Jute rugs are very popular among natural rug lovers looking for a rustic feeling in their space. Jute rugs look stylish and work well with all-natural interiors. It’s the best choice if you care about the eco-friendliness of the interior. They are made of a rain-fed plant that needs very little fertilizer, much less than cotton. Moreover, rugs made of jute are bio-degradable. In today’s post, we will explain the simple and important secrets of how to clean a jute rug.
Of the main benefits of such rugs is that they are very easy to maintain. Loose dirt usually stays on the weave and doesn’t get stuck on the thick jute rug fibers.
Tools and materials you’ll need for cleaning:
- Vacuum cleaner
- Clean water
- White microfiber fabric
- Broom or a rug beater
- Baking soda or a dry carpet shampoo
The jute rug cleaning process can be divided into a few steps.
How to Сlean a Jute Rug – Step by Step Guide
Before placing a jute rug on your floor, consider getting a rug pad. It will help to maintain the cleanliness of the jute rug and protect your floors from scratches by dirt.
Same as with all the other rug materials, jute requires regular maintenance, which will prolong its lifetime and keep it looking good. As we have mentioned before, a rug pad is one of the necessary measures.
To keep the rug clean, vacuum clean it weekly or maximum bi-weekly. This will prevent the dirt and grease from building up. As jute is a natural fiber material made of the dry grass crop, it doesn’t like water. That’s why you shouldn’t place jute rugs in wet areas such as a bathroom or near the kitchen sink. Humidity will destroy the delicate fibers, and mold may appear. Because of that, wet shampooing, wet cleaning, and watering the jute rugs are prohibited. The natural color will get discolorated and drenched.
While vacuum cleaning the jute rug, pay special attention to the weave and clean the rug well from both sides.
Methods of Jute Rug Cleaning
- Vacuum cleaning. We recommend using the vacuum cleaner at the lowest power and clean it carefully by moving in the direction that the rug texture is woven.
- Hanging the rug outside. Same as with other types of rugs, use sunny days to hang the rug outdoors and leave it there for a while. Sunshine will help to kill the bacteria trapped in the fibers.
- Use a rug beater. If you have an appropriate outdoor area where you can hang a rug, take it there and give it a delicate beating. Use a rug beater or a usual broom. It’s good to combine this process with vacuum cleaning. Shake the rug and beat it to disengage the dirt that’s trapped in the weave.
- Dry clean with a jute rug shampoo or baking soda. There are many products available at the market, read the label instructions carefully before use. Don’t use the liquid detergent because it will cause discoloration. Put the dry shampoo on the rig, leave it there for a couple of hours and then vacuum clean it. Flip the rug and repeat the vacuum cleaning on the other side.
Dry cleaning is recommended as the top cleaning method. Jute carpets retain dust, sand, wool, and small debris, which are easily removed with a vacuum cleaner or mechanical shaking. Professional dry-cleaning is recommended for more complex stains.
Spot Cleaning Jute Rugs
Sometimes, due to accidents spills happen. What to do when you don’t have to clean the whole rug, but need to get rid of the stain? Spot cleaning is possible with the jute rugs, and below we will see how to do it.
If the spill is fresh. If a stain has formed on the surface, you need to get rid of it as soon as possible, until the canvas has absorbed the pollution.
- Take a clean white cloth (or a towel) and blot the spill starting from the outside of the spot moving to the inside. Press the cloth strongly on the rug spill, but do not rub, because it will only help the dirt penetrate the jute fibers. Pour some cold water on the stain and repeat the blotting process as many times as needed.
- Continue to blot until there is no more liquid coming to the towel.
- If you need to remove a wine stain, follow the wine removal guide.
- Leave the rug to dry. If needed, use a fan or a hairdryer to speed up the process.
If solid dirt fell on the rug (like a piece of cake), first of all, scrape it up from the rug using a kitchen knife, and then start the process at step 1.
How to Clean a Jute Rug with a Dry Carpet Shampoo
- The first and most important step is to make a test on the non-so-visible part of the rug. Read the product description and do exactly as the label suggests.
- Put some rug shampoo evenly on the rug, and cover all the dirty areas.
- Brush the rug with a mild brush, or a broom, in all directions.
- Once you have brushed the cleaner into the rug, leave it on until the cleaner lightens to the pale color, and dries completely.
- Vacuum clean the rug thoroughly.
Recommend product: Capture Dry Carpet and Area Rug Cleaner on Amazon
Cleaning Do’s
- Use the dry cleaning process.
- Vacuum cleaning.
Cleaning Dont’s
- Do not let the rug get the moisture, don’t even use a wet shampoo on it, don’t steam clean it. In other words, don’t use any cleaning method that involves using water.
- Don’t use the shampoo that saturates the fabric.
How to Maintain a Jute Rug
Regular Vacuuming
Normal vacuuming is an excellent manner to care for your jute rug. Visible, free dirt has to be vacuumed with a robust suction vacuum. We don’t recommend using a beater bar extensively.
This will extend the life of your jute rug, and keep your interior fresh for a longer time.
Get a Fabric Protector
Apart from regular vacuuming, we recommend using a rug protecting solution, that helps to decrease rug absorbance and prolong the time between the cleanings. These protectors are made to repel water and resist virtually all cold liquid spills, including oily soil. Choose the protector that does not contain any ozone-depleting chemicals.
Care for the Curled Rug Corners
When you use the jute rug in high-traffic areas, after some time you will start to notice that the edges are curling. This can be easily fixed by damping them just a little and weighting them down overnight.
It is very pleasant and useful to walk barefoot on jute rugs, they perfectly massage and exfoliate the feet. In addition, jute rugs are durable and hygienic. They retain dust, sand, wool, and small debris. Remove them easily by vacuuming or mechanical shaking. And, of course, these products are valued for their absolute environmental friendliness, because they consist only of natural materials. Now, since you know how to clean a jute rug, we hope you will fully enjoy this eco-friendly and natural product.