Are you looking to remove a pesky stain on your rug? Well, look no further because we will give you the best tips and tricks to make your rug look brand spanking new! In this guide, we will go over how to clean multiple different types of rugs and the different stains you could get on it.

• First, you'll need to get some equipment ready:

• Rug/Carpet Shampoo (Material Specific Shampoo if Necessary)

• Soft Bristle Brush or Sponge

• Bucket

• Dry Shampoo (Purely for Shaggy/Fluffy Rugs)

In the next section of this blog post, we'll go through some general advice on how you can clean most of your rugs. We'll then drill into some expert tips on how you can clean specific types of rugs such as wool rugs and viscose rugs.

Cleaning Rugs (A Quick Step-by-Step)

When it comes to cleaning rugs, taking care is absolutely vital! Luckily, the process is quick and won't take too much time from your busy days. Here's a quick step-by-step on how you will be able to clean the majority of your rugs.

• First, you want to dust off any loose bits of dirt and vacuum the rug. Remember, do not use a beater bar when vacuuming rugs!

• Next, you'll want to shampoo the rug. Make sure you follow the instructions set by the manufacturer of your rug. We recommend testing the shampoo on a very small patch of your rug first, to make sure the shampoo will not damage the rug.

• Expert Tip: We recommend cleaning your rug outside. This avoids dye transfer to your carpet or hard flooring. Obviously, the weather isn't always suitable for this! So a bathtub is a good option if the weather outside is bad.

• Once your rug has been shampooed, leave to dry outside or in a well ventilated room.

• As an optional final step, you can always vacuum the rug again to ensure every last little piece of dirt has been removed.

How to Clean a Shaggy Rug

• First, you want to shake off any dust and other bits that could be on your rug then hoover it to make sure all visible loose dirt has been removed.

• Then you want to work the dry shampoo into the fibres of the shaggy rug using a cloth.

• Let the shampoo sit for a few hours then hoover up the shampoo. Again, remember not to use a beater bar on your vacuum as this could cause fibres in your shaggy rug to shed! Not the solution any of us want.

How to Clean a Wool Rug

• First, you want to shake off any dust and other bits that could be on your wool rug then hoover it to make sure everything is off. No beater bar! I sound like a broken record saying this, but it's a crucial step.

• Next, fill a bucket with shampoo and add a capful of shampoo (or a gentle detergent).

• Using a damp microfibre cloth, gently dab the rug in the direction of the material (we recommend testing on a small patch first). Pay attention to the dirtier areas and re-dampen the cloth when necessary and make sure you're careful not to get the rug wet. Oversaturating the rug could lead to the rug feeling less plush and soft. Repeat this step if you feel it is necessary to do so.

• Once complete use a dry cloth or towel and dab the rug to remove as much water as possible.

• Allow the rug to dry before use.

How to Clean a Jute Rug

Due to the nature of the material, jute rugs can break down or become damaged when water is applied, so it is best to use a dry cleaning method, similar to the one used to clean shaggy and fluffy rugs.

• Shake off any dust and loose dirt by hand.

• Work a dry shampoo into the jute rug using your hands. Remember to be gentle.

• Let the shampoo sit for a few hours and then vacuum the rug without using a beater bar.

How to Clean a Sheepskin Rug

A sheepskin or cowhide rug requires a very specific cleaning method to make sure your rug doesn’t shrink and stays in good condition.

• First, you need to fill up a bathtub with lukewarm water (warm/hot water could cause damage) and mix in sheepskin/cowhide specific shampoo.

• Place the rug in the bath and let it soak for 5-10 mins to make dirt easily removable.

• Wring and rinse the rug as many times as necessary to get all the detergent out.

• Use dry towels to pat clean and remove as much water as you can then roll up the rug and wring out the last of the water.

• Lay the rug on a large dry towel and pull the rug into shape to allow it to dry. Dry the rug away from direct sunlight & heat and in a cool dry place. Direct sunlight and heat could cause the rug to shrink in size.

• Once dry, hoover the rug to keep the rug fluffy and soft.

How to Clean a Viscose Rug

Viscose rugs are not suitable to get wet due to how easily water discolours them. Instead, you should quickly dab up any spills using a dry cloth or towel.

How to Clean an Outdoor Rug

Outdoor rugs are stronger than the standard rug, but they tend to get dirtier. Outdoor rugs are a bit simpler to clean due to their strength and material.

• First, you want to shake off any dust and other bits that could be on your rug then hoover it to make sure everything is off.

• Then you can use a hose to wash the rug using cold water then leave the rug to dry.

• If you have some stubborn stains, it might be worth scrubbing the stain with a cloth or sponge then wash it with a power-washer

Now comes the extremely fun part, giving you information about how you can remove specific stains from your rug!

When you spill any liquid on a rug the trick is to deal with it quickly. Using a clean cloth dab the spill up asap. Then mix ½ teaspoon of dish soap and ½ teaspoon white vinegar with 2 cups of warm water. Then dab (DO NOT RUB!)  the area with the mixture alternating to a dry cloth making sure the rug doesn’t get too wet. Once the area has dried, hoover to get all the residue out.

For more information on spot cleaning check out our new blog post which covers how to spot-clean different types of rugs.

How to Remove Red Wine Stains from Your Rug

If you accidentally spill red wine on a rug, it's important to act quickly. Start by using a clean cloth to gently blot the wine as soon as possible. Next, combine ½ teaspoon of dish soap and ½ teaspoon of white vinegar with 2 cups of warm water. Carefully dab (avoid rubbing!) the affected area with this mixture, switching to a dry cloth periodically to prevent over-saturating the rug with water. Once the area has dried, use a vacuum cleaner to remove any remaining residue.

How to Remove Tea and Coffee Stains from a Rug

Luckily tea and Coffee stains are quite simple to get rid of. All you need to do is mix a 1:1 vinegar and water and dab the mixture on the rug till the stain has gone.

How to Remove Mud and Dirt Stains from Your Rug

Mud stains are probably the most common stains, luckily they’re one of the easiest as well. You should leave the mud to dry on the rug and once it's dry brush the mud off and then hoover the rug. If the stain still hasn’t been removed mix one teaspoon with one cup of mild washing detergent and using a cloth dab the stain with the mixture. Then gently dab the area with a clean dry cloth till dry.

Don't want to go through all this hassle but still want an amazing rug? Washable rugs are a great way to solve this issue. Because washable rugs are made from synthetic materials, they are safe to be placed in a washing machine and will come out looking like new!