Braided rugs are a traditional American decorating choice with a great deal of versatility. Adding one to a room makes it both warmer and cozier. They can be hard to clean, however, because they are often made of dense wool, and dirt can get into their braided fibers. In this blog we will discuss braided rug care so that you can keep your rug looking great for many years of use.
Dealing with Minor Stains
If your braided rug has a small localized stain, you can spot clean the stain by combining water and white vinegar in equal parts and then soaking the stain. By scrubbing gently either by hand or with a toothbrush, many stains will come out without too much effort.
Some braided rugs are lightweight and made of cotton. They can be thrown into the washing machine, cleaned on the gentle cycle, and dried in the dryer or left out to dry. Wool rugs are heavy and need special care, however. You can use a wool cleaning product or one of the foam carpet cleaners available on the market. Just make sure that the product you buy is safe for use on wool and carefully follow the instructions on the label.
When you are done with any localized or spot cleaning, rinse the area with water, vacuum the rug, and allow it to dry completely. You do not want to leave a harsh chemical residue in your rug as it may damage the wool over time.
More Extensive Braided Rug Care
If you want to get your braided rug really clean, you should take it outside. Wool can often absorb a great deal of dirt without looking dirty, and your vacuum may not be able to get it all out. So once or twice a year, take your braided rug outside and deep clean it.
First, if the rug is small enough, shake it and beat it with a wooden spoon to get as much dirt out as possible. If the rug is larger, drape it over a fence or a patio railing and use a tennis racket or larger implement and hit it until the dirt stops shaking out. You may be surprised at what comes out. Wool can trap a lot in the spaces between its fibers.
When you’re done beating it, you can spray it with a hose. Don’t use hot water on wool, as the heat can shrink it. The water will dissolve remaining dirt and pull it out. You may think this might damage the material, but wool is an animal product, sheep fur, so it can survive getting wet just fine. Wool has a natural waviness to it which is why it is a good insulator. It traps air. Unfortunately, it can also trap water in it if you do not fully dry it.
After you’ve cleaned the carpet, air dry it in the sun. Exposing the rug to the sun and breeze will dry it faster which is important because you do not want the wool surface to grow mold or mildew. If you need to clean your braided rug when the weather is colder or wetter, you can steam clean it as well. Use a fan to help the drying process go more quickly. Wool does take a long time to dry. Turn the rug over and expose the other side to the fan too so the backing doesn’t grow mold.
With the right care, your beautiful wool area rug can grace the floor of your home for years and years. Many wool rugs last for a century or more and are works of art. If you need rug backing products for your wool rugs or any other carpet products, please call us at Bond Products. We are always happy to help our customers find what they need to make their rugs and carpets look great.
