How to Vacuum Your Rug
Canister vacuums without beater bars are the optimal type of vacuum to use on rugs. Brooms and manual sweepers are also a gentle and effective way toclean rugs.
Many of today’s upright vacuums are super high powered. The high suction can pull out the threads from the back of a rug and cause “sprouts.” Use the handheld attachment to vacuum your area rug, whenever possible.
If you choose not to (or are unable to use) the handheld attachment on your upright vacuum, make sure to turn off the vacuum’s beater bar, as it can pull fibers from the face of the rug and cause the rug to fuzz. If the beater bar cannot be turned off, set it on the highest position possible before vacuuming. Then, carefully place the vacuum on the rug.
If the rug has serged (finished) edges, refrain from continuously running the vacuum over the edges,as this will loosen fibers around the edges and cause them to deteriorate.
Avoid running the vacuum over the fringes at the endsof the rug, as fraying may occur. Use the handheld attachment to clean the fringes.
If a rug is reversible, make sure to vacuum both sides. This will remove grit and grime that can prematurely wear out your rug.
How to Clean Your Rug
Clean spills immediately. Once a stain is set, it becomes much more difficult to clean.
Never rub a spill, as this forces the spill deeper into the rug. Instead, blot the stain with a clean white cloth.
For wool rugs, use lukewarm water to remove any residual stain, as wool is more prone to bleeding and staining than synthetic fibers.
Always use clean water to remove any residual cleaner, and dry towels to absorb any remaining moisture.
Wool Rugs
With a dry cotton towel or white paper towel, blot out stain as much as possible.
Scrape off any food or debris with a dull instrument.
Mix a very small amount of dish soap with a cup of cold water. With a clean sponge and soap mix (avoid using excessive water), gently remove remainder of the stain and then blot the area with a dry towel.
Avoid excessive heat or agitation, as wool rugs are more prone to bleeding and staining than synthetic rugs. We recommend using a professional rug cleaner onan annual basis.
Synthetic Fiber Rugs (Olefin | Polypropylene | Nylon)
With a dry cotton towel or white paper towel, blot out stain as much as possible.
Scrape off any food or debris with a dull instrument.
Mix a very small amount of dish soap with a cup of cold water. With a clean sponge and soap mix, remove the remainder of stain and then blot the area with a dry towel.
Indoor/Outdoor Rugs
With a dry cotton towel or white paper towel, blot out stain as much as possible.
Scrape off any food or debris with a dull instrument.
Mix a very small amount of dish soap with a cup of cold water. With a cleansponge and soap mix, remove remainder of the stain. Allow the area to dry.
For all-over cleaning, spray with a mixture of soap and water and rinsewith a garden hose.
Natural Fiber Rugs (Jute | Hemp | Coir | Sisal)
Natural fiber rugs inherently have loose fibers and knots. Regularly vacuum rugon low power setting, making sure to vacuum from different angles.
Loose threads on the face of the rug should be trimmed with household scissors.
To avoid unraveling or damaging the rug, threads on the rug’s face should neverbe pulled.
Spills should be gently blotted with a clean, undyed cloth to absorb as much of the spill as possible and prevent spreading. Work from the outer edges of the spill towards the center. If applying cleaning solvents, test on a small area first. For stubborn stains, use a professional cleaning service that specializes in wool rugs. Do not dry clean, as strong cleaning chemicals may damage or fade the rug.
Shag Rugs
Spray extraction, along with use of a wool-approved product, can be used to clean shag rugs.
Shedding is normal for wool products and decreases over time. Do not pull yarn out,as this may result in damage to the rug.
Canister vacuums without a beater bar are most effective in cleaning shag rugs. Vacuums with beater bars and/or brushes, or those set too low, may abrade the face of the rug.
