Are Wool Rugs Washable?
Are wool rugs washable? Wool rugs are eco-friendly and sustainable and can easily resist accidental oil and sauce spills. Getting them for my home seemed like a no-brainer, but I still had concerns over keeping them clean! Fortunately, I came to discover, wool rugs are washable. But, it’s better to avoid water and a sponge. Instead, use vinegar to remove pet urine odors and baking soda for a moisture-free cleaning. Indoor wool rugs are easy to clean because of their natural fiber properties. In contrast, outdoor rugs are polyester or polypropylene-based, to withstand stains while still being cleaned in a washing machine. In this guide, I’ll take a closer look at how you can keep your wool rugs clean, so they stay looking their best for years to come.
Contents
- Do wool rugs get dirty?
- Are wool rugs washable?
- How to clean a wool rug – step by step
- How to maintain wool rugs
- Are wool rugs better than polyester rugs?
- Are wool rugs worth the money?
Do Wool Rugs Get Dirty?
One of the most popular things about wool rugs is their stain resistance. But, this doesn’t mean that your wool rug will never become dirty. Wool rugs should be cleaned regularly to remove dry dirt and liquid spills. Leaving dirt in your carpets and rugs can lead to damaged wool fibers, and even bad smells, particularly if your stains are from pet urine or food and drink.
Are Wool Rugs Washable?
Since wool rugs can get dirty, it’s important to know if they’ll be ruined forever after a spill, or if you can clean them up. Fortunately, wool rugs are washable, but you need to clean them the right way to avoid problems like distorted shapes and shrinking.
The way that you clean a wool rug can also depend on the spill you’re tackling. For instance, dry dirt can usually just be hoovered out of your rug. But, wet spills and stains will need to be cleaned more thoroughly. Let’s take a look at this next.
How to Clean a Wool Rug
It’s important to clean wool rugs regularly to maintain their natural fiber and aesthetic appeal. So, even if you aren’t noticing visible stains on your rugs, you should take the time to care for them and clean them. The frequency of this task might depend on the part of your home the rug is in. Wool rugs in areas with high footfall should be cleaned more regularly than others, because they’ll be more prone to dirt and spills. Here are the steps to clean wool rug effectively:
Step 1: Hit the Rug Using a Tennis Racket
You can also use a rug beater or broom to shake out its deeply embedded dirt on a less-windy sunny day. It’s a good idea to do this in your backyard or on the terrace – otherwise all of that dirt will remain in your home, on your floors.
Step 2: Make a Diluted Detergent Solution
You can use diluted vinegar or a baking soda solution to remove specific stains. Here’s a dilution sequence you can follow:
- Take a low-concentration detergent on a plastic tray.
- Take a bucket and fill it with cold water.
- Use a teaspoon and add detergent two times and mix it well.
Step 3: Use a Sponge to Wet Rug Fibers
This is a delicate step, as you shouldn’t overwet the fibers of wool rugs. Getting them too wet can leave them prone to damage and shrinkage. Here’s how I complete this step:
- Take another bucket and fill it with cool water. Again, ensure it’s clean of sediment and dirt.
- Use a sponge, dip it into the diluted detergent solution, and start sponging, taking one end at a time.
- Rinse the sponge regularly using the second bucket to ensure that the rug doesn’t get soiled.
- Take another sponge and dip it in clean water.
- Rinse and dab the area you’ve cleaned with the first sponge to ensure no detergent overdue is left spread in the fibers.
- Blot the area you cleaned with unused towels to ensure no excess moisture is left on rug fibers.
- Place the rug on the rug pad and allow the rug to dry completely.
Allow Time for Drying
It’s important to note rugs take considerable time to dry. However, you can speed up the process by moving the rug to a vacant room with big windows or a large ceiling fan. In total, these steps can take a while to complete. So, make sure you have enough time. If you don’t have time for such exhaustive steps, you can vacuum the wool rug from its original place. Don’t forget to turn the rug over to vacuum it on the other side. But, bear in mind that this won’t completely remove some stains.
How to Maintain a Wool Rug
The steps above might feel a bit daunting. But, maintaining a wool rug isn’t that complicated. And, you can take steps to keep rugs looking fresh without extensively cleaning them. Here are some expert tips to maintain a wool rug:
- Rotate the rugs in the summer and winter to prevent unnecessary fiber patterns. For outdoor rugs, rotating will help prevent fading from sunlight.
- Steam your carpets once a year to remove debris deep within the wool rug.
- Do not entertain people with shoes indoors to retain aesthetic appeal in your wool rug.
- Always use a low-concentration vinegar solution to clean pet stains on wool rugs.
- Take the help of professional carpet cleaning teams if you are using full-size wool rugs.
Are Washable Wool Rugs Better Than Polyester Rugs?
Polyester rugs are popular thanks to their ability to hold vibrant colors and their long-lasting nature. They are one among many synthetic rugs and can be made from nylon, acrylic, and polypropylene. However, it’s important to note that polyester rugs only last for 4 years, as mentioned earlier. Whereas washable wool rugs last for a minimum of 50 years. So here I present five crucial factors while choosing between wool rugs and polyester rugs:
- If you want a cozy feel on your feet early in the morning, go for polyester rugs. But if you want stain-resistant carpeting for breakfast spills, go for washable wool rugs.
- If you want a cost-effective carpeting solution, go for polyester rugs. But if you want ever-lasting durability, go for wool rugs.
- Polyester rugs are made of synthetic material, so it’s better for people with eczema conditions to opt for wool rugs.
- Wool rugs are made of pet-friendly material, so it’s better for cat and dog owners than not-so-environment-friendly synthetic rugs.
- Wool rugs have better aesthetic appeal in most respects as compared to synthetic polyester rugs.
Should You Buy Washable Wool Rugs?
There are multiple advantages of washable wool rugs for both indoor and outdoor environments. Indoor wool rugs are simple to clean because of their natural fibers, and you can easily throw outdoor rugs into a washing machine if they are small enough. Just make sure you dry them well after cleaning to avoid shrinking. Apart from easy cleaning, here are the other advantages of buying wool rugs:
They Last For 50+ Years:
If maintained properly and cleaned regularly, wool rugs can last for half a century. On the other hand, synthetic rugs, which are more popular, last for 4 years, whereas nylon carpets only last for 14 years if used in heavy footfall areas.
They Are Versatile:
The best part about wool rugs is that you can use them in a heavy-traffic area of your room or under heavy furniture.
They Repel Oil and Sauce Spills:
It is especially useful if you are planning to use rugs in high-traffic areas near the kitchen or dining room, as there are more chances of oil and sauce spills there. In addition, if you notice a spot stain, you can easily clean it with diluted baking soda. Besides these benefits, wool rugs can withstand pet accidents and shoe track beatings like no other rug.
In Summary: Are Wool Rugs Washable?
It’s surprisingly easy to wash wool rugs using two buckets of cold water and a sponge, but you need to ensure that you don’t overwet your premium rug. Also, they have natural and pet-friendly fibers, so pet owners and people with allergic reactions can find them very suitable to use in their living rooms.
