Wool rugs and carpets are beloved by many, but only when they are clean and in great condition. In this post, we will discuss cleaning and maintenance tips that will help you keep your wool rugs and carpets spotless, soft, and sanitary.
Key Takeaways:
Wool rugs and carpets should only be cleaned with gentle cleaning solutions, warm water, and baking soda.
To keep them in good condition, vacuum regularly, blot stains immediately, let them dry completely after cleaning, keep them away from sunlight, and have them professionally cleaned at least twice a year.
Wool Carpet Cleaning and Care Tips
Use a Gentle Cleaning Solution
Especially if your wool rug is a delicate antique, you should only use gentle cleaning products. The best products for wool rug cleaning are Woolsafe-certified, so be on the lookout for the Woolsafe emblem when you’re shopping for wool rug cleaning products.
Harsh chemical cleaners can turn the wool fibers to be brittle and cause the colors to bleed. Cleaning products that are too strong can also leave a residue that’s harmful to pets and children.
Green (eco-friendly) cleaning products are usually gentle enough for wool rugs, but some have a hard time achieving first-rate results.
Never Rub
Rubbing stains on a wool area rug is a big no-no. Doing this will set the stain deeper into the fibers. Also, rubbing with a hand towel, or even paper towels for that matter, can damage the fibers.
Instead, blot the rug. Sure, this may take a while, especially if the stain is larger, but eventually the stain will disappear and you’ll be glad that you didn’t immediately rub it aggressively.
Use a clean, white cloth when blotting a wool carpet stain. This way you can easily gauge whether or not blotting is reducing the stain.
Vacuum the Rug
Vacuuming a wool rug once a week is essential; twice a week for high-traffic areasd
Vacuum from one end of the rug to the next, either vertically or horizontally. This way you don’t miss any spots.
Also, make sure you’re using a vacuum that’s safe for use on wool. Some vacuums can damage wool fibers, especially if the fibers are very old. That said, most wool rugs are durable enough to withstand routine vacuuming, so long as the vacuum isn’t a particularly heavy-duty machine
It’s essential to vacuum both before and after wool rug cleaning. Why? Because pre-cleaning vacuuming will loosen deeply embedded dirt while post-cleaning vacuuming ensures any dust, dirt, etc. that landed on the rug while it was drying is removed before it can set.
Get the Rug Professionally Cleaned
Choosing an experienced and skilled professional is a smart decision. They know how to deep clean a wool rug properly and they can also provide cleaning tips after they’re done.
Some rug cleaners will come to your home, but most clean rugs at a specialized shop so they have the tools and space required to thoroughly clean a wool rug.
The cost of wool rug cleaning depends on a range of factors, but usually, machined rugs are $3-$7 per square foot whereas hand-woven rugs are $5-$8.
Also, if your rug is a delicate antique, the cost of professional cleaning will be higher, as the cleaner will have to put more time and effort into making the rug spotless and sanitary.
Use Baking Soda
Baking soda can be used to remove spills from a wool rug at home. First, you’ll need to blot the spill. After the spill has been removed, apply the baking soda to dry out the fibers and pile without causing damage.
The baking soda should sit for an hour or so. Once the site of the spill feels completely dry, vacuum up the baking soda.
If vacuuming doesn’t remove all the baking soda, hang the rug, either outdoors or in a mostly empty room, like a garage or storage space, and use a rug beater to hit the rug so the remaining baking soda comes out.
Once there’s no more baking soda coming out, use a broom to sweep up and remove the baking soda you beat out of the rug.
Dry Thoroughly
The rug should dry naturally indoors, ideally in a space that’s neither too hot nor too cold. Also, there should be decent air circulation.
Some wool rug owners put their rugs outside to dry, but this isn’t recommended for a handful of reasons.
For one, the rug will be exposed to dirt and other particles while it’s drying outside, meaning it could be dirty when you bring it back inside. Additionally, the rug may not get completely dry outdoors, especially if the temperature is low and there’s minimal sunlight.
Lastly, refrain from expediting the drying process with a hairdryer or heat gun, as either device can cause the fibers to shrink.
Keep It Out of the Sun
Sunlight can help a rug to dry after cleaning, but too much can wear down the fibers and cause the color to fade. This is the case whether the rug is drying indoors or outdoors.
You should allow your rug to get 1-2 hours of indoor sunlight exposure while it’s drying.
In addition to helping a wool rug dry, sunlight also illuminates dust and dirt that’s missed during the cleaning process. It can also highlight faded stains that may be on their way to getting completely removed.
If the sun is only hitting a portion of your rug while it’s drying, rotate the rug so it doesn’t dry unevenly.
Remove Dirt and Debris Immediately
Once you notice dirt and debris accumulating on your wool rug, remove as much as you can immediately. If these elements don’t have time to set, they won’t harm your wool rug.
This is why regular vacuuming is essential. It’s no exaggeration to say diligent rug maintenance can ensure your rug will last a lifetime.
Also, don’t forget to clean the rug’s underside, as dirt and debris can discreetly build up here. You could use hot water and a cleaning agent to remove caked-on dirt from the rug’s underside, but this should only be attempted if you’re certain the rug can handle hot water.
How to Remove Stains From Wool Rugs
Some stains are easier to remove than others. Ink stains, tomato sauce stains, urine stains, wine stains, coffee stains, and chocolate stains are all infamous for being hard to remove.
That said, most stains do fade over time, especially if you clean the rug regularly.
If a stain won’t come out even after you’ve used the tips above, it’s wise to get help from a professional rug cleaner. They’ll know the right way to clean, and they’ll exhaust every option to ensure the stain is no more.
Worried that your rug is especially prone to getting stained? Keep it away from the things that are likely to stain it. For example, don’t have a high-end, antique wool rug in your dining room, as it’s likely to get stained by spilled food and drinks.
How to Fix Damaged Wool Fibers
Even though wool fibers are dead, they can repair themselves if the rug’s overall pH is maintained at 5.5. Moreover, keeping a 5.5 pH will strengthen the wool fibers and cause the colors to pop.
You’ll need a special meter to assess the rug’s pH level. If all this sounds like too much for you to handle, have your wool carpets cleaned professionally at least twice a year.
An expert at wool carpet maintenance and cleaning will get the pH right and tell you how it can be maintained.
What’s Safe to Use on Wool
Some cleaning products are safe for wool rugs while others aren’t. You want to stick with neutral/mild detergents and avoid heavy-duty cleaners, especially those that are made with bleach.
Worried that you’ll choose the wrong cleaner? Look for the Woolsafe logo when shopping for wool rugs and carpet cleaners. Products that are Woolsafe-certified have undergone a range of tests to ensure they only improve wool rugs and carpets—not damage them.
Of course, if you don’t want to risk it, you could hire a professional rug and carpet cleaner, as they’ll only use cleaning products that are both safe and effective.
Wool Rug Special Cleaning Techniques
If you have the means to do so, try submerging your wool rug in warm, soapy water before cleaning it with a special brush. The dirt and debris that’s attached to the rug should come off easier.
There’s also a special machine that dries rugs; this is what the pros use.
That said, a novice shouldn’t try specialized cleaning techniques. Instead, they should let the pros handle cleaning. This way cleaning doesn’t do more harm than good.
Final Thoughts
If you need to clean a wool rug or carpet, you should only use cleaning products that are certified Woolsafe and slightly deluded with warm water.
To maintain a clean rug or carpet, vacuum regularly, blot stains immediately after they appear, use baking soda to dry out the fibers, and keep the rug away from direct sunlight.
