How do I clean and sanitize an area rug?
Table of Contents
How do I clean and sanitize an area rug?
- Remove loose dirt with a vacuum.
- Test the cleaner on your rug for colorfastness.
- Work the cleaner into the rug and let it sit for several minutes.
- Hose off the rug.
- Use a squeegee to remove excess water.
- Allow both sides of the rug to dry out completely.
- Vacuum or brush the rug to loosen compacted fibers.
Is it OK to put a rug in the washing machine?
According to Good Housekeeping, rugs that are made of cotton or synthetic fibers—even those with a rubber, no-slip backing—can go in the washing machine. If you’re up to the challenge, Good Housekeeping suggests running it on the gentle cycle with cold water, and not washing it too often.
How should rugs be washed?
With any type of washable rug, use cold water and a liquid detergent. If you have a front-load or top-load high-efficiency washer, loading the rugs into the washer is simple: add your detergent and toss in the rugs. Try to wash two rugs together or add some towels for the best results during the high spin cycle.
How do you dry a rug at home?
Short of using your dryer, the best way to dry your rug is to hang it outside in the sun. For smaller rugs, use clothespins or clips to hang the rug straight. For larger rugs, you might need to hang it over a clothesline. If you can’t hang it outside, you can also use your hair dryer.
How do you clean a 100\% cotton rug?
Large cotton rugs can often be washed at a laundromat. Choose a front-loading commercial machine with a gentle cycle, and use mild detergent and cold water. Hang the rug to dry if possible, or lay it flat and rotate it frequently as it dries. You can also dry-clean large cotton rugs at home.
How do you clean a rug with dish soap?
Mix the cleaner: Make a cleaning solution as directed by your chosen rug shampoo, or mix two to three teaspoons of mild dish soap into one of the 5-gallon buckets with warm water. Fill the other bucket with clean water.
What is the best way to clean an outdoor rug?
For wool rugs, the formula is one part detergent to 100 parts water. For cotton, hemp, and goat hair rugs, doubling to two parts detergent to 100 parts water will yield better results. Do you clean an outdoor rug differently than an indoor rug? If you’re dealing with vintage rugs, no.
Can you put a rug in the washing machine?
These can easily be damaged in a regular washer, so they must be cleaned by hand. For general cleaning, vacuum the rug regularly. Then, all you should have to do is spot clean any spills, just as you would carpet. If you have a rug that is very soiled, leave the job to a professional rug cleaner.
Can You Wash rugs at the laundromat?
For a large number of rugs, you may want to head to the local laundromat and use a larger commercial washer. You’ll save time and water by washing all the rugs at once. You can test for colorfastness by rubbing the rug with a clean, damp, white rag or by wetting a cotton swab and rubbing it onto the fibers of the rug.