Your Guide to Cleaning Rugs at Home
Last updated on April 11th, 2025
You’ve just rolled out a fresh new rug in your home! Now, you’re ready to start welcoming guests…who will eventually spill a glass of wine on it during the house party. Or maybe you have pets and kids bringing in mud, sand, and who knows what else from outside. Even if you’re riding solo, your beautiful new rug is bound to collect dust and dirt from simply walking on it.
So how do you keep your area rugs clean? Unless you own an antique, the good news is that you can handle most messes at home.
How to clean your rugs
Vacuuming on a regular basis is the best way to keep a rug clean. How often you do this depends on your lifestyle, but the general rule is to vacuum at least once a week. Use a suction-only setting instead of the rotating brush to avoid pulling or unravelling yarns from the rug surface.
Deep cleaning is recommended at least once a year. Before you jump into cleaning at home, always check for any care labels. The last thing you want is to apply the wrong cleaning solution and accidentally ruin your rug! Keep an eye out for the material type as well. Antiques and other delicate yarns like silk and viscose are best left to the pros.
Once you’ve confirmed there are no special care requirements, follow these tips for all of your small and large cleaning projects. We’ve broken them down by the most common types of rugs owned:
Cleaning polypropylene and polyester rugs
Polypropylene, polyester, and many other synthetic rugs are pretty easy to keep clean. After vacuuming, all you need is a mix of mild dish soap (preferably dye-free) and warm water. Add the mixture to a spray bottle.
Specialized rug shampoos and cleaners like Woolite are also ok. Avoid solutions designed for carpets since they can be too harsh for rugs. Be sure to test whatever solution you pick on an inconspicuous area to make sure the colors don’t run.
As long as everything checks out, move on to the steps below. It’s best to work outdoors if you can (on a sunny day, of course).
1. Spray your solution
Use your cloth or sponge to work up a good lather and let it sit for at least 5 minutes.
2. Rinse
Use a hose or buckets of water to thoroughly rinse the rug.
3. Remove excess water
Use a squeegee or wet-dry vac to get rid of as much water as possible.
4. Air dry
Hang the rug over a drying rack if you have one, or on an inclined surface. Allow time for both sides to fully dry.
If you can’t clean your rug outside, place a waterproof tarp underneath it to avoid damaging the floor inside your home. You can also clean the rug in your tub if it’s small enough. Follow steps 1 – 3 above, but use a wet-dry vacuum only and drape the rug over a plastic/tarp protected table or chairs to dry.
Cleaning rug fringe or tassels
Rugs with fringe have a way of adding character to a space, but keeping those delicate edges clean can seem a little intimidating. The main thing you want to avoid is vacuuming directly over them, especially with high-powered suction.
Instead, use a brush to remove any dirt and dust buildup after you’ve finished vacuuming the rug itself. Then, roll the edges back to vacuum the floor.
Anything spilled directly on the fringe should be cleaned with a mix of mild detergent and warm water. Use a sponge to gently wipe away any residual buildup.
Cleaning faux fur rugs
Like fringed rugs, the key to keeping your faux fur rug clean is to be gentle! Vacuum on the lowest suction-only setting available. Be sure to flip it over and vacuum the back — this will help remove dirt settled deeper into the rug pile.
If you have a small 2×3 throw rug, use the vacuum’s hose attachment to clean and work in small sections. You may need to place your foot on the edges of the rug to keep it from getting caught in the hose.
To deep clean, thoroughly saturate the surface of the rug with the same detergent/water mix used for synthetic rugs. Gently scrub with a sponge, rinse, and air dry.
You can also take the easy route with smaller rugs by tossing them into your washing machine. Run it on a delicate cycle with cold water. Do not use fabric softener or scent booster beads.
Cleaning jute and wool rugs
Clean spills immediately by blotting with a clean dry cloth. Wool rugs can be spot cleaned with mild detergent and cold water. Apply baking soda to wet spills on jute rugs to absorb as much liquid as possible.
It’s best to consult a professional for deep cleaning wool and jute rugs. Both materials are very absorbent, so you run the risk of permanent damage if you try any water-based deep cleaning methods at home.
Can you wash rugs in the washing machine?
While small faux fur and flatweave rugs are generally safe in the washer (minus the antique and delicate rug materials we mentioned earlier), you want to be careful with other types of rugs no matter what size they are. The only exception is a machine-washable rug.
Unless the care label says otherwise, you can generally toss any 5×8 or 6×9 washable rug into your home washing machine. Anything larger is best cleaned in a commercial washer. Use mild detergent and wash with cold water only. Air dry.
We know that deep cleaning by hand can get a little time consuming, but your rug will thank you! With these tips in your arsenal, you’ll be able to enjoy your rugs for years to come.
