How To Clean Tufted Rugs

January 20, 2022

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3+1 Ways To Clean Hand-Tufted Rugs

3+1 Ways To Clean Hand-Tufted Rugs

Hand-tufted rugs with beautiful designs can add a lot of character to their environment and become a great decoration accessory. However, if your rug starts to collect dirt and dust particles on its surface, it can easily lose this appealing look.

There are 3 main alternatives for cleaning hand-tufted rugs, and no, using the washing machine is not of these methods to clean tufted rugs. The washing machine can easily deform the shape of the rug and damage the glue on the backside of the rug.

Vacuum Cleaner
Rubbing By Hand
Carpet Cleaner Machine

The life of the hand-tufted rug depends mostly on the quality of the materials that have been used in the making process. Especially the yarn quality would affect the lifespan dramatically. The rugs made with acrylic yarn tend to deform way easier than the ones made with wool yarn. In acrylic rugs, it is easier to see flattening problems with falling apart pieces.

Vacuum Cleaner

Probably the easiest and the most frequent action you take in order to keep your tufted rugs clean is vacuum cleaning them regularly. It is recommended to vacuum it twice a week, of course, it can vary depending on the purpose and the position of the rug you have, if it is a floor rug in a relatively high-traffic area, it will need a lot more attention than framed wall rug.

Using a powerful vacuum cleaner would help to suck specks of dirt better. Pet vacuum cleaners can be a good choice.

Use a vacuum cleaner with a brush attachment to gently agitate the surface of the rug and lift the fibers, allowing the vacuum to remove as much dirt as possible. Avoid using a beater bar or other rough attachments, as these can damage the tufts of the rug.

Rubbing By Hand

The vacuum cleaner is a good practical solution for the dirt particles, but if you have areas where the original color of the rug becomes darker, you may need to look for other options. It is especially more common to see this problem in the lighter-colored parts of the rug.

You can use a moist sponge or dustcloth with some basic cleaning products for rubbing the surface of the rug. You should be careful not to apply too much pressure to the same place for the long term. It may damage the yarns.

Spot-clean any spills or stains as soon as possible. Use a mild, water-based cleaning solution and a clean, white cloth to gently blot the stain, working from the outside of the stain towards the center. Avoid rubbing or scrubbing the stain, as this can cause the tufts to mat down or become damaged.

Avoid using harsh chemicals or abrasive cleaners on your tufted rug. These can damage the fibers and cause the tufts to become matted or discolored. Instead, use a gentle, pH-neutral cleaner specifically designed for use on natural fiber rugs.

Carpet Cleaner Machine

In case rubbing by hand is not quite effective or too tiring for you, you can try to use a Carpet Cleaning Machine. This special type of appliance usually has a spray function to apply liquid cleaning mixture to the rug surface, a brush part to rub the rug surface, and a suction part to remove dirty water from the rug.

This can be used as a final option to clean hand-tufted rugs, most probably, it would be the most effective method to clean visible dirt with darker color on the surface. It is possible to find these cleaning tools around the 100$ range, you can check the exact price here. As another option, you can rent these cleaner machines from local stores like Home Depot or Walmart, it is realistic to expect around 20-30$ rental cost per day.

#Bonus Tip: Trimming Dirty Parts

Trimming your rugs can help to ”make” them cleaner, it is more related to doing maintenance to the rug other than cleaning, but it can be a useful trick to use. Especially for the rugs made with acrylic yarn, it can be an even more beneficial option because it can also help with the flattening problem by removing the top level of the rug.

Trimming A Tufted Rug With Hair Clippers

However, it is better to do this step before cleaning it with a carpet cleaner or rubbing it manually because there is a high chance that you will trim the parts that you just cleaned in the trimming process. It would be more efficient if you first trim it and clean it afterward.

If your tufted rug becomes heavily soiled or stained, you may need to have it professionally cleaned. Choose a reputable rug cleaning service that has experience with tufted rugs and can provide gentle, specialized cleaning without damaging the fibers or tufts.

By following these tips, you can help keep your tufted rug clean and looking its best for many years to come.

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