Wool rug is known for its beauty and durability. That’s why tons of homeowners choose it to beautify their homes.
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One thing that can damage a wool rug is an improper cleaning method. You can really destroy the color and shape of the rug if you don’t know how to wash it properly.
Lucky for you, you can actually get the job done all by yourself by using some easily-available home supplies. The DIY tutorial on how to clean wool rugs below can be your ultimate reference.
How to Clean Wool Rugs
Prepare these supplies:
- Horse shampoo
- Vinegar
- Baking soda
- Clean cloth
- Scrub brush
- Bucket
- Garden hose
Follow these steps:
Handle the stains
When it comes to dealing with stains on a wool rug, you need to be as gentle as possible. Treating the stains as soon as they happen is always the best thing to do.
You can use a clean cloth on both sides of your wool rug to absorb as much stains as possible. If necessary, add some water to rinse the stains.
If stains are quite severe, you can mix equal parts of water and white vinegar in a spray bottle. Then. apply the cleaning solution to the stained area. Dab the cleaning residue with a paper towel to finish the step.
For even deeper cleaning, you can also sprinkle some baking soda once you have sprayed the mixture of white vinegar and water. You will see the fizzing reaction which is a sign that it works to remove the stain. However, you may want to test this cleaning solution in the hidden spot of the rug as it can be quite harsh.
Keep in mind to never use soap as it can lead to further damage.
Flip the rug
The cleaning step above may not really be enough to handle stubborn stains like grease and ink. The professional is the one that can get the job done properly.
If you are not willing enough to hire those pros, you can simply flip your rug to hide the stains. For those who are handy enough, you can also cut the stained areas and rewoven them.
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Deep wash, if necessary
When it’s been a while since you haven’t cleaned your dirty wool rug, consider executing a deep washing. Here’s what you can do:
- Mix horse shampoo, vinegar, and water in a bucket. Horse shampoo is a good cleaning solution to deal with a wool rug as it comes from animal hair.
- Test the cleaner in the hidden spot to check whether it causes discoloration or not. If not, then you can continue to the next step.
- Bring your wool rug outside, so you can wash it comfortably.
- Use a scrub brush to wash the rug until you are sure that you remove all the stains.
- Rinse the cleaning residue with a garden hose.
- Put the rug on a flat surface to dry it up completely.
