Can You Wash Your Handmade Rug at Home?

Let’s face it, a dirty rug is no one’s dream. 

However, taking care of a handmade rug can be quite hard and exhausting since they require regular cleaning and proper maintenance. But the cleaning efforts do actually pay off by increasing your rug’s life and making it appear fresh all year round.  

How to clean an expensive handmade wool rug?

A rug expert’s advice would be to vacuum it 2-3 times per week, always treat stains and spills immediately, and some other basic cleaning and maintenance tips. 

You’d also be told to leave the task of washing a valuable rug to professionals, which is right because washing a rug at home is risky, especially if it’s a handmade antique rug, or is too valuable and delicate.

But what if you can’t find a good carpet cleaning service nearby or all the professional cleaners are too expensive?

In such a case, you can wash your rug for deep cleaning at home, but not without the right equipment and guidance. 

Plus, DO NOT leave your rug wet, and avoid washing it at all if you live in a humid climatic region. Wet rugs can start smelling really bad and may even become home to mold, which is a rug owner’s worst nightmare. 

How to Deep Clean a Handmade Rug Yourself?

Even if you vacuum your rug regularly, it would need a proper deep cleaning session at least once a year to stay in good shape. 

While the said task is best left to professionals, you can wash your rug at home by following these easy steps below:

1. Gather the Supplies and Equipment

Handmade rugs are inexplicably valuable and should be dealt with care. Unlike a machine-made rug, you can’t just throw it in the washing machine or wash it with a rough broom. And if you don’t have the right supplies, don’t wash your rug, because you may end up damaging the fibres. 

What would you need?

• A rug shampoo that’s suited for your rug material
• Bucket
• Clean sponge or a soft-bristled brush
• Water

Apart from these, you can also get a pair of rubber gloves, a garden hose, and a wet-dry vacuum. These three supplies are optional and it’s totally up to you whether you need them or not. 

2. Remove Excess Dirt and Debris

Once you have the right supplies for the task, it’s time to get to work!

Before you wet your rug, remove the excess debris, dirt, and dust particles to make the job easier. 

You can also start by first vacuuming the rug on both sides so there won’t be much mess while you’re washing it. Plus, if you own pets, get rid of all the lingering pet hair gently with a brush without damaging the rug fibres. 

For removing pet hair, you can also use a kitchen sponge, carpet rake, window squeegee, or simply put on your rubber gloves and rub the rug thoroughly.

3. Mix the Rug Cleaner 

When it comes to making your own cleaning solution at home, all you need to do is follow the directions given on the bottle of the rug shampoo that you’ve bought. 

In case you don’t have a shampoo, regular dish detergent can work as well.

Mix the mild detergent or rug shampoo in a bucket of warm water. Be careful not to use water that’s too hot since it can cause your handmade rug to shrink or fade. 

After all, you don’t want to end up wondering whether you need a rug repair or replace. 

4. Perform Colour Test on a Small Patch

Before you start washing the rug, always, always, always, perform a colour test by applying the cleaning solution on a small patch. 

Handmade rugs are often dyed naturally. If your solution is too harsh it can cause the rug colours to bleed or fade. 

Apply the solution on a small corner of your rug. If the colours bleed, DO NOT wash the rug with the same solution and call a professional.

If all seems well, proceed to the next step. 

5. Wash Your Rug Carefully

After the excess debris has been removed, cleaning solution properly mixed and tested, you can start washing your rug.

For this, lay down your valuable fuzzy décor item on a hard, large surface. You can make use of your garage for this purpose, or any other place that has proper water drainage and is clean. 

Pour the cleaning solution on the rug and use the sponge or soft-bristled brush that you have to work the solution into lather while avoiding over-shampooing your rug. Pay more attention to the stained areas, if any.

Now, let the cleaner sit and work its magic by lifting away the dirt from deep within your rug. Wait for around 5 minutes before rinsing. 

6. Rinse, Rinse, Rinse

When it comes to rinsing the solution, don’t rush it and be sure to get every ounce of the detergent/shampoo out of your rug. You can either use a garden hose or buckets of clean water for this purpose. Keep rinsing until the runoff water is clear as crystal. 

If the rug isn’t adequately rinsed it can become a virtual dirt magnet and get even dirtier than before within just a few days after washing.

7. Remove Excess Water

Leaving the rug wet is one of the most common rug cleaning mistakes, and this can damage your valuable décor item to such an extent that it may become irreparable. 

The first step to making sure that your rug dries completely is getting rid of as much excess water as you can. 

If you have a wet-dry vacuum, use it. Or you can just take a window squeegee and wipe across the rug surface in the direction of the nap. 

8. Let it Dry Completely 

After you’ve done washing the rug, let it dry completely before taking it indoors. 

How to dry your rug fast?

Method 1: Place it in your garage or somewhere with good airflow. Let the top of the rug dry completely before flipping it over for the bottom side to dry. 

Method 2: Place the rug directly under a ceiling fan or in front of standing desk fans for quick drying. 

Method 3: If you live in hot climate or a region where sun shines bright every day, put your rug on the rooftop, hang it on a railing, or just place it outside for the sunlight to turn the water into vapours, leaving your handmade rug perfectly dry and clean. 

In any case, don’t leave your rug wet or damp for too long if you don’t want it to become mold’s dreamworld. 

9. Use a Brush or Vacuum to Revive the Fibres

Washing a rug can cause its fibres to compact. You can revive the rug fibres by brushing them with a dry, soft-bristled brush. Vacuuming the rug can also help bring the fibres back to their original state. 

All done! Enjoy your freshly cleaned rug.