The best way to increase the lifetime of your rug? Maintaining it properly. Be sure to check your rug's manufacturer's cleaning guidelines for specifics about your caring for rug type. In the meantime, here are three universal tips that make a big difference to the quality of your rugs.

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Top 3 Ways to Care for Your Rug

Vacuuming or Shaking

Regular vacuuming and/or shaking of your rug is an essential step to keeping your carpet clean and durable. Dirt particles trapped in the rug fibres act as abrasives that can slowly begin to break down the rug over time. This preventative tip can also ease the discomfort of anyone in contact with the rug that suffers with allergies.

Rotation

Such a simple trick! By rotating your rug every six months, you guard against any uneven wear from foot traffic paths and furniture weight.

Rug Grippers

Yes, rug gripper are necessary. In addition to preventing slipping, rug grippers provide extra cushion to your rug, prevent uneven wear and will help in dampening sound. There are different types of rug grippers for each unique need:

• Open-weave/waffle non-slip: great beneath area rugs where thickness may be a problem, such as under a door.
• Premium: often made of needle-punched fabric that grips well on both hard surfaces and carpet.
• Singed: helps grip an area rug when it's laid over a wall-to-wall carpet.
• Felt padding: offers the thickest and softest padding for rugs that are placed on hard surfaces.

Tip: Wondering what is the right size rug gripper size to choose? Either using a new rug gripper, or one you already have, trim a few cm off the edges so that it sits smaller than the size of your actual rug.

Spot Removal Guide

Our spot removal chart outlines each individual way to clean up specific stains from your rug, such as beverages and paint spills. Just keep in mind that the key to avoiding serious staining is to wipe up the spill immediately.

How to Wash and Dry Your Rugs

Washing

Before placing your rug into the washing machine, make sure to divide the fringe into small bundles by wrapping each grouping with white string. Then, place your rug in a mesh laundry bag and wash in cold water on delicate.

Drying

Depending on size, you will want to lay your rug out flat to dry. Look for a clothes-drying rack, a slatted picnic table, or several bricks stacked on a flat surface outside. Hanging a wet rug over a clothes line distorts the rug's shape as it dries.

For small, synthetic fibre rugs (similar to carpeting), lay the rug flat across a small table or countertop. Make sure to place an old towel or sheet down first to protect the surface.

How to Clean Specific Rug Types

Different rug materials require different methods of cleaning. Below, we've listed tips on how to care for woven, braided, handmade, jute and sheepskin rugs, but if you're looking for even more advice, check out our guides: How to Clean an Area Rug and How to Clean a Shag Rug.

Woven and Braided

To ensure your rug maintains its pristine condition, constantly check for stitching breaks before and after vacuuming.

Small Rugs

How: If your rug is machine washable, place it in a mesh laundry bag and clean it in cool water on a gentle cycle. If you don't want to use a drying machine (tumble dry on low), we recommend drying it outside, or on a flat surface inside, to maintain its quality.

Large Rugs

How: Place it on the floor with a blanket beneath it to protect your working surface. Following product cleaning directions, use a sponge carpet cleaning foam and rub it into the rug. Rinse or vacuum after cleaning.

Handmade and Hand-Knotted

This delicate style needs special care or professional cleaning. Below we have provided a clever vacuuming tip.

How: Place a piece of nylon screen over your rug to protect it from the harsh back and forth of a vacuum cleaner. It picks up the dirt while protecting your rug. Anchor the screen to the ground with heavy objects, like canned goods. Start vacuuming over the screen.

If desired, you can also tie the nylon mesh around the vacuum. It is time for a new nylon mesh once dirt starts accumulating. You can find a nylon screen cover at your local hardware store.

Jute and Sisal

Vacuum frequently. Natural fibre rugs are designed with an open weave, which causes more dirt to accumulate in between the fibres and underneath the rug. Water can damage the material, so clean up spills quickly.

How:When cleaning, use a soft brush - which helps prevent fibre breakage while cleaning - dipped in soapy water to scrub out the stain. Rinse off with water. Then, blot the wet area with a towel to speed up the drying process.

Sheepskin and Hide

Use talcum powder, as the powder absorbs any moisture and cuts down on friction.

How:Shake the powder over the rug's surface. Let it sit for a few hours. Then brush the powder through the fur and shake it out. Make sure to bring the rug outside to avoid making a big mess indoors. For extra large rugs, repeat this process two to three times.

Tip: Whether you're using a homemade cleaning solution or a commercial cleaning product, it's important to deep clean rugs every 12 to 18 months. If you're using a cleaning solution for the first time, test out a small area to ensure it won't damage your rug.