How To Clean Area Rugs Yourself

Larn how to properly clean area rugs yourself with this step-by-step guide.

Introduction

No need to hire a professional, yous can make clean your expanse rugs yourself! Follow these steps for clean, brightened and refreshed area rugs.

Eventually, the fourth dimension comes when your area rug or removable carpet needs more than just another vacuuming. If stains are piling up or there are deep-rooted problems with dust (or worse, grit mites), it's fourth dimension for a total cleaning. Fortunately, you don't need to hire a professional to fully make clean your rug! You just need the right tools, cleaner and approach. Hither's how to clean expanse rugs from start to finish.

Notation: A true area rug will exist far as well large for one person to successfully handle. Spare your muscles by getting a couple of other people to help you with this task. It will just take a couple of hours if everything is properly prepared!

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Project stride-by-footstep (vii)

Step 1

Set Up an Outdoor Station

  • Pick a day when the forecast is clear and sunny (preferably for the next few days), and set up a station to clean your rugs.
    • Pro tip: Summer is an fantabulous time to clean your rug considering you'll demand to do it outdoors. Try non to set up upwards over the lawn, as yous don't want any cleaners soaking into the grass.
  • The back up system y'all choose needs to exist a lot stronger than a clothesline, equally rugs are usually quite heavy.
  • If y'all have two trees, you lot tin can stretch bungee cords or thick rope between them.
  • Benches and any sort of sturdy wall can also work.

area rug on fence

Step two

Vacuum Thoroughly On Both Sides

  • Vacuum the fibers, so flip the rug over and vacuum the other side to remove whatever lingering grit.
  • When it's clean, it's time to curl it upward carefully and take the rug outside to your cleaning station.
  • Prop it upward at the station with the right side facing you.
  • If your rug is nevertheless dusty at this stage, you tin can beat it with a broom handle or similar tool to knock fifty-fifty more dust out.
    • Pro tip: Don't whack besides hard, merely requite the carpet a few firm knocks to see if clouds of dust come out. If they do, keep whacking.

vacuuming area rug

Step 3

Test Out Carpet Shampoos

  • Always test out the carpet shampoo before you apply it to the whole rug.
  • Utilize a niggling to a small corner or patch, mix in some water, and let information technology settle for a few hours.
  • Go back and rinse that spot off.
  • Cheque advisedly to run across if there is any color damage or fiber damage.
    • Pro tip: It'southward a good idea to look for carpet shampoos designed for the materials that your rug is made with. Don't try to make your own DIY rug cleaner or apply other cleaners that are not specifically intended for rugs and carpet!

shampoo for area rug

Pace iv

Wash the Carpet and Apply Shampoo

  • With a safe shampoo chosen, pull out the garden hose and give your rug a good rinse.
    • Pro tip: Don't worry almost getting it also wet, you need to prepare it well for the shampoo application.
  • Using a sturdy brush with a stout handle, work the shampoo deep into the carpeting fiber.
    • Note: This step will require a lot of scrubbing and cream. Wearing apparel appropriately, get the rug really wet and focus on whatsoever stains. Next, bank check out how to clean a wool carpet yourself.

scrubbing area rug

Step v

Rinse the Carpeting

  • Read the directions and get out the shampoo on your carpet for as long equally indicated.
  • When the time comes, hose downward the rug once more.
    • Note: It's of import to rinse all the shampoo out, and then you lot aren't left with whatever residual.

rinsing area rug

Stride 6

Aid the Rug Dry out

  • Try to wring the rug as much as possible to get rid of all the backlog water.
    • Pro tip: A squeegee can help with this pace.
  • After that, your rug volition still be very wet and you'll need to await for information technology to dry completely before moving it dorsum within your house.
    • Notation: Drying may take longer than a day—or even the weekend.
  • For more than protected drying, consider moving the rug to the laundry room or garage.
  • When the rug is fully dry, you won't be able to experience any water fifty-fifty when you squeeze hard, and information technology volition probably be a chip potent.

drying area rug out window

Step 7

Vacuum Ane Last Fourth dimension

  • Put the expanse rug back in its identify, then give information technology one terminal vacuuming.
    • Notation: The carpeting fibers volition probably be flattened and odd-looking after a washing. A thorough vacuuming is like combing your rug to restore its proper appearance.

vacuuming white area rug

Originally Published: December 31, 2020