It’s a dirty job, but someone has to do it. Wool rugs are notoriously difficult to clean and tend to attract dirt particles like crazy. But don’t worry! I’m here to show you the best way of cleaning your wool rug without ruining it or taking forever to dry. Follow these simple steps and you’ll be free from vacuuming long enough for Netflix binge-watching sessions in no time!

How to Clean a Wool Rug

• TIME: 3 – 5 hrs
• TIME: 1 day
• SKILL: Intermediate

A wool rug or carpet is one of the greatest interior design investments you can make. Wool floor coverings are warm and long-lasting, complementing any style of the house. Wool’s natural, renewable fibre deterring bacterial growth includes lanolin that naturally repels stains and dust mites. Whether you have a vintage hand-knotted Persian rug, a contemporary machine-woven wool rug, or wall-to-wall wool carpet, you should properly care for it to preserve your investment.

How Often to Clean a Wool Rug

The fibers are beautiful, and maintaining their beauty is crucial. A new wool rug will shed fibrous strands. It’s perfectly natural for a wool rug to shed. Due to the process in which wool fibers are woven, the rug won’t get bare. The majority of the shedding will occur in the first few months. The shedding will decrease significantly if you vacuum at least twice a week during the first months.

To assist remove embedded dust and dirt, use a good vacuuming with a beater bar. To prevent harm, begin vacuuming in the middle of the rug and avoid the edges. Vacs with beater bars and fringes don’t mix. Clean the fringed edges using a hand-held vacuum or an upholstery attachment.

What You’ll Need

Tools

• Vacuum
• 2 buckets
• Broom
• Old towels
• Sponge

Materials

• 1 to 2 tablespoons wool wash detergent
• Cool water

Instructions

Shake out the Dirt

Choose a day with plenty of sunshine and moderate temperatures to clean a smaller wool area rug. Hang the rug over a sturdy clothesline, porch railing, or two solid chairs outside on a sunny, reasonable day. To loosen deeply embedded dirt, use a broom, tennis racket, or rug beater to brush the rug all over.

This is also the time to take out the rug pad and shake it outside, as well as clean the flooring beneath it.

Vacuum the Rug

Spread the rug out on your deck, patio, or a clean tarp with the wrong side up. Vacuum it thoroughly. Turn the rug over and vacuum the other side if you don’t have an outdoor location.

Mix a Gentle Detergent Solution

Fill a large pail with ice water and add one to two teaspoons of a mild detergent like Woolite or your homemade wool wash. Fill a second bucket with clean, cold water.

Lightly Scrub

Begin by dipping a sponge into the detergent and water solution and sponging at one side of the rug. Using moderate pressure, sponge on the cleaning solution in a grid of 3 feet by 3 feet. Rinse the sponge frequently as dirt is transferred from it. The fibers should not be over-wetted. The fibres of wool are absorbent, so they take a long time to dry.

Rinse Away Suds

To remove dirt from your hair, dampen a clean sponge with water and “rinse” the area. This step is vital since any detergent left in the fibers will attract more soil.

Blot the Moisture

Because the fabric is delicate, use a clean cloth to wipe away any extra moisture. Continue until you’ve blotted the entire surface area in each location.

Allow to Dry

Allow the rug to dry fully before replacing it on the rug pad. To enhance air circulation, hang or raise the rug to reduce drying time.

Wool Rug Stain Removal

Spills and muddy footprints happen, but promptly treating your wool rug is the greatest thing you can do to safeguard it. Follow the instructions for removing specific stains if you want to get rid of numerous issues. However, there are a few precautions you should remember when dealing with a wool rug stain:

• Don’t rub: Rubbing a fresh stain is not recommended. Remove any solids with a dull edge, such as a spoon or spatula, and blot up the liquids using several paper towels. Rubbing just pushes the stain deeper into the fibers.
• Let mud dry: When it comes to mud, wait until it’s completely dry on the rug before cleaning it up. Using a dull edge tool and vacuuming up the crumbly bits to remove damp mud stains is easier than you’d think.
• Dab stain remover: It’s critical not to pour any type of stain remover straight on wool rugs. Using a clean white cloth, dab a tiny amount of the cleaner on it to see whether it bleeds or fades the colors. This also aids in the prevention of soap buildup during the spinning process.
• Go gentle: Use a stain remover designed for wool rugs like Emergency Stain Rescue, a mild liquid such as Woolite or simple dishwashing detergent and lukewarm water.
• Avoid bleach: Don’t use chlorine bleach, ammonia, or even oxygen-bleach on your wool rug. These chemicals can harm the wool and cause colors to run or fade.

How to Keep Your Wool Rug Clean Longer

• It’s vital to keep carpets free of stains, no matter how frequently they’re vacuumed. The “no shoes inside” rule is a good approach to reduce the time between cleans.
• Hiring a professional carpet cleaner is the greatest option for cleaning wall-to-wall wool carpeting.
• If your pet has urinated on your wool rug, dab a little bit of white distilled vinegar over the spot to neutralize the odor.
• Alternatively, use a “dry bath” of dry carpet shampoo designed for wool rugs to keep your wool carpet clean between cleansings.
• Seasonally, shift the rug to avoid wear patterns and uneven fading caused by sunlight. This will help the rug last longer and acquire an even patina throughout its life.