How to clean a rug: stains, vacuuming and care
Blot a stain, never rub it, and use as little water as you can. The pile of our rugs is almost always synthetic and can handle water, but most of them have a jute backing that can't.
First aid for a fresh stain
- Scoop up any solids with a spoon or the edge of a card. Work from the outside in.
- Blot up the liquid with a white cloth or kitchen paper. Press, don't rub. Keep switching to a clean cloth until nothing more comes off.
- Dab with a little cold water. Put the water on the cloth, not on the rug.
- Need a cleaner? Mix a few drops of washing-up liquid into a glass of lukewarm water, or use a carpet shampoo for synthetic fibres. Test it first on a corner nobody sees.
- Dab the soap out with a cloth and clean water, then with a dry cloth. Soap residue attracts new dirt.
- Let it dry with a dry towel on the spot and something heavy on top. Lift the corner so the backing gets some air too.
Stain chart
| Stain | Straight away | Then | Don't |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red wine, juice | Blot with white cloths | Dab with cold water, then with soapy water made with washing-up liquid | Rub, use hot water or put salt on it |
| Coffee, tea | Blot | Soapy water, then rinse with a damp cloth | Pour water over the spot |
| Coffee with milk | Blot | Cold water, then soapy water; milk starts to smell if you leave it | Use hot water: it sets the protein |
| Urine | Blot for a long time with dry towels | Carpet enzyme cleaner, as directed on the label | Ammonia, steam |
| Vomit, faeces | Scoop up the solids | Soapy water, then an enzyme cleaner for the smell | Scrub or mix products |
| Mud | Let it dry | Brush it loose and vacuum it up, then dab what's left with soapy water | Rub wet mud in |
| Grease, oil, sauce | Scoop up the residue | Sprinkle on cornflour, leave for an hour, vacuum it up | Use lots of water straight away |
| Candle wax | Let it harden | Put an ice cube in a bag on it, break the wax off, vacuum up the bits | Use an iron: synthetic fibres melt |
| Chewing gum | Put an ice cube in a bag on it | Break off the frozen gum, loosen what's left with a fingernail | Pull at it while it's still soft |
If a stain comes back after drying, there's still dirt deeper in the pile. Don't keep making the spot wetter. Have the rug professionally cleaned instead.
Pet accidents
With urine, you need to get rid of the smell, not just the stain. If your dog or cat can still smell the spot, they'll go there again.
- Press dry towels onto the spot until they come away dry. Stand on them for a moment.
- Spray a carpet enzyme cleaner on the spot and leave it to work as directed on the label. Make the spot damp, not soaked.
- Blot it up and put a dry towel with a weight on top.
- Lift the rug and dry the floor underneath as well.
Don't use ammonia. To an animal, it smells like urine.
How often should you vacuum a rug?
Once or twice a week. With pets or children, and in the hallway, every other day is better. Grains of sand act like sandpaper on the fibres.
- Low-pile and flat-woven: standard floor head, brush on is fine.
- Relief and 3D designs such as Elio and Sign: vacuum along the grooves to get the dirt out.
- High-pile and shaggy: switch off the rotating brush and use a smooth floor head. Vacuum slowly in different directions. If the floor head pulls at the fibres, turn the suction down.
- Fringes: don't vacuum them; comb them out by hand.
Turn the rug round 180 degrees every six months, so the walking route doesn't always wear the same spot.
Cleaning by material
| Material | Stains | Deep clean |
|---|---|---|
| Polypropylene, polyester and blends (most rugs) | Soapy water, used sparingly | A specialist if it has a jute backing |
| Washable: Loft Washable, Loft Shape, Sign | Soapy water, or straight into the wash | Washing machine, see the washing guide |
| Wool with cotton, acrylic | Blot dry, a damp cloth at most | A specialist |
| Viscose (Arte) | Blot dry only | A specialist, never wet it yourself |
| Outdoor rugs | Soapy water, then rinse | Garden hose, see the outdoor rug guide |
A rug that smells musty
Hang or lay the rug outside for a few hours on a dry day. On a low-pile synthetic rug, you can then sprinkle baking soda over the pile, leave it for an hour and vacuum it up thoroughly. Don't do this on a shaggy rug: the powder sinks between the long fibres and won't come out again. Never let baking soda get wet on a rug with a jute backing.
If the smell lingers, it's usually in the backing. Then only professional cleaning will help.
Is your new rug shedding?
That's normal. When the pile is sheared, loose fibres are left behind. They work their way out over the first few weeks, a little longer with acrylic and wool. Vacuum the rug more often during that time and don't pull any fibres out. If a single thread sticks up above the rest, trim it level with the pile.
Get in touch with us if the shedding hasn't eased after a month, if bald patches appear or if the edge comes loose.
Steam cleaner or hired carpet cleaner?
Not a steam cleaner. Heat and moisture can distort a synthetic pile and shrink a jute backing. A carpet cleaning machine you hire sprays water into the rug and sucks it back out, but it leaves enough behind to shrink a jute backing. Only use one on a rug with a synthetic backing, and never on wool or viscose.
Have a rug professionally cleaned if you're dealing with:
- a large wine, grease or urine stain;
- wool, viscose or acrylic;
- a musty smell from the backing;
- a rug too big to dry properly at home.
Frequently asked questions
What's the most important rule with a stain?
Blot, don't rub. Rubbing pushes the stain deeper into the pile and makes it bigger.
How do you get red wine out of a rug?
Blot up as much as you can with white cloths. Then dab with cold water and with a few drops of washing-up liquid in water. Rinse with a damp cloth and let it dry. No salt: it stays in the pile.
Can I use vinegar?
On polypropylene and polyester, a little diluted vinegar can help with smells. Spray lightly so a jute backing doesn't get wet, and test it on a corner first. Not on wool or viscose. Never mix vinegar with other products, and above all never with bleach.
Can I put my rug in the washing machine?
Only Loft Washable, Loft Shape and Sign. Other rugs can't go in: the backing can shrink and the edges come loose.
How long does a new rug keep shedding?
Usually a few weeks, a little longer with wool and acrylic. It should get less every week. If it doesn't, get in touch with us.
Which vacuum head should I use on a high-pile rug?
A smooth floor head without a rotating brush. Turn the suction down if the fibres get pulled into the head.
