How to Clean a Wool Rug at Home in 7 Easy Steps
Your wool rugs can last a lifetime with the right cleaning and care
- Vacuum
- Broom
- Two buckets
- Soft bristled brush
- Sponge
- Water
- Wool-friendly detergent
- Vinegar
A wool rug is a durable, long-lasting investment for your home, but these timeless pieces do need a little bit of regular maintenance. Cleaning your wool rug once a year can keep it clean and fresh, and ready for another year of even the heaviest use. Follow these simple steps to learn how to clean a wool rug without damaging it.
Prepping to Clean a Wool Rug
The best thing you can do when preparing to clean a wool rug is to pick a sunny and breezy day. You’ll need a lot of space and things are bound to get wet, making the outdoors an ideal location for this project.
Shake it Out
When cleaning a wool rug, start by hanging the rug over your porch railing or a couple of chairs and use a broom to beat out the dirt and debris on the surface.This step gets you started and loosens up some of the dirt and dust on the rug, allowing for a deeper clean.
Vacuum the Rug
While shaking out the dirt is a great start, vacuuming is another important step in cleaning a wool rug. Be sure to vacuum both sides of the rug to remove as much dirt, dust, and debris as you can. Depending on the thickness of your rug, and how dirty it is, you may need to vacuum it several times to thoroughly remove dirt.
Spot Clean
If your wool rug is burdened with some tough stains, now is the time to take care of them. To start, make a solution out of one-quarter cup of white vinegar and two cups of water, and pour the mixture into a spray bottle.
Spray the mixture on the stains and blot them with a damp rag until you notice the stains begin to lift.
Use a Gentle Cleaner to Scrub the Rug
Photo: scyther5 / iStock / Getty Images Plus / Getty ImagesNow that you’re onto the larger cleaning portion of this project, you want to make sure you’re using wool-friendly soap to clean the rug. Of all the types of rug materials, wool requires a gentle approach as the material is quite delicate. Look for a cleaner that’s designed specifically for wool, such as Woolite.
Whichever cleaning solution you choose, mix one to two tablespoons of it in a large bucket of cool water. From there, dip a soft bristled cleaning brush into the bucket and use it to scrub the wool rug lightly from top to bottom. You can use any motion to scrub, as long as you do so gently and with light pressure.
Rinse the Soap
Once you’ve cleaned the entire surface of the rug, fill another large bucket with cool water for rinsing.
Dip a sponge in the cool water and use it to rinse the entirety of the rug by gently dabbing away the suds. While it might be enticing to just splash the bucket of water on the rug and watch the suds fall away, it will end up taking far longer for the rug to dry as wool is very absorbent.
Blot the Moisture From the Rug
The next step is to blot the moisture from the rug using rags to make the overall drying process quicker, and to avoid any mildew or mold growth. Simply grab your rags, and blot the wool rug from top to bottom using firm pressure until most of the moisture is removed.
Allow the Rug to Dry
Before you put your rug back on the floor make sure it is completely dry. Hang it over your porch railing or a pair of sturdy outdoor chairs so it can benefit from the sun and fresh air.
If rain is in the forecast and you need to bring the rug inside to dry, find a place where it can hang, such as on a set of kitchen chairs or stools and keep a fan directed on it to promote air circulation.
Tips for Maintaining a Wool Rug
Keeping your wool rug in good condition is easy with a few regular maintenance steps. Implement these habits to extend the life of your rug:
For rugs that see normal wear, vacuum them twice a month. In households with kids, pets, or anything else that may lead to heavier use, vacuum weekly or as needed.
Rotate your rug twice a year for even wear, and to prevent sun fading from constant exposure in the same spot.
Institute a “no shoes” rule if you don’t already have one. This will prevent a significant amount of dirt from settling in.
Use a dry carpet cleaning powder that’s formulated for wool rugs every other month. Sprinkle it on and let it sit according to the manufacturer’s instructions, then vacuum it up thoroughly.
Spot-treat stains as they occur, using a wool-safe cleaning solution to prevent damage and discoloration.
DIY vs. Hiring a Pro to Clean Your Wool Rug
When it comes to cleaning a wool rug, it’s a project that can definitely be completed at home by yourself using the steps and supplies we listed. While the cost of carpet cleaning might be worth it depending on the square footage or carpeting your home has, rugs are individual items that take less time and labor, so you might want to consider doing it on your own to cut costs.
Of course, everyone has their own preference for getting all aspects of their home in tip top shape, so looking into professional rug cleaners near you could help you find the best fit your needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Wool rugs respond well to light steam cleaning. Steam cleaning can help lift the dirt out of a wool rug and eliminate odors. However, because wool rugs are so absorbent, excessive moisture can lead to mold and mildew growth, so you’ll need to be cautious with the amount of steam being used, and avoid steam cleaning more than once a year to protect the rug’s fibers.
A wool rug can take between 8 to 10 hours to fully dry after cleaning, or even longer, depending on humidity, temperature, and air flow. The better the air circulation in the area where you hang a wool rug to dry, the faster it’ll go. It’s important to ensure that wool rugs are completely dry before you place them back on the floor. If the rug is still damp, it could grow mold and mildew.
The difficulty of cleaning a wool rug will depend on how dirty it is in the first place. For instance, if a wool rug has a build up of stains, this will add to the labor required to clean it. However, cleaning wool rugs should be pretty easy overall as wool naturally repels stains and is a generally durable material.
