Keeping Your Wool Area Rug Beautiful – Care And Maintenance

Once you have made your wool area rug purchase, it is very important to make yourself familiar with what is necessary to protect your investment and keep your new rug looking beautiful. 

I would encourage you to have a look at the 3 Steps below, especially Step #2: Clean Spills Immediately as results are often determined by how quickly you react. It's not an exhaustive list but should cover most mishaps.

Step #1: Vacuuming

When it comes to keeping your wool area rug looking its best and hygienically clean, you can never vacuum too often. As a rule, vacuum at least once a week, more often in heavy traffic areas. 

Vacuuming Tips:

  • Be sure your vacuum cleaner is suitable for your type of area rug. Follow the recommendation of the area rug manufacturer. Most manufacturers do not recommend the use of a beater bar and some manufacturers discourage the use of some of the new more aggressive vacuums.
  • If your vacuum has a bag, empty it regularly to ensure the vacuum doesn't lose suction.

Step #2: Clean Spills Immediately

Stains can be prevented, or certainly minimized, by ACTING QUICKLY when spills occur. Even when time is not on your side, follow this simple 5 step removal process  below and use the correct cleaning agent. 

cleaning a rug spill sequence

DO NOT RUB OR SCRUB YOUR WOOL AREA RUG AS THIS CAN CAUSE PERMANENT PILE DISTORTION 

NEVER USE BLEACH ON A SPILL

Types Of Cleaning Agents

(These cleaning agents are to be used as instructed in the Cleaning Guide below)

  • 1
    Cold water.
  • 2
    One teaspoon of wool detergent and one quart of warm water.
  • 3
    Clear household disinfectant.
  • 4
    Dry cleaning solvent (Available from hardware stores). Use only on dry rug.
  • 5
    Chill with ice cubes in a plastic bag. Pick or scrape off gum.
  • 6
    Mix 1/3 cup of white vinegar with 2/3 cup of water.
  • 7
    Warm water.
  • 8
    Nail polish remover (should not contain lanolin).
  • 9
    Rubbing alcohol.
  • 10
    Place absorbent paper over wax and apply hot iron to paper. Wax will melt and be absorbed by the paper.
  • 11
    Vacuum clean.
  • 12
    Mineral turpentine.
  • 13
    Seek assistance from a professional area rug cleaner.

Cleaning Guide

(begin with Step One and proceed to Step Two, or Step Three if necessary)

Stain

​Step One

Step Two​

Step Three

​Alcoholic Beverages

1​

2​


Bleach

1

13

​

Blood

1

2

​

​Butter

4

2​

​

Candle Wax​

10

4

​

Chewing Gum

​5

4

​

Chocolate

4

2

​

Coffee

1

2

6

Colas & Soft Drinks

1

2

​

Cooking Oil

4

2

​

Cream

2

4

​

Egg

2

13

​

Faeces

2

3

13

Floor Wax​​​​​

4

2

​

Fruit Juice

1

2

​

Furniture Polish

4

2

​

Gravy & Sauces

7

2

​

Ballpoint Pen Ink

9

2

​

Felt Pen Ink

4

2

​

Lipstick

4

2

​

Milk

2

4

​

Mustard

2

​

​

Nail Polish

8

4

​

Oil & Grease

4

2

​

Oil Based Paint

12

4

​

Acrylic Paint

1

2

​

Rust

6

13

​

Salad Dressing

2

4

​

Shoe Polish

4

2

​

Soot

11

4

​

Tar

12

4

​

Tea

1

2

6

Tomato Sauce

7

2

​

Urine (Fresh)

1

2

3

Urine (Old Stain)

13

​

​

Vomit

2

3

6

Wine

1

2

6

Unknown Material

4

2

​

Step #3: Professional Cleaning

Professional cleaning every few years will do wonders to revitalize your area rug, keep it hygienically clean and protect your investment.

Professional cleaning is a science requiring skills and expertise that can only be obtained through formal training. Untrained operators may do your carpet more harm than good. If you are unsure of the cleaning companies credentials, ask for several testimonials from previous customers, or look on line for reviews.