Oh, I love sisal rugs! Natural, and durable they create a very welcoming feel in the home. They are versatile and a great option for any kind of room. In this post, we will examine how to clean sisal rugs and keep them tidy even in high traffic areas.
What Is Sisal?
Before we start with the cleaning, let’s understand what are sisal rugs made of. These rugs are made of the leaves of the flowering plant called Agave sisalana, which grows in Brazil, Central America, and Africa. Did you know that in order to create the fiber of his plant, leaves are crushed and then beaten and brushed with the help of the wheel? In short, the waste part of the leaves is washed away and only the fibers remain. After that, the fibers get dried, brushed, and are ready to be used for production. It’s a very popular carpet material for high traffic areas. Super durable!
Sisal yarns contain from 55% to 65% of cellulose. This yarn is used in the production of carpets, mattresses, ropes, nets, twine, packaging fabrics, washcloths, brushes, etc. Since sisal is a natural material, it is non-toxic and suitable for people with asthma or allergies. Unlike synthetic materials, sisal rug does not emit harmful volatile organic substances, therefore it helps to normalize the air in the house.
Sisal does not trap dust, so it’s really easy to clean and maintain. However, if you have a busy household, a more thorough cleaning may be needed. Read on to discover the tricks to cleaning sisal rugs fast at home.
Different incidents can happen, and we have decided to divide sisal rug maintenance into three types: spot cleaning, regular maintenance against the dust, and odor removal.
To prepare for the cleaning make sure you have everything needed. Put on the rubber gloves, facemask, and protect the floor under the rug. We usually suggest mild and non-toxic products for the cleaning, however, it’s not recommended to breathe in any dust and fumes.
Sisal Rug Spot Cleaning
A sisal mat is a durable, wear-resistant product that, with proper care, retains its original appearance for a long time. However, improper cleaning can permanently damage the canvas. To prevent this from happening, it is important to know how to properly handle it.
Address this spill as soon as it has happened. Start with blotting the substance that was spilled on the rug. You can use clean paper towels or clean cloths to remove it as soon as possible. If something solid fell on the carpet, you can use a knife or a spoon to remove it. If you leave the dirt inside for a long time, the stain may stay on the sisal rug forever.
Before proceeding with cleaning, test the cleaning process on a small area of the rug, better on the backside.
We recommend using a special carpet shampoo with a neutral pH factor. It has the most delicate formula needed for natural fabrics.
Step-by-step guide:
- Blot the stain with a clean towel.
- With help of the sponge put a little amount of sisal carpet shampoo on the stain. Additionally, put some lukewarm water on top, this will help carpet shampoo to penetrate the stain. Be careful – do not rub.
- Now you have to dry the rug quickly. To speed up the process, use a fan heater or a hairdryer.
Regular Sisal Rug Cleaning
Sisal is a material that shouldn’t be wet very often. In other words, these rugs are hygroscopic. Even the smallest wet stains can leave a spot that will be harder to remove later on. Humidity causes saturation of the sisal fibers.
The regular cleaning can be easily done with vacuuming a few times a month. This will be enough to keep your sisal rug clean and fresh for a long time. For vacuum cleaning use strong brush suction. It will be more than enough to pull all the dust and dirt trapped in the fibers and the base. Frequent vacuum cleaning will significantly increase the lifetime of your rug because it will prevent the soil from building up.
Odor Removal
Does your rug smell stinky? There are easy solutions for that. If you have sunny weather, and an outdoor area where are you can leave the rug, drag it outside and let it sunbathe for a day. This way, unpleasant odors will disappear.
Another effective method is to try and clean your rug with baking soda. We have already discussed this type of cleaning in a previous post so you can read it in more detail. The solution is simple: just sprinkle a bit of baking soda on the rug and leave it there for a few hours. After that, vacuum clean the soda from the rug. All the unpleasant orders will be removed because baking soda is a great natural absorbent.
You can also remove the smell with another homemade solution. Vinegar is mixed in half with water, this will help freshen the mat and help to get rid of the unpleasant odor. The solution is applied with a sponge on the problem areas. Then the rug is dried.
Conclusion
Sisal rugs are hygroscopic, that’s why it is recommended to use dry cleaning methods, using water only for serious contaminations. Do not completely wet the product, the fibers absorb water very well, and then it will dry for a long time. Only stained areas should be treated if needed. Do not use hot water if the sisal rug needs to be washed. Due to high temperatures, natural fibers may swell, deform, and after drying, they will not take their original shape.