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How to Clean a Wool Rug

RugYou have a stain on your favourite wool rug you want to remove. After a little research you have determined that there are different cleaning solutions recommended to clean carpet and rug stains. But how do you know that they are right for your rug?

Surprisingly, there are plenty of instructions for how to clean carpets and rugs online, but few of them also say that certain cleaners can bleach or destroy carpet fibers.

You own a wool rug, and it has natural fibers that are easy to get dirty and damaged. How do you clean it best?

Follow the Basic Maintenance Rules

One of the best ways to take care of your wool rug is to make sure that it stays clean. This should be a simple cleaning schedule that you can maintain.

Vacuum

The main thing that you can do is to keep it vacuumed on a regular basis because they are easy to get damaged. Did you know that a lot of dirt and dust on your wool rug can actually damage the fibers? Frequent vacuuming is one of the main ways to ensure that your wool rug remains protected.

Sheep wool

Also, when vacuuming, put it on a low setting so that there isn’t a lot of agitation going across the rug because this too can cause damage. It is advised that the back of the rug is vacuumed as well.  This will provide protection for your rug so that it does not unravel and become ugly and tattered.

Cleaning the Rug

In terms of actual cleaning, your wool rug should be cleaned at least once a year in order to maintain its beauty and structure.  Not only will this get rid of dirt and other debris, it will also make the rug look fresher and brighter as well.

Cold Water and Liquid Detergent

Clean the rug by mixing cold water and liquid detergent together. When cleaning a wool rug you should never use bleach, hydrogen peroxide or dry powder cleaners. So, use the liquid detergent and water solution to clean your rug. This mixture should be sponged onto your rug in gentle strokes.

Do Not Scrub

Never scrub it or you will damage its natural fibers.  You might consider using a mop in order to clean larger areas of the rug at one time. Once the rug has been cleaned thoroughly, make sure that all the liquid cleanser has been removed from the rug with a good rinse. In order to get the rug really dry, roll it up with a cloth inside so that the cloth can soak up any excess water.

Use a Carpet Shampooer with Cold Water

You can also clean the rug with a carpet shampooer. Make sure that you use a cleaning solution specialized for wool. And only use cold water. That way you will not damage the fibers of the carpet. Carpet shampooers come in a lot of different prices and sizes, so it should not be difficult to find a machine that suits your needs.

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Stubborn Stains

All stains should be cleaned as soon as possible. Dried stains can definitely damage the fibers of a wool rug. Once again, only blot the stain. Never rub against the rug.  There are also dry foam products that will work well for cleaning a wool rug. This means that you won’t have to worry about water damaging your rug when these products are used. Once the stains are gone, make sure that you vacuum the rug to get rid of any leftover dirt or debris.

In Conclusion

As you can see, taking care of and cleaning wool rug does not involve a lot of difficult rules and guidelines. Basically, you must remember to vacuum it frequently on a low setting. Clean it with cold water and liquid detergent. But don’t do anything that could destroy its delicate fibers. If you can follow these few rules, you should be able to maintain your rug for a very long time.