How to clean a wool rug? Extensive Guide to Cleaning Wool Rugs
Cleaning your wool rug regularly helps keep your rug clean and can extend its lifetime, too. It requires carefulness as it is a natural fiber, and improper cleaning can have bad effects, including shrinkage, permanent stains, and more. At Yuna Handicrafts, we produce high-quality handmade New Zealand wool rugs, and one of the most asked questions for us is how to clean wool rugs. In this blog, we will discuss everything you need to know and how to properly clean wool rugs.
Things You Should Know Before Cleaning Wool Rugs
Get Proper Information: Not all wool rugs are the same, and the cleaning process might not be the same for different rugs available on the market. You should look into the manufacturer's official channels,l ike the website, and more, to see the best way to clean them. You can also reach out to them and ask them to provide the necessary information. Alternatively, there are plenty of expert carpet cleaners you can consult with.
Avoid Hot Water: Most wool rugs shrink on contact with hot water, so you should avoid using it. Instead, use mild or cold water when you need it. Normally, dry cleaning is preferred over using water for wool rugs as water brings many complications, including mold growth, rug shrinkage, and a long drying process.
Dry Cleaning is the Best: In dry cleaning, we use different solvents, and not water, to clean the rugs. These solvents do not wet the wool, keeping it safe from many problems, including mold growth and foul odor.
Regular Vacuuming: Rugs retain a lot of dust and other particles. You should do regular vacuuming once or twice a week to maintain rugs.
Use Wool-Safe Detergents: If you are using detergents to clean stains, you should look for wool-safe ones. Many brands offer wool-safe stain removers for specific use, including cleaning oil, inks, pet peeand more.
Completely Dry Rugs after Cleaning: After cleaning your rugs, you should let them dry off completely. If the rug retains some moisture, it can make it prone to mold and foul odors as well.
Know When to Seek Professional Services: If you own heirloom-quality and expensive rugs, you might look for professional services to clean them. Doing it yourself, cleaning might damage the rug. Let the professional handle cleaning for your most precious rug.
Things You Need
Wool rug stain remover
Cold water for the solution with wool stain remover
Soft sponge
Clean dry towel
Vacuum cleaner
Methods of Cleaning Wool Rugs
Dry Cleaning Wool Rugs
Dry cleaning uses solvents other than water to clean rugs. These solvents do not wet the wool, and are the most preferred way to clean your rug.
Cleaning with Water and Wool-Safe Detergents
Some wool rugs can be cleaned with water and wool-safe detergents. Please seek the guidance of youruggs manufacturers on whether they are safe for water and detergents or not.
Professional Wool Rug Cleaners
Many local businesses provide wool rug cleaning services. These experts have extensive knowledge of working with stain removal from wool and cleaning wool rugs. Though it might be more expensive than doing it yourself, many situations require professional help. This includes having expensive heirloom rugs.
How to clean wool rugs at home? DIY Method
Clean Wool Rug with Carpet Cleaner
Many brands sell wool rug stain removers for specific purposes, including the ink stain remover, oil and grease remover, pet pee and poo stain removers. You should look for brands with good reviews, which you can find on most Amazon product pages.
How to spot clean a wool rug?
To spot clean a wool rug, follow the following steps:
- First, use a clean and dry cloth to absorb the water content and stains from the rug. Be gentle, and do not rub the rug with excessive force. Instead, do a gentle downward press to soak as much water content or stains as possible.
- Prepare the solution of wool safe detergent and or water in the recommended amount. Mix the wool-safe detergents or stain remover with cold water.
- Put the solution on a dry and clean towel to clean the spots on the rug. To minimize the potential damage, first test the solution on a smaller portion of the spot. If the solution did not cause discoloration and other effects, you are good to go for the whole spot cleaning.
- Use another dry cloth to soak up as much moisture as possible after cleaning the rug. After it, let the rug dry naturally.
FAQs for Cleaning Wool Rugs
Can you steam clean a wool rug?
Wool is prone to shrinking when excessive heat is used. So, you cannot steam clean a wool rug.
How to clean a wool area rug at home?
To clean a wool area rug at home, follow the steps mentioned in the above section. Using wool-safe detergents or soap is a must when cleaning a rug at home. If you have expensive heirloom rugs, you might want to take a professional rug cleaning service.
How to clean dog pee from a wool rug? How to clean dog urine from a wool rug?
To clean dog pee from a wool rug, first use a dry towel to gather as much water content as possible. Do not rub the rug; instead, press the towel downward. After that, use wool-safe detergents on a clean towel to press again to remove the pee stain. If the stain area is large, you should test the solution on a smaller portion to see how the rug reacts to that particular solution.
Can I clean a wool rug with a carpet cleaner?
You should use a wool-safe rug cleaner to clean the wool rug. Most carpet cleaners are made considering synthetic materials, so you should be careful. For most scenarios, this is not recommended.
Can I steam clean my wool rug?
Steam can shrink and cause discoloration of rugs. You should not steam clean wool rug.
How to clean dog vomit from a wool rug?
To clean dog vomit from a wool rug, first use a dry towel to collect as many food particles and water content as possible. Do not rub the rug; instead, press the towel downward. After that, use wool-safe detergents on a clean towel to press again to remove the vomit stain. If the stain area is large, you should test the solution on a smaller portion to see how the rug reacts to that particular solution.
Can you clean wool rugs?
With enough knowledge and information, you can clean wool rugs by yourself at home. However, you should be very careful not to cause damage, including discoloration and shrinkage.
What's the best way to clean a wool rug?
It depends. Dry cleaning a wool rug, where other solutions are used instead of water, is one of the best ways to clean your wool rug.
Are wool rugs hard to clean?
Natural fiber rugs like wool rugs are harder to clean than synthetic rugs, as wool needs careful handling not to discolor or shrink. With the information and knowledge in this article, you might be able to clean your rug at home. Remember if you are unsure, there are always professional rug cleaners.
How to remove red wine from a wool rug?
To remove a red wine stain from your wool rug, first use a dry towel to collect as much wine as possible. Do not rub the rug; instead, press the towel downward. After that, use wool-safe wine stain remover on a clean towel and use it to clean the wine spot. If the stain area is large, you should test the solution on a smaller portion to see how the rug reacts to that particular solution.
Are wool rugs stain-resistant?
No, wool rugs are not stain-resistant. While some rugs might be more or less resistant to certain stains, wool rugs can be stained.
Conclusion
It is vital to consider these factors before you clean your wool rug at home. Being able to clean your wool rug at home can save you a lot of money, and having this skill is a worthwhile investment of your time.
If you or someone you know is looking to buy heirloom-quality rugs from Nepal, Yuna Handicraft has an exclusive collection you can buy.
