I have been on the hunt for a new rug but I can’t seem to find anything I love in my price range.
I considered going with a DIY rug, but ultimately I want something a little higher quality.
So, I’ve decided to make my current rug work until I find the perfect one.
My rug is a 100% wool flat woven rug from IKEA. I love the style, colors, and pattern, but it is difficult to keep clean.
I regularly vacuum and spot clean it, but it has still managed to get very dirty.
Actually, it was so dirty that I was ready to just throw it away. Since I can’t find an affordable replacement, I decided to find a way to clean it myself.
After a couple minutes googling, I found a method and jumped right in.
Materials used:
* Large Bowl
* Cold water
* Dish Soap
* Cleaning brush
I filled a large bowl with cold soapy water and dipped my brush in.
Then I started scrubbing.
In order to get it clean, I had to scrub quite hard.
I was a little nervous that I would damage the rug, but luckily it didn’t.
I was hesitant to get the rug too wet, so I let the rug dry before I did a second scrub on the really dirty parts.
Since I practically had to scrub the whole thing, it took me two days.
Once I was done scrubbing, I just let it dry.
I really can’t believe how well it worked, and how clean it is!
It took a little bit of time and effort, but I think it is so worth it.
Not sure why I didn’t do this before.
Have you ever tackled cleaning your dhurrie?
What worked for you?
A lady who I bought an antique rug off of said she would always clean her rugs (antique ones!) by adding a few drops of oxyclean to the rug then taking it outside and power washing it! She swore by it. I bought a beautiful rug off of her so I know first hand it didn’t ruin a thing. I’d still be nervous about trying that but apparently it works:) Glad yours turned out well!
I CANNOT thank you enough for posting this. I have the same rug from IKEA and like you, love it. I just told my husband last night that I cannot stand how dirty it is. Between our dirty shoes and our 18 month old, it didn’t stand a chance against getting dirty. This post was perfect timing!
Thank you again!!
I would add as a last step to spray the rug with Vectra, which is a commercial grade fabric protector/repellant that you can now buy at places like Home Depot. I learned about it when I took an upholstery class. It is more expensive than scotch guard – but it really works! Dirt does not accumulate as quickly and small stains just sponge right off. Just an idea!
Thanks for this! I have the same rug in my bedroom and vacuuming is not doing the trick anymore – I will definitely keep this in mind for when I get the energy to tackle it.
i have the same rug and i have thrown it in the washer twice on wool or delicates cycle, and then laid it flat to dry. it worked just fine. i am trying to decide if i dare throwing my cotton crate and barrel in the washer.
I have the same rug, and a little water got on the navy part on the edge and it bled a little. I’m assuming you didn’t have that problem? Did you scrub the edges too? Maybe I’ll have to give it another try…
I adore your rug!
I have it too, 4 boys+high traffic area= dirttay!!! Haven’t been brave enough to tackle it, maybe I will now though.
Nice blog! carpet cleaning gilbert
I will try cleaning my carpets this way! Thank you for helping us keep a smile on our face! I have a quick tip to share:
Keep clean while cleaning your carpets and protect your hands, remember to wear Latex Gloves or Disposable Gloves Keep Clean and thank you for sharing these tips!
I have found that using soap of any kind tends to leave a sticky residue that eventually attracts dirt. Many years ago we had a guy come to clean our carpets and he suggested just using vinegar and water. That’s all I ever use now and have had great results.
I have had the same problem with virtually every rug and sofa. Kids kill me!! 🙂 I use ‘FOLEX Instant carpet spot remover’ – I have never found anything like it. No residue – which means no dirt sticking later; and, it ALWAYS looks cleaner after it dries, instead of the other way around. You can get it almost anywhere, Lowes is where I got mine. Big white spray bottle with Purple text. Good luck! And don’t throw that rug out!
Hi there,
I just cleaned my zebra print wool rug with dish soap and a high pressure hose. (I was about to throw it out because it would cost more to clean than it was worth. $100, Overstock. I wouldn’t have attempted this with a more valuable rug.)
Lots of fun, and a good workout.
I vacuumed it, soaked it, sprinkled it all over with dish soap, and did a crazy dance. Really, my feet were the best scrubbers, the brush got too many wool fibers in it. Then I blasted it with water and hung it to dry over the arms of my outdoor chairs.
Turned out wonderfully. Although it took two days to dry!
One word of caution, let your rug dry straight or it will be hard to get the wrinkles out. I let a smaller one dry over our hand rail and now it has a crease down the middle.
Go crazy on that thing!
Good thing you did not throw your carpet away! I think you made a good decision in cleaning it instead. For one, you can save some money, in contrast with buying a new one. All you need is your DIY prowess, some research and perseverance. From there, you are good to go!
That saved you from a lot of money.
White carpets are the death of me because by the end of the month, the white part becomes dirty white which is pretty embarrassing when people come over to our house. It also takes me about a few hours to clean the whole carpet downstairs with soap and water which is pretty annoying. Just a tip: maybe you should sun dry your carpet so it won’t have that awful smell after. May the Force be with you! Good luck to you and your carpet!
I think this was quite the popular rug! I have the same rug too and scrubbed it with a brush and used dish detergent then hit it with my water hose and let the sun dry it for a day and it actually looked brand new. Its time to do it again but I think your process is A LOT easier. Thanks for the tips! I was on the edge of trashing it until I found your blog, lol
Your blogs are totally worth giving time and energy. carpet cleaning Auckland
That process may take a long time, but yes, the result is worth it. I was worried, though; don’t you think the vibrancy of the carpet’s color will fade after many times of scrubbing it? Nice carpet, by the way. 🙂
Lyda Tavorn
I see a lot of remedies and recipes for carpet solutions, but I’ve always believed that a little bit of soap, warm water and an old toothbrush will go a long way. I grew up on that solution for spot-cleaning, and it hasn’t failed me yet! I get my entire carpet cleaned professionally about once every two months though, mainly because I like seeing it look as good as the day it was first installed.
My mother used to just get her rugs/carpets (the expensive belgian silk, kashmir wool and even her afghans) washed with shampoo, brush and water. Her trained crew of house help did it every 3-4yrs. After hosing it down they would push out the water in the direction of the pile.
The rugs are still around and look as good as ever. Though the tassles of one (after over 30yrs) are gone and that is what gives it the rich vintage look.