Wool Rug Cleaning

            Most rug areas at home are made of wool.  Wool rugs are durable which means that they do not get damaged easily even with heavy foot traffic, and heavy build-up of soil and dirt unlike Persian rugs, Chinese Oriental rugs or silk rugs. Moreover, wool rugs are generally easier to clean than silk rugs but one should distinguish between machine-made rugs and hand-woven ones. Hand-woven wool rugs may require a bit more care so as not to destroy the embroidery or the overall structure of the rug.

            Most rug cleaning techniques such as vacuuming, steam cleaning, and dry foam cleaning can be applied on just about any wool rug.  However, professionals say that vacuuming is your safest and most effective option.  If your rug is newly purchased or is less than 6 months old, vacuuming it for at least 2 times a week will keep it clean.  New rugs are often susceptible to piling wherein its fibres get entangled with each other and dirt, soil, dust, and other particles get trapped in your rug. You can avoid pilling by using a vacuum with a rotating beater bar and good suction. Vacuuming removes dirt and dust from the surface of your rug.  With heavy foot traffic, dirt and dust on the surface of your wool rug is pushed deeper and become harder to remove.

            However, vacuuming may not be enough to accomplish a decent job of rug cleaning as vacuuming only rids your rug of solid particles and not spills and stains. Spills and stains especially organic ones which usually involve unpleasant odours (such as in pet urine and excrement) should be dealt with as soon as possible to avoid permanent stains and odours. Remove as much solid particles and blot out as much of the spill as you can with a paper towel.  Then, use a dry foam or an absorbent pad to wash the affected area.  Use as little water as possible with mild soap to create foam that will clean the stain.

If you choose to wash the whole rug, make sure to follow manufacturer’s instructions for rug cleaning, if there be any specifics. Also, properly dry the rugs (both sides) before reuse. Enough sun exposure not only dries the rug fast but also restores its natural warmth and softness. However, be careful not to prolong exposure to avoid color fading.  

            Rug cleaning can also be done by via hot water extraction cleaning (not van mounted as these can damage your rug).  Unless you have prior experience with hot water extraction rug cleaning, steam cleaning must be performed by rug cleaning professionals.