Rugs and carpets are a home décor ingredient that homeowners use to increase the warmth and the appeal of the indoors. Wool rugs are particularly popular because of their subtle unique attributes. They are not only long-lasting, soft ,comfy, but are also available in a variety of styles and designs.
If you have one at home, then you understand the importance of having them cleaned regularly. Neglecting their care will make them unsightly and make them not suitable for use as items of décor in your home, while extending the life of your rugs. Sadly, not so many people know how to properly clean wool rugs.
The Necessary Cleaning Supplies and Tools
For successful wool rug cleaning, you will need a few supplies and materials which include a broom, a vacuum, two buckets, old towels, and a sponge. You will also need to have cool water in sufficient quantities depending on the amount of cleaning you want to do. You will also need one or two tablespoons of wool wash detergent.
The Cleaning Process
Below is a brief step-by-step guide on how to go about wool rug cleaning-:
Step One: Shake Off the Dirt
For the best experience, cleaning should be done on a sunny day. Take the rug out of the floor and then hang it on a strong clothesline or a porch railing.
A similar method can be to join up a couple of solid chairs together and then hang the rug over them. With a broom or a rug beater, hit the rug multiple times all over the surface to shake loose all the deeply embedded dirt. This is also a good time to get out the rug pad and give it a good shake.
Step Two: Vacuum Clean the Rug
After shaking off the dirt using a broom or rug beater, find a flat surface like a patio to spread the rug to get it ready for vacuuming. For the best results, start the vacuuming process with the wrong side up before turning the rug over and vacuuming the right side. If you don’t have an ideal spot outdoors for the vacuuming, then you may consider doing this on your kitchen floor, in the garage or any other available dry area within your home.
Step Three: Make a Cleaning Solution
To make the cleaning solution, begin by filling a large bucket with cool water. Then add one to two tablespoons of the gentle detergent to the cool water. Mix well until you achieve optimal consistency. Fill the other bucket with cool water since that will be applied for rinsing the wool rug after cleaning.
Step Four: Scrub the Wool Rug with a Sponge
Take a sponge dipped into the detergent and water solution and gently start rubbing the wool rug, traveling from one end to another. Work in a grid formation of three feet by three feet until the entire surface area of the wool rug is covered.
While the sponge accumulates dirt during the sponging process, rinse it repeatedly so that you don’t end up with more dirt on the carpet. Also, be careful to not over-wet the fibers. Remember, wool is extremely absorbent and can take longer to dry.
Step Five: Rinse the Suds
To rinse the areas you just cleaned, dip a clean sponge in clean, cool water and gently dab on the areas. This is an essential step since it helps eliminate the detergent that may still be left on the fibers. If skipped, the detergent that potentially may be left behind will only attract more soil and dirt.
Step Six: Blot the Moisture
Once you are done rinsing the entire rug, use some old towels to blot the cleaned area to get rid of excessive moisture. You can also perform the bloting in a grid formation so that you don’t leave any section of the rug with excessive moisture. If the towel becomes damp, use another one or simply squeeze out the water and continue bloting.
Step Seven: Allow Your Rug Time to Dry
Before you take your rug back to the rug pad, place it in a relatively airy place and allow it enough time to dry completely.
Tips for Removing Tough Stains From Your Wool Rug
During a typical wool rug cleaning session, there may be some tough stains that won’t come out easily. There are different procedures for dealing with different kinds of stains. The approach you use must correlate with the specific stain.
Ideally, the best way to deal with a stain on a wool rug is to remove it instantly. For instance, never allow spills or other stains to stay on the rug longer than necessary.
Irrespective of the stain you are dealing with, never rub it when it is fresh. If you rub, you will only push the stains deeper into the fiber, and this will not be good for wool cleaning. When it comes to dealing with mud, wait for the mud to dry up before you think about removing it. For mud, all you will need is a dull edge tool in conjunction with a vacuum cleaner to get rid of all the mud.