better homes and gardens distressed medallion area rug

You walk all over them every day, probably trekking in dirt from outside, but how often do you really clean your rugs? No, we're not talking the occasional vacuum—we mean giving your rug a really deep clean. If the answer is "not enough" (or even "What? I'm supposed to do that?"), no judgment—but we're here to help. We reached out to our friends, the rug experts at Loloi, for some guidance on deep-cleaning any kind of carpet. Here's everything you need to know.

How to Clean Different Kinds of Rugs

Wool: A natural fiber from sheep which is fairly durable and can be cleaned with wool detergent.
Silk: A natural fiber that is slightly more delicate than wool; clean with a mixture of equal parts water and white vinegar.
Polyester: Polyester is fairly stain-resistant, but if it needs a cleaning, it can be done with light detergent (same as wool).
Cotton: Often used in flatweave rugs; many cotton rugs can be machine washed on a gentle cycle with warm water (check care instructions).
Jute: Jute is NOT water resistant, so should not get wet. If your jute rug needs deep cleaning, opt for a professional service.
Sisal: Sisal rugs are also not water resistant; if water leaves a stain, blot dry immediately and opt for professional cleaning if necessary.
Vintage: Vintage rugs can be far more delicate than new ones, so check out our specific guide for cleaning these.

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How to Vacuum a Rug

Frequency: Your rugs should be vacuumed regularly (every few days to every week, depending on use), say the experts at Loloi. Here's their advice:

•For regular pile rugs, it is recommended that you vacuum weekly

•For shag rugs, shake rugs outside to loosen dirt and other particles

•Looped and braided rugs require that you remove the beater bar setting in your vacuum. If it cannot be removed, set the vacuum on its highest possible (as in distance from the floor, not power) setting.

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How to Deep Clean a Rug

Rugs can be spot-cleaned if they get a stain. But every few months to a year, they need to be deep-cleaned. The method below is suitable for wool and polyester rugs; you can clean silk rugs using this method but substituting detergent for equal parts water and vinegar.

Supplies:

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Bucket
Vacuum
Broom
Light detergent or wool detergent (like Woolite)
Sponges
Rags or dry towels

Process

1. Beat

Bring the rug outside and hang it over a fence or clothesline. Using a broom or long rod, beat the rug to get any leftover dirt or dust out.

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Beating the rug.

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2. Vacuum

Begin by vacuuming the rug thoroughly on both sides, removing all loose dirt.

3. Make a cleaning mixture

In a bucket, mix your cleaner: "Use a common wool cleaning detergent or create one with a teaspoon of natural detergent and a teaspoon of pure white vinegar, combined with a quart of warm water," advises the team at Loloi.

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Daubing clean with a sponge.

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4. Blot clean rug

Dip a sponge in the water, squeeze out excess moisture, and blot the cleaner onto the rug, working in sections until you've covered the entire surface.

5. Rinse

Fill a bucket with plain water and repeat step 4 with a clean sponge.

6. Spot Clean

For any stubborn spots, blot with a mixture of detergent and vinegar. Then rinse using a clean sponge and water.

7. Blot

Using a clean, dry rag or towel, blot the entire rug surface to remove any excess moisture.

8. Dry

Allow the rug to dry completely overnight before walking on it.

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Hadley Keller Digital Director Hadley Keller is a writer and editor based in New York, covering design, interiors, and culture.

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