How To Clean Area Rugs Yourself

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

Introduction

No need to hire a professional, you tin clean your surface area rugs yourself! Follow these steps for clean, brightened and refreshed area rugs.

Eventually, the fourth dimension comes when your surface area rug or removable carpet needs more merely another vacuuming. If stains are piling upwards or at that place are deep-rooted bug with dust (or worse, grit mites), it's time for a full cleaning. Fortunately, y'all don't need to hire a professional to fully clean your rug! You only need the correct tools, cleaner and approach. Here's how to clean area rugs from showtime to terminate.

Note: A true area carpeting will be far also big for 1 person to successfully handle. Spare your muscles by getting a couple of other people to assistance you with this task. It will only take a couple of hours if everything is properly prepared!

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Project step-by-step (seven)

Stride 1

Ready Up an Outdoor Station

  • Selection a twenty-four hour period when the forecast is clear and sunny (preferably for the next few days), and prepare a station to clean your rugs.
    • Pro tip: Summer is an excellent time to clean your rug because you'll need to do information technology outdoors. Try non to fix over the backyard, as you don't want any cleaners soaking into the grass.
  • The support organisation you choose needs to be a lot stronger than a clothesline, as rugs are usually quite heavy.
  • If y'all have 2 copse, y'all tin stretch bungee cords or thick rope between them.
  • Benches and any sort of sturdy wall tin also piece of work.

area rug on fence

Stride ii

Vacuum Thoroughly On Both Sides

  • Vacuum the fibers, then flip the rug over and vacuum the other side to remove any lingering dust.
  • When it's make clean, information technology'due south fourth dimension to roll it up carefully and take the rug exterior to your cleaning station.
  • Prop information technology up at the station with the right side facing y'all.
  • If your rug is nevertheless dusty at this phase, you can beat it with a broom handle or similar tool to knock fifty-fifty more dust out.
    • Pro tip: Don't whack too hard, but give the carpet a few firm knocks to come across if clouds of grit come up out. If they do, go along whacking.

vacuuming area rug

Footstep 3

Test Out Carpet Shampoos

  • Always test out the carpet shampoo before you apply it to the whole rug.
  • Utilize a petty 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.
  • Check carefully to see if in that location is any color harm or fiber damage.
    • Pro tip: Information technology'due south a good thought to expect for carpet shampoos designed for the materials that your rug is made with. Don't effort to make your own DIY carpeting cleaner or apply other cleaners that are not specifically intended for rugs and carpet!

shampoo for area rug

Step 4

Wash the Carpeting and Apply Shampoo

  • With a safe shampoo called, pull out the garden hose and give your rug a good rinse.
    • Pro tip: Don't worry near getting it too wet, you need to set it well for the shampoo application.
  • Using a sturdy castor with a stout handle, work the shampoo deep into the carpet fiber.
    • Annotation: This footstep will require a lot of scrubbing and foam. Clothes accordingly, become the rug really wet and focus on whatever stains. Next, check out how to clean a wool rug yourself.

scrubbing area rug

Step five

Rinse the Carpeting

  • Read the directions and exit the shampoo on your rug for every bit long every bit indicated.
  • When the fourth dimension comes, hose down the rug again.
    • Annotation: It'southward important to rinse all the shampoo out, so you aren't left with any residue.

rinsing area rug

Step 6

Help the Rug Dry

  • Endeavour to wring the carpet as much every bit possible to go rid of all the excess water.
    • Pro tip: A duster can help with this step.
  • Later that, your rug volition still exist very wet and you'll demand to wait for it to dry completely earlier moving information technology dorsum inside your house.
    • Note: Drying may take longer than a day—or even the weekend.
  • For more than protected drying, consider moving the carpeting to the laundry room or garage.
  • When the rug is fully dry out, you won't be able to feel any water even when yous squeeze difficult, and it volition probably be a bit potent.

drying area rug out window

Pace vii

Vacuum One Last Time

  • Put the area carpeting back in its place, and and so give it one last vacuuming.
    • Notation: The carpet fibers will probably be flattened and odd-looking later on a washing. A thorough vacuuming is like combing your rug to restore its proper appearance.

vacuuming white area rug

Originally Published: December 31, 2020