Quick Tips for Furniture Care: Rugs

According to Brantley, “Vacuuming is the single best way to remove dirt and maintain the life of your rug.” Depending on how many people and pets live in your household and how much traffic a rug gets, plan to vacuum rugs between once a week and once a month.

Before vacuuming, consider the following:

• If there’s a lot of pet hair on the rug, sweep it up with a brush.
• If you are able, take the rug outside and shake or beat any loose dust out of it. This doesn’t have to be done every time, but it can form a helpful part of a rug cleaning routine.

While vacuuming:

• “Use a low-level suction-only vacuum setting, as opposed to a beater-bar or rotating powerhead that you would use on wall-to-wall carpeting,” Brantley suggests. Rotating vacuum brushes may pull threads loose or cause fibers to fray.
• Additionally, Brantley recommends “vacuuming in the direction of the nap and not against the nap, as this can press dirt back into the rug.”
• Do not vacuum tassels or fringe, as they can get caught in the machinery.

For a deeper clean, the following will help:

• Vacuum again in a perpendicular direction, i.e. if you vacuumed north-south initially, repeat going in an east-west direction.
• Flip the rug over and vacuum the underside as well as the top.

For better or for worse, messes are a part of life – especially if you live with kids and pets. If you’re concerned about the potential for spills on your rugs, try choosing ones made of materials that are easier to clean and more durable, like wool or polypropylene.

Though specific treatment often depends on the rug material and the substance that was spilled, here are some good general pointers to follow:

• Work right away to reduce chances of the spill setting in.
• Remove any solids first.
• Soak up liquids with clean terrycloth towels or white paper towels (colored paper towels may transfer dye).
• “Blot spills instead of rubbing,” Brantley advises. “Rubbing a spill can work the liquid deeper into the fibers, thus causing the spill to become a stain.”
• Additionally, “work from the outside edges inward toward the center of a spot to prevent further spreading,” he continues.
• If needed, apply a rug cleaner. Brantley recommends “a color-safe foam like Woolite or a dry-cleaning product.” Whichever product you choose, make sure it can be used on the material(s) your rug is made of.
• Afterwards, blot the stain with water to rinse it out.
• Repeat if needed.

Consider assembling a cleaning kit ahead of time so you can quickly access the supplies needed in case of a spill. Helpful items to include are:

• Terrycloth and paper towels
• Mild detergent
• White vinegar
• Specialized solutions if needed, like enzymatic cleaner for pet messes

The rug manufacturer Kalaty, who sells many of the rugs carried at Copenhagen, has a useful guide to treating spills caused by over 50 common substances.

“Don’t forget to rotate rugs frequently to equalize the effects of sunlight and foot traffic,” Brantley says. “Continuous exposure to rays of bright sun can fade dyes, especially in desert climates.”

• For best results, rotate a rug every few months if it is near a window or in a high-traffic area. If neither of these criteria apply, a rug can be rotated less frequently, every year or so.
• If a rug is in the path of direct sunlight, invest in quality window treatments – “Keep shades, shutters, and curtains closed when a room is not in use to reduce the chances of sun damage,” Brantley counsels.
• Rotating a rug will also help lessen dents made by furniture legs. Alternately, you can try rearranging furniture – even just by a few inches – to mitigate this effect.

Though less of a concern in dry desert climates, rugs can develop mildew if they are exposed to damp environments. The following can help prevent moisture damage:

• If you want to place a rug in a space that will expose it to moisture, such as a bathroom or porch, use a rug specialized for that purpose – like a washable bathmat or an outdoor rug.
• When cleaning a rug, use the minimum amount of water and cleaning solution necessary to avoid over-saturation.
• Let rugs receive periodic exposure to fresh air and indirect light.
• When storing rugs, do not wrap them in plastic – use a breathable material like a fabric sheet.

Moths can also harm rugs, most commonly those made of natural fibers like wool. By nesting under the surface of a rug, moths and their larvae can use the fibers as a food source, causing thinning, holes, and discoloration. Luckily, you can take steps to make your rugs less hospitable to moths:

• Vacuum the underside of the rug as well as the top.
• Use a rug pad – this also adds stability and reduces the risk of slippage. “The best padding is a hair or fiber-filled pad with a rubberized surface that keeps a rug from moving and/or wrinkling,” Brantley advises.
• If you prefer, you can utilize moth-repelling scents like lavender or cedar in the form of candles or sachets.

If a rug “sprouts,” it has threads that stick upward beyond the height of the threads around it. This tends to happen naturally over time and is not considered a flaw that affects the durability of the rug. To fix sprouting, simply do the following:

• Trim the sprouted threads with scissors until the surface of the rug is even.
• Do not pull out the threads as this can damage the rug.

Since rug care can differ depending on composition, here are some more specific things to keep in mind for some of the most common rug materials.

Wool

Wool is one of the most durable rug materials around, but because of its natural origins, it can be more susceptible to damage from moths and moisture compared to synthetic fibers. It can also be sensitive to harsh cleaning agents, so choose a gentle detergent. If you need to clean a spill right away and don’t have rug cleaning solution on hand, you can use diluted dish soap, or distilled white vinegar mixed with an equal amount of water.

Viscose and Silkette™

Viscose is a material derived from plant fibers, and Silkette™ is a specific type of viscose developed by Kalaty and made from bamboo. According to Kalaty, one should avoid placing viscose rugs in damp spaces, or using steam or wet shampoo to clean them – vacuuming is the single best way to maintain a viscose rug.

Polypropylene and polyester

“Synthetic and blended rugs, such as those made from polypropylene, are easy to care for and fairly stain resistant,” says Brantley. These durable rugs are ideal for a variety of spaces – some are even designed for outdoor use – and can last a long time if the care guidelines above are followed. When first bringing home a rug made of synthetic fibers, it may “off-gas” or emit a smell – try placing the rug in a well-ventilated area for a few days to resolve this.

Cotton

Cotton rugs have a soft and natural feel but tend to be more sensitive to wear and sunlight compared to other materials. Cotton rugs will typically be machine washable – but check the care label just in case. Otherwise, follow the general care guidelines above.

Cowhide

Brantley recommends placing a cowhide rug in a lower-traffic area out of direct sunlight to prevent the hide from drying out. “Choose a mild non-alkaline soap if spot-cleaning and use a low-intensity vacuum setting, going in the same direction of the hair if possible,” he says. “A brush with plastic bristles will also help to remove dirt, rework hairs, and restore the rug’s softness,” he adds.

Silk

Long prized for their ornate designs and luxurious feel, silk rugs are also some of the most delicate. Avoid placing these rugs in areas with a lot of foot traffic, sunlight, or moisture. Use the gentlest vacuum setting (no beater bar) to clean a silk rug and when in doubt, consult a professional.