How To Wash Throw Rugs For Best Results?

To make your DIY rug cleanup easy and quick, we have enlisted all the essential steps. In addition, we have also assembled a list of required materials and tools for efficient and flawless washing.

Required Materials For Rug Washing

• Vacuum Cleaner
• Heavy Detergent
• Soft Sponge or Brush
• Washing Machine (optional)
• Garden Hose
• Broom
• Water
• Bucket
• Rubber Gloves

1. Choose Proper Time & Space
2. Do Vacuuming On Both Sides Of Rug
3. Test For Colorfastness & Fiber Damage
4. Spot Cleaning To Remove Stains
5. Use Machine If Rug Is Machine Washable
6. Wash The Rug With Heavy-Duty Detergent
7. Rinse With Clear Water & Air Dry

Before initiating your DIY project, you must consider the weather conditions and washing area. Choose a day when the forecast is sunny and clear (for the upcoming 2-3 days). Because you need sunny weather for quick and complete drying of the rug surface. To avoid inconvenience, you must wash your floor rugs on sunny days. Moreover, find a plain outdoor surface in your home for vacuuming, brushing, and rinsing.

For excellent vacuuming, always use a heavy-duty vacuum cleaner with a powerful suction. Place area rug on a plain surface and roll it out carefully for smooth vacuuming. Vacuum the throw rug’s surface from both sides to remove all dust and dirt particles. That’s because dust particles can accumulate on either side due to the thin weaving. If you feel the rug is still dirty after vacuuming, you can also utilize a heavy stick or broom handle to gently beat or shake the rug for dusting.

Pro Tip: Nowadays, most of the rugs come with a label or tag containing washing or maintenance instructions. You should read these instructions carefully if your rug has any such label. If your rug doesn’t have an instructive label, follow our next step carefully. 

For delicate rugs and for those with no care labels, you should test for colorfastness and fiber damage before using any type of detergent. That’s because most of the soft floorings require specific detergents for cleaning. For the colorfastness test, rub a wet cotton swab or white rag on any side of the rug. If the white cotton swab turns colorful, it means the rug’s color will bleed during washing.

Similarly, you should also check the effect of detergent on the rug before applying it on the entire surface. Apply the detergent on any unnoticeable edge or corner of the rug and leave it there for some time. Afterwards, observe the condition of rug fibers, if they are damaged, you should go for another detergent.

Spot cleaning is one of the best practices to keep your rug clean and clear for a long time. Before starting the proper wash, you must inspect the entire rug. If you find any type of food or grease stain on your throw rug’s surface, you must clean it instantly. Moreover, if you leave these stains unaddressed, they can also damage the rest of the rug surface.

To remove these stains, you need to formulate a heavy solution using good quality detergent and water in a bucket. Dip a soft sponge or brush in this solution and rub it over the stained area gently. Never rub the rug forcefully, excessive rubbing can also damage the fibers.

Some rugs are machine washable while some require hand washing due to their delicate surface area, heavy weight, and specific requirements. If your throw rug is machine washable, you need to make a solution with a dedicated detergent and cold water in the machine. Place the rug in the machine and set it at a high spin cycle by considering the agitator level.

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On the other hand, if your rugs require hand-washing, you should place them on a plain surface. Give your rug a good rinse by using a garden hose to make its fibers wet. A well-rinsed surface allows the detergent to react with stains, grease, mud, or dust effectively. After proper rinsing, pour some good quality liquid detergent on it. Rub the surface with a soft sponge or brush gently for 4-5 minutes. When the surface is filled with foam, leave the rug for 10-15 minutes for best results.

Pro Tip: Scrub the rug until the surface is completely filled with detergent foam.

For rinsing your floor covering, you need to utilize a garden hose with high pressure. While rinsing, it must be ensured that you are also scrubbing all sides, corners, and edges of the rug with a soft brush. Wash the rug until all residues of detergent are removed from its surface. If you do not eliminate all the residue, it can attract dust particles and can also cause fiber damage.

For air drying, you can hang the rug on a wall, clean rack, or string. Leave the rug in a covered yet ventilated space for at least 3-4 hours for complete removal of the moisture content.

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To sum up this guide, we can say that washing throw rugs is not a difficult task when you take it as a DIY project. For your convenience, Rug Dubai has mentioned all the effective steps for a rug’s proper washing and cleaning. So if you have a plan to wash your rugs, simply follow these steps and enjoy your journey!