Among a wide variety of rug types on the market, wool is one of the most popular. What is the reason, you ask? Well, first of all, it’s natural and environmentally friendly. Wool is an extremely warm material. It is pleasant and safe to walk barefoot. Good news: with the proper maintenance, woolen rugs will easily serve you from 20 to 50 years.
The most common question among rug owners is “how do I clean a wool rug?”. Read on to find the detailed tips.
How to Clean Wool Rug by Yourself
There are a few common cleaning methods, and each has its pros and cons. Choose it, taking into account many factors related to a specific product. Whichever way you choose, the first thing you should do when deciding how to clean the wool rug is clear the rug from debris and remove the dust with a vacuum cleaner.
Quick Step-by-Step Rug Cleaning Guide
- Beat the rug
It is an important step for the rug, located in a high-traffic area. All the dirt, soil, and grime end up on the rugs. Hang it outside on the clothesline, and beat the rug using a beater bar. If you don’t have a beater bar, use a broom instead. You might be surprised, considering how much dirt and grime is thrown around. In addition, it’s a wonderful way to release stress!
- Vacuum clean
To remove any leftover particles that were not eliminated by the rug beating, vacuum both front and back sides at least three times. It’s critical to vacuum your wool rugs regularly if you want to keep dirt and grime out of them between major cleanings.
You can also use the kitchen floor or the garage if there is no outside space to lay the rug.
Polypropylene, nylon, and acrylic fibers in synthetic rugs are plastic, and dirt will accumulate on the surface. There are tiny air spaces in wool rugs where dirt can hide. While your wool rug will last longer than a cheap synthetic equivalent since it has fewer air pockets, you’ll ultimately have to clear those air pockets by vacuuming. Vacuuming just twice a month isn’t enough for your wool rug. Wool strands will be ripped out from the rug if you clean it too often. When it gets dirty, vacuum the rug on both sides to remove any remaining dirt.
Regular vacuuming will keep your rug clean for a long time. It’s enough to vacuum a wool rug a few times a month. Vacuum the underside as well. Vacuuming the rug’s backside once a month is a good rule of thumb.
- Shampoo the rug
Use a large bucket with cool water and a gentle shampoo like Woolite or create a homemade wool wash and mix it well.
Allow the shampoo to stay on the stain for approximately 15 minutes, and then scrub the area with a brush. Wipe it afterward with clean, cool water.
Wool rugs may be cleaned using homemade shampoo. Add a cup of white vinegar to three teaspoons of hand soap and two cups of sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) to a big pot of boiling water. Stir to combine the ingredients. Please wait until it cools down, and then pour this solution onto your rug. It is a great way to get rid of any stains.
- Dry the rug
You can first dry it a little with a clean towel or a sponge, ad then use a fan to finish the work. To remove any extra moisture, use microfiber cloths to blot the cleaned area. Once you’ve wiped all of the surfaces, go on to a different area and repeat the process.
Before re-using your rug, let it air dry completely. A fan and open windows will speed up the drying process when drying a rug indoors. The rug may be taken outdoors or hung on the balcony to sit in the sun. If it’s sunny, take the rug outside and leat it sundry.
- Brush the clean rug
It’s time to make your rug fluffy again!
Self-cleaning a woolen rug is a time-consuming task. You should allocate at least 6-8 hours to do it. If you plan to use your time more rationally and are unsure of the final result, you should entrust the cleaning of the woolen carpet to specialists. Look for the local services based on the customer reviews and experience of the company that offers these services. Check out our other guides on how to clean bath mats.
How to Clean a Wool Rug with Baking Soda
Baking soda has a lot of power because it is alkaline. It means that you can use it to clean. Now, we’re going to get a little technical, so please bear with us.
You can use baking soda to clean acidic things. It can be compelling and natural to use baking soda to get rid of acidic stains. There is a change in the pH level when baking soda gets mixed with acid.
Baking soda may be used to clean the wool rug in two ways: on a daily basis and to remove spot stains.
Keep Your Rug Clean with Regular Cleaning
Sprinkle baking soda over the surface of your wool rug and allow it to sit for about an hour. Add a little more baking soda to areas with heavy foot traffic.
Another good thing about baking soda is that you might use it to get rid of the smell of the rug. It will also help to make sure that your wool rug is completely dry after you clean it.
It’s time to vacuum up the baking soda after it’s been there for a while.
Stain Removal
Stains that Are Water-based
For non-oil stains, generously sprinkle baking soda on the affected area. Then, using a spray bottle, mist it with warm water. You will need to let this mix dry on the rug for a few hours.
Water and baking soda work well together to remove the stains.
Baking soda will also get rid of and get rid of the stains in your rug as it gets rid of the water that it takes in. All you have to do is vacuum clean over the baking soda when it’s dry. If and when the stain is persistent, you might need to use something else like vinegar to get it out.
Greasy Spots
Baking soda may also be used to remove a grease-based stain from your wool. First of all, get a microfiber or a paper towel and blot up as much grease as you can.
Blot the stain, don’t rub it. A lot of rubbing will make the grease spread farther into the rug fibers. When you blot, you will get rid of the dirt without spreading it all over the place.
In this case, apply some baking soda to the dirty area. Water should not be added. Please wait a few hours or even overnight for the baking soda to work its magic! The longer baking soda is left on the dirty spot, the better the results.
How to Spot Clean Wool Rug
Act fast
The greatest thing you can do to preserve your wool rug from stains and muddy footprints is to act quickly. To get rid of a variety of problems, follow the instructions for specific stains. When it comes to removing stains from a wool rug, there are a few suggestions to keep in mind. More below.
No rubbing, only blotting
Don’t rub the stains: fresh stains should never be rubbed. Solids should be removed with a dull-edged spoon or knife (not sharp) immediately, and liquids should be blotted up with some paper towels. Why you shouldn’t rub? The stain is merely pushed further into the fibers by rubbing.
Dry the rug first
Allow the rug to dry before washing it: when dealing with mud, you should wait until it has dried before cleaning. You can use a dull edge tool and vacuum up the crumbled parts. It is the best way to remove dry mud stains.
Dab the solution into the stain
Never pour any stain remover straight on wool rugs. Always dab it in. Apply a small amount of the cleanser on white fabric and see whether it causes the colors to run or fade away before using it. By doing so, the wool fibers are also kept free of extra soapy residue.
Use a specialized cleaning solution
It’s best to use a cleaning solution specifically designed for spot cleaning the wool rugs, such as Woolite, or a basic dishwashing detergent mixed with lukewarm water. Wool rugs should never be treated with any type of bleach, including chlorine, ammonia, or even oxygen bleach. These chemicals can harm the wool and make the colors bleed or fade away, so be careful when you use them.
How to Get Red Wine Out of Wool Rug
Blot the wine using a clean paper towel, then blot with another clean white cloth or paper towel that has been dipped in soap and water. Take action immediately to avoid permanent stains left by the red wine.
The next step is to dab the area with a clean cloth or towel and a little hydrogen peroxide until you remove the stain completely. Never rub the stain since this might harm the rug, and never use heat because this can lead to permanent damage. The rug pad should be cleaned in the same way.
If the stain is large enough, this approach of spot cleaning may also be effective. Also, don’t make the mistake of attempting to erase a red-wine spot using white wine. It will result in a dark stain that will take time to form and will be very hard to remove.
How to Remove Pet Vomit from Wool Rugs?
It doesn’t matter if you have a sick pet or if you’re ill yourself. You can’t always avoid vomit stains. It is hardly the best spot for it to happen. However, isn’t every stain an inconvenience for the rug?
Pet vomit is unpleasant, and many owners are baffled about how to deal with it. The good news is that you don’t have to be too concerned since you can easily remove it. To properly remove pet vomit stains and odors, you need all the necessary cleaning supplies. Following a few easy cleaning guidelines will do the trick.
1. Put on your work gloves and get to it.
Removing the vomit from a wool rug isn’t as simple as just wiping it off. Your dog’s vomit may contain hazardous germs and other items that are caused your dog to puke. So, the first thing you should do if you see your dog puke is finding some latex gloves. If you don’t have the latex, you may use a disposable glove. Your dog’s vomit may contain harmful pathogens, and the glove will protect you from them.
2. Clear out the mess.
As you start removing dog vomit from a wool rug, you must first clean the area. Get a spoon and remove as many visible food pieces as possible from the rug. Don’t use a sharp instrument to clean your wool rugs since this might damage the fibers.
After you’ve removed the majority of the waste, you can work on removing the dog vomit smell and cleaning up the stain from the rug.
3. To clean up the vomit, use a towel.
Use some wet towels to remove the dog’s vomit. Then use a strong detergent to wash the towel. As a result, any stains that may result from pet vomit will be eliminated.
If you don’t want to deal with cleaning a vomit-soaked towel, you may use a paper towel instead. Toss the paper towel in the waste bin after use.
4. Prepare a cup of water.
You may need to use water, first of all, to neutralize the damaged area of the rug and minimize the stickiness of vomit. Use an absorbent item like a towel to wipe the soiled area after applying warm water. Take care of the vomit as soon as possible so that it doesn’t harm the fibers of the rug. Start at the edges and work your way into the middle of the stain one section at a time.
Avoid touching the vomit-stained spots, as this will just spread the vomit more into the fibers of the fabric.
If you can’t get the stain off with only warm water, try mixing with a little amount of white vinegar first. Wool rugs may be safely cleaned using white vinegar, which is well-known for its powerful cleaning effects and is suitable for use on a variety of fabrics, including wool.
5. Use baking soda to remove the odors.
Baking soda may be used to remove moisture from the rug. In addition to removing dog vomit, baking soda may also remove excess moisture from a wool rug. Why would you remove moisture? Because if you don’t – it can lead to further damage. To remove the stain, simply sprinkle a tiny bit of baking soda on top of it. Allow 5 to 10 minutes for it to dry before moving on. A vacuum cleaner can be used to remove the remains of the baking soda.
6. Clean the rug using the proper cleaning product.
Use a cleaning solution recommended by your rug’s manufacturer. Using the appropriate cleaning solution ensures that your wool rug will be thoroughly cleaned without sacrificing its quality. The appropriate products include vinegar, club soda, hydrogen peroxide, and cleaning solvents.
How to Clean a Braided Wool Rug
While there are a lot of options for keeping your braided wool rug clean, they must all be done with caution. Many of us who own braided rugs are commonly questioned, “How can I clean a braided wool rug at home?” You may apply the following practical tips to ensure that your braided rugs will survive for many years to come! The following instructions will show you how to clean a braided wool rug quickly and easily.
Cleaning the Rug with Snow
- Take the time to thoroughly vacuum your rug on all sides. Never vacuum with a beater brush; instead, use a delicate hardwood floor attachment that provides gentle suction.
- Place your rug on top of newly fallen snow. The finest results are obtained with a few inches of very softly packed snow. If the snow is too thick or too slippery, it will be difficult or impossible to clear it up effectively. Make it easier for snow to sink into the threads of your rug by walking on it stomping on it with a broom. Turn the rug over and continue the process several times until the rug doesn’t leave any more dirt stain on the snow.
- Remove any remaining snow from your rug and set it out to dry. You can stretch your rug on the chairs. Medium-sized rugs usually take up to a few hours to dry completely.
Cleaning the Braided Wool Rug at Home
No matter how well you maintain the cleanliness at home, the braided rug will eventually become dirty or dusty.
- Remove any excess dirt by shaking it off. You may either stretch it on a sturdy clothesline and beat it with a broom a few times or shake it vigorously by hand to remove any embedded dirt.
- Vacuum the braided wool rug from both sides using a vacuum cleaner. If you don’t have access to an outdoor space, you may use your garage as a makeshift outdoor space.
- Combine lukewarm water with a mild cleaning solution. Fill a big bucket with these solutions, and then start scrubbing.
- With a sponge, gently clean the braided wool rug to remove any stains. Keep your braided rug from being soaked when you’re cleaning it since wool is quite absorbent, which means it will take longer to dry.
- To remove dirt, use a clean, wet sponge. Remove any remaining detergent by wiping it away with a dry sponge. After that, you may use paper towels to absorb any remaining moisture.
- Dry your braided rug by hanging it up.
FAQ on Wool Rugs Cleaning
Can You Steam Clean Wool Rugs?
It’s not recommended.
The steam is far too hot for the wool. Unfortunately, if the air spaces in your wool rug are filled with dust or dirt, the steam may make mud in your rug. Think about how tough it would be to remove that mess! Plus, the wool will change its shape and won’t look fluffy after the “barbaric” heat treatment.
How to Clean an Antique Wool Oriental Rug
If you are a lucky owner of the antique wool rug, this section is for you. Now, let’s see under what circumstances you can clean the rug yourself and when it’s better to call the professionals.
Antique rugs that are in good condition are easy to maintain. Over-vacuuming is more common than under-vacuuming because they don’t shed as much as new rugs. It’s enough to clean your rug once or twice a month. Avoid a rotating vacuum since it might damage the delicate rug’s fibers. To prevent damaging the fringe, use the suction attachment and vacuum from side to side.
Don’t attempt to remove any stains on the antique wool rug yourself if you have any stains. Wool rugs are too precious to try the DIY solutions, and professional cleaners know the safest ways to prolong the rug life.
How to Make Your Wool Rug Last Longer
Wool Rug Care Tips
- You should remove dust from the front and back sides of the rug several times a week using a vacuum cleaner.
- Rotate your rug regularly to avoid stains, matting, and excessive dirt buildup. In most cases, the part of the rug partly covered by furniture will stay cleaner than the part that isn’t covered by furniture. Rotate your rugs every six months to make them last longer.
- Do not overwet the rugs. It will help prevent the appearance of moth larvae and fungal colonies in the rug.
- Carry out a comprehensive cleaning at least once a year.
Wool Rug Cleaning Dont’s
- Don’t use hot water for wool rug cleaning.
- When cleaning the carpet by yourself, avoid washing it against the lint.
- Do not wet clean the carpet too often – once every three months is enough to keep it clean.
- It is better to remove stains immediately, not allowing them to eat deep into the carpet.
- Do not place a rug on the wet floor.