How to Clean Wool Area Rugs at Home

Wool area rugs are a beautiful addition to any home, but they can also be quite messy. Wool is difficult to clean and often stains easily. It’s important to make sure and take care of your wool rug in order to keep it looking its best for years to come!

Here we will discuss how you can do this at home with some easy steps! But first, some basics to get out of the way:

Table of Contents

1. What are wool rugs?

Wool rugs are any type of rug that is made from lamb’s wool. These rugs are sustainable and environmentally friendly, and can be made from any part of the sheep. They are known to be extremely long-lasting rugs, which is why they are often found in expensive, high-end homes and designer stores.

2. Benefits of wool rugs

Lamb’s wool is very soft, making it the ideal material for your home. Wool rugs are also extremely durable, which means they can withstand most common rugs. They are available in a number of different colors and designs, making them very versatile area rugs.

Because wool rugs are not made from synthetic materials, they are ideal for people with allergies.

3. Can you steam clean a wool rug?

Don’t be fooled. Your carpet may appear clean, but it’s possible that germs and bacteria may still be lurking below the surface. However, steam cleaning gives your carpet a deep clean that removes stains and any contaminants that may be making it less than ideal.

So yes, you can steam clean a wool rug. In fact, it should be done once or twice each year to take care of any dirt and stains that have accumulated over time.

4. Can I hand wash a wool rug?

Yes, this is possible. It is advisable to do this in small sections at a time. Wool is very absorbent, which means that water can easily become trapped within the fibres. This can cause your wool rug to stretch, and you will end up with a large – and very wet – rug.

For this reason, always clean your wool area rugs in small sections at a time. Do not soak the entire rug in water. Once the section has been cleaned, hang it up to dry and continue cleaning other sections until the whole area rug is complete.

6. How long do wool rugs shed?

Like other types of wool, natural wool rugs will shed what is known as ‘felted wool’ for the first few months, roughly 4-5 months. This is normal, and your wool rug will stop shedding after this time has passed.

7. How do I stop my rug from shedding?

There is no fool proof way to stop your rug from shedding, but we do have a few helpful tips that should keep the problem under control:

Be very gentle with your rug as you vacuum so that the fibres on the surface of the carpet aren’t loosened. Vacuum on a regular basis to keep the fibres on top of the rug as intact as possible, rather than having them broken down into microfibers. This will help to stop your wool rug from shedding.

Do not use a heavy beater on your rug. This will put a lot of stress on the fibres and cause them to break. Avoid placing chairs and other furniture on your rug, as this can also damage the fibres.

8. How to protect wool rugs from moths

Moth damage is very common, and can leave unsightly holes in your wool rugs. They enjoy munching on the fibres of your rug as it makes their nests warm and cozy for raising their young. In order to protect your wool rugs from moth damage, it’s important to find out what attracts these insects in the first place.

Moths are attracted to wool, silk and fur. Your aim in protecting your rugs is to make them less appealing by removing their source of food, warmth, and shelter. To achieve this, you could purchase moth repellents from the store that are made especially for carpets and rugs.

9. Instructions: How to Clean Wool Area Rugs at Home

1. Shake it out

Before you start cleaning your wool rug, give it a shake to eliminate any loose dirt. Then vacuum the entire area rug, being sure to get rid of any dirt that may have been shaken loose.

2. Pre-treat

This step is a must. If you do not pre-treat your wool rug before you clean it, there is a good chance you will have to re-do the whole process – which involves hard work and several trips to your local laundromat – all because you did not pre-treat.

10. Simple steps to follow when cleaning a wool rug

Step 1: Mix a solution

In a large bucket, combine one-half cup of laundry detergent with hot water. Use an old toothbrush to work the solution into the rug, making sure to get the solution into the nooks and crannies.

Step 2: Scrub it

Scrub a section of your wool rug with the solution and the scrub brush in a back-and-forth motion (like you would if you were to wash dishes). Keep this up until you have covered the entire section of your wool rug.

Step 3: Let it dry

Once you have scrubbed and rinsed the entire area rug, let it dry for at least 24 hours. You can lay the rug flat to speed up this process, but be sure that you clean and rinse the rug in small sections at a time. Wool rugs love air! The quicker it dries the better.

Final thoughts

Ideally your area rug should be cleaned once a week. If you have kids or pets, you will need to clean it more regularly. To clean your area rug more efficiently, opt for machine cleaning. If you have a small-scale rug the machine will also be easier to use.

Not only will the machine make the whole process easier, it also means you do not need to spend hours upon hours trying to clean your area rug at home. You simply need to drop off your rug, and it will be returned to you clean and fresh. Enjoy!

How to Clean Wool Area Rugs at Home – A Guide