Wool rugs are loved by homeowners and businesses since they look beautiful and last for a long time. Wool rugs are naturally resilient and can recover quickly from the wear and tear or damage caused by crushing by footsteps. However, the maintenance of the woolen rug needs special attention, and one must have in-depth knowledge of how to clean a rug.
In this post, we will talk about how to go about wool rug cleaning at home and why a professional carpet cleaner service can help you better. Before I share the information about the methods for deep cleaning woolen rugs at home, it is advisable to have in-depth knowledge about the rug that you possess.
Different types of wool used in rugs
If you happen to live in places like New York, you must have noticed that homeowners and businesses use multiple types of rugs at their places. These carpets and rugs come from all over the world. Some of the wools that are used in these rugs are mohair-wool blends, flat weave kilims, wool pile, merino wool, New Zealand wool, Ghazni (Afghan) wool, Himalayan (Tibetan) Wool, etc. Moreover, some rugs are handwoven completely, and some are machine-made. It is important that you have in-depth knowledge about the type of wool used in your rug. Furthermore, you must know if it is handwoven or machine-made. Generally, you will have to adjust your cleaning method and vacuuming procedure while cleaning your carpet at home. Moreover, it is also important if you opt for a commercial carpet cleaning for your office rugs and carpets. For instance, wool pile rugs and flat weave kilims require slightly different settings for height and suction while vacuuming.
Role of colorfastness
People spend hundreds, sometimes even thousands, of dollars on purchasing a rug, and while cleaning a rug, it is significant to know about the colorfastness of your rug. The dye may bleed from the treated area to surrounding areas if the rug material is not colorfast.
Steps to check the colorfastness of your rug:
- You can start off with a glass of regular water
- Dip a white towel in the glass of water, wetting it
- Use a clamp and attach the towel to any part of your rug, and leave it there for a few minutes.
- If your rugs leave no color, then it is a suitable rug to clean at home.
Ways to clean a rug at home
When cleaning a rug at home, first of all, you need to know about the tools you are going to need. Luckily, to perform the best carpet cleaning, most of the tools and products are available at your Home Depot. The following is a list of the tools or products you need to carry out rug cleaning:
- Vacuum
- A rug beater or broom
- Cleaning solution (has to be wool safe)
- 2 buckets with the capacity of 5 gallons each.
- Large sponges and a large tarp
- Availability of fan
It would be best if you did the rug cleaning at home on a sunny day. If you choose to do so, your rug will dry out more quickly. Moreover, you will be able to finish your cleaning more efficiently.
Methods for cleaning the rug at home
Use Vacuum
Place the rug on top of the tarp. Afterward, you need to vacuum the booth side of your rug. Make sure to adjust the vacuum setting as per the type of wool used in your rug. Go through the cleaning instructions that come with your rug and use the vacuum accordingly.
Shaking or Beating
For this, you need to take your rug outside and hang it. You can ask any family member or friend to help you hang your rug over a couple of strong chairs, or you can use a porch railing for this. Thereafter, you can use a rug beater or a strong broom to remove dirt from your rugs. Make sure you use enough power and cover all parts of your rug.
Dry bath method
If your rug happens to be too dirty then it is advisable to make use of dry shampoo. Sprinkle the rug shampoo all over the rug, and let it be there for a few minutes. Vacuum it afterward.
Scrubbing method
For a rug that is very dirty, the scrub method is recommended. To use this method, you need to use a detergent that is woolen friendly. Then after, follow the below steps:
Use two buckets and fill the first bucket with cool water and 1 tablespoon of detergent or rug shampoo. Fill the second bucket with the cool and clean water only
Use the sponge and dip it in the cleaning solution. Make sure to clean the rug softly as wool can absorb lots of water. Go slowly and cover the whole rug and do rinse the sponge frequently so that dust doesn’t get spread to other parts of the rug.
Remove the soap completely, make sure no traces of soap or detergent is left on the rug. If there is any excess moisture, use the towels to absorb it. Before moving to the next area, scrub, rinse and blot.
Use a fan to completely dry the rug before you police it back
Why using a professional cleaner is wise
A professional rug company can get rid of stains, remove dust mites, and can steam clean a rug. Especially, if you are looking for a rug cleaner in NYC that can perform area rug cleaning, it is wise to opt for professional cleaning. Contact us at PristineGreen Cleaning for all your rug, carpet, and furniture steam cleaning needs.
