a cleaning is in order. If the rug is handmade or has delicate seams, however, do not use a high pressure spray. (This is important, as it allows you to get the dirt that's compacted over the years at the bottom of the rug/fibers to get washed away.) Buy a squeegee at any hardware store or a large supermarket. Get your hose and wet it down thoroughly, then go over it slowly with the pressure nozzle, trying to cover every inch of it. Michelle Driscoll is the Owner of Mulberry Maids based in northern Colorado. Shop Area Rugs Can Polypropylene Be ... Make sure that the place where you plan to clean your rug is also clean, and must be a concrete or brick surface. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 25,926 times. Some rug materials cannot be fully saturated with water or they react poorly to chemicals. Help the rug dry quickly by setting up 1 or 2 floor fans in the room with the rug to circulate air over it. Area rugs are typically used as an accent feature in open living spaces like a family room, den, or bedroom. But in order for rugs to last for years, they need to be maintained. Let the rug sit for five minutes before rinsing it off. You can purchase a brush with stiff plastic bristles at a hardware store. 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. BUT I have placed the rug over a hammock which allows drainage and drying. Dip a sponge in the water, squeeze out excess moisture, and blot the cleaner onto the rug, working in sections until you've covered the entire surface. 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