Clean Wool Rugs in 7 Steps without Damage

Wool rugs are easier to clean if they have loose dirt or stains. If yours look worse for wear, a simple scrubbing will make them look as good as new.

Wool Rug Cleaning In 7 Steps

Follow these steps to clean your wool rug without damaging it:

Step 1 – Shake off The Dirt

On a sunny day, take your rug outside and shake it vigorously to loosen the dirt. If you have a clothesline outside, hang the rug and use a broom, stick, tennis racket, or anything sturdy to beat it. Also, remove the rug pad and clean the floor that it was covering.

Step 2 – Vacuum

Flip the rug over a flat surface, vacuum it, and then turn it over and vacuum the other side. Your kitchen floor or any dry area will also work.

Step 3 – Clean the Rug

If your rug is lightly soiled, give it a dry bath and if it is heavily soiled, use a gentle detergent to clean it:

Dry Bath

Sprinkle dry shampoo over the wool rug and let it sit for the recommended time mentioned in the instructions—vacuum when the time’s up.

Detergent Bath

A heavily soiled rug needs detergent. Fill your bucket with water and add a few tablespoons of wool-safe detergent. Make sure the cleaning solution is mild, and don’t use bleach, or the colours in your rug may bleed. Fill a second bucket with clean water.

Step 4 – Scrub away

Follow this step for wool rugs that need to be cleaned with detergent. After applying the cleaning solution, use a scrubbing brush on the rug, starting at one end. Work your way down, so you don’t miss a spot.

Step 5 – Rinse

Rinse the soapy rug with the clean water in the other bucket by dabbing each section. This is an essential step as it can prevent the fibres from attracting soil.

Step 6 – Blot

Blot the wet rug with clean, old towels to absorb excess moisture. Move the damp rug to a new spot and repeat till you have blotted it from top to bottom.

Step 7 – Dry

Once the rug isn’t soaking wet, place it back and speed up the drying process by hanging it or elevating it so air can circulate over it. An electric carpet cleaner can also remove excess moisture. Change the setting to vacuum without applying more cleaning solution, and then hang the rug to dry.

Hire Professional Cleaners to Save Time

Wool rugs are relatively easy to clean if you clean them regularly. Once a month or a few months at least. But some cleaning jobs can be challenging.

Consider hiring professional carpet cleaners if you have a packed schedule or your rugs get too much foot traffic for a cleaning solution to work. They have the machinery and robust cleaning agents to do a thorough job and make your carpet look brand new. They can also pick up and drop off the rugs for you.