How to Clean an Area Rug – Carpet Cleaning Experts

Updated:

February 14, 2022

EuroMaids
Blog
How to Clean an Area Rug – Carpet Cleaning Experts

Area rugs are a significant investment. Aside from adding color and warming the room, they provide a soft place for game playing, watching movies, and slumber parties. However, to get the most value from your rugs, they need to be cleaned regularly. At the very least, an area rug should be vacuumed once a week and deep cleaned once a year. You can always let a carpet cleaning professional do the job for you. It costs around $2 to $7 per square foot depending on the material and state of the rug. Alternatively, you can save costs by vacuum cleaning your rugs on your own and only sending them to a carpet cleaning company once a year for deep cleaning.

Or, if you’re a DIY enthusiast, you can choose to do both jobs yourself! We’ve compiled a detailed guide just for this.

Vacuum Cleaning an Area Rug

Tools and Materials

Vacuum cleaner
Baking soda
Rubber gloves

The Process

Step #1: Shake the rug outdoor to remove loose soil

Area rugs accumulate all kinds of dirt, including debris that could damage your vacuum cleaner. This is especially true for rugs in heavy-traffic areas. Before you begin the vacuuming process, take the rug outdoor and vigorously shake it to remove the loose particles.

Step #2: Check the settings on the vacuum cleaner

Most area rugs last longer when vacuumed at low settings. So, check your vacuum cleaner to ensure that the speed of airflow is reduced as appropriate. Most rugs will come with instructions on this, complete with suggestions on the best airflow setting. But, if there are no instructions, just go with the lowest settings on your machine.

Step #3: Sprinkle baking soda to remove odors

A proven carpet cleaning solution, baking soda works excellently on area rugs. Not only does it remove the odors and stains that may be caused by pets and spilled foods, but it also freshens up and revitalizes rugs. What’s better, you don’t need any special skills to use baking soda. Just sprinkle it lightly all over the rug.

Step #4: Gently vacuum the rug on both sides

Since rugs are not secured to the floor like carpets, it is easier to ruin the binding of your rug. Vacuuming can also destroy the fringe on a rug. To avoid any damages, focus on the center of the rug, slowly moving to the edges. In fact, where possible, use a hand vacuum for the outer edges.

Also, remember to vacuum both sides of the rug. A lot of people forget about the backside, yet the underside tends to accumulate even more dirt. If not washed away regularly, the build-up can weaken your rug.

Deep Cleaning an Area Rug

Tools and materials

Vacuum cleaner
Rug shampoo
Bucket
Sponge
Soft-bristled brush
Squeegee
Rubber gloves
Water (plenty of it)

The Process

Step #1: Thoroughly vacuum the rug on both sides

Use the steps above. This should remove loose soil and debris. That way, you only have to focus on deeply entrenched stains going forward.

Step #2: Test for colorfastness

This step helps prevent the running of colors. Mix a couple of cupfuls of mild dish detergent with a bucket of warm water. Then, sprinkle some of the water at a corner of the rug and watch. If the colors don’t run, move to the next step.

Step #3: Wash the rug thoroughly

Using the sponge or a soft brush, soak your rug into a lather of shampoo. Then, gently scrub from the center outwards until you’ve covered every inch of the rug. This can take up to a quarter of an hour or more.

Step #4: Rinse, squeeze, and leave to dry

Rinsing is best done using a garden hose. After you’re done, squeeze out excess water using a squeegee. Be careful to work only in the direction of the rug’s nap. Then, lay the rug flat to dry. After the top side is dry, turn it over so the bottom side can dry too.

Step #5: Loosen the fibers

With the rug dry on both sides, gently run the vacuum cleaner over it for the last time to loosen up the fibers. You can also use a soft-bristled brush for this purpose. Then, take your rug back into the room and enjoy!