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Professional Rug Care Advice & Cleaning Techniques

How To Clean a Shag Rugs?

by Uzair Qureshi 01 Apr 2023 0 Comments

This world has explainable reasons for how beautiful things happen. It's funny really knowing such big parts of our lives are quite simple in reality, but taken for granted everyday. Now we have you pondering about the "big things" you have and if they're taken for granted your house, your car, your pets, maybe even your husband or wife, All of these things gave you such unmatched joy the first time they became part of your life. Your expensive, valuable, shag rugs are just as incredible, whether you knew it or not, because of the materials they contain and how they were made. Still wondering where we're going with this?

RugKnots will share the industry's best-kept secrets for how to clean shag rug. Knowing our secrets to clean your shag rugs will spark and restore the beauty that your rug adds to your home. 

How To Clean Wool Rugs & Shag Rugs

 

Secret #1: Tip From Rug Masters Of Durango 

Starting with a simple spot cleaning trick, check out the video below to learn what to do in case of an accident on your shaggy rug.

When spot cleaning your shaggy rug, the trick is to ALWAYS dab and blot the spot! NEVER rub back and forth, as this can cause the spot of liquid to dry faster, leaving a stain in the wool fibers forever.

Secret #2: Practice Preventative Maintenance 

Try to never place heavy objects on top of your shag rug! Objects such as plant pots, coffee tables, dressers, bed frames, or heavy storage chests can cause significant, irreparable damage to your rug after being on top of them for long periods of time. The genuine shag fibers in your rug are hand-knotted or hand-tufted at a specific angle, so when you move heavy objects over the rug, the fibers are forced in different directions. This causes the wool in your carpet area rug to be ripped out and matted. Wool fibers will never return to their natural position because the weight of the object over time forcefully smashed the fibers down and changed the knot pattern on the back of the area rugs. Just don’t do it!

Practice Preventative Maintenance

Secret #3: A Unique Vacuuming Technique

As mentioned in secret #2, the wool fibers in area rugs lay angled in the direction they were handwoven. Vacuuming your all shag rugs can be just as devastating to the natural pattern of the wool as leaving heavy objects on top of them. However, vacuuming a rug is one of the oldest tricks in the book when it comes to keeping it clean.

As we mentioned in previous blogs, you should vacuum your rug no more than twice a month to keep it looking new. Just make sure your vacuum does not have a beater bar or you turn it off. When it comes to vacuuming, make sure you are vacuuming from side to side —NOT end to end. This prevents the vacuum from grabbing the rug’s fringe and helps keep it intact. You also want to make sure you take your rug outside once a year and vacuum the back to grab the embedded dirt you may have missed.

Pro tip: If you hit a corner of your rug and dust flies - it needs to be washed!

A Unique Vacuuming Technique

Secret #4: Vacuuming Technique From Better Homes And Gardens

If you are still skeptical about vacuuming your precious rugs, fear not! You can protect your rug even more from vacuums by placing nylon over the attachment. You want to make sure you are still sweeping side to side, but the added layer of nylon will give you a little more confidence when handling your rugs. As the piece of nylon accumulates dirt, simply change it out. Who knew?! This can also help you find lost earrings, bobby pins, and other odds and ends that may have disappeared into your shaggy area rug's pile!

Vacuuming Technique From Better Homes and Gardens

Secret #5: For All Pet Owners Worrying About Hair Removal From Shag Rug

We know your furry friend is more like family. Pets are a wonderful addition to families and homes, but not so much for shaggy rugs cleaning. However, we know a vacuum doesn't always grab the hair they inevitably leave behind. That’s why you need a stiff brush! Brushing a rug with a stiff brush can help you clean the pet hair out of your rugs. Make sure you are brushing in the direction of the nap of the rug!

For All Pet Owners Worrying About Hair Removal From Wool Rugs & Silk Rugs

Secret #6: The Dreaded Chewing Gum Disasters

Chewing gum stuck in your braided shag rug? YIKES! It happens… BUT RugKnots has the secret to removing sticky gum from your precious shaggy rug and fluffy shag rugs. You’re going to have to act fast! Pull upwards and out on as many pieces of the gum if you can. Quickly grab a plastic bag and fill it with ice cubes to place over the top of the remaining gum — this hardens it up! The final step is to gently scrape the gum off with a dull knife or spoon and vacuum it up (using the technique from secret #3). If you need to use a dry-solvent to spot clean, be sure to dab and blot like we mentioned in secret #1!

The Dreaded Chewing Gum Disasters

Secret #7: This Disaster Tops Chewing Gum

Painters and artists alike, have you dropped a brush on your rug. Homeowners, maybe you wanted a fresh coat of paint in the living room and you thought you could do it without spilling a drop… What are you supposed to do when you get paint on your shag rug?! Don’t worry, we’ve got a solution! If you’re using acrylic or latex paint and accidentally drop or spill some on your shaggy rugs, it's okay! While the stain is still wet, spot clean it with the detergent solution we mentioned here, making sure to dab and blot, not rub! If the color still remains, dab it with some rubbing alcohol. If you’re using oil-based paint, sponge the spot with odorless mineral spirits. This will help to loosen the paint and allow you to dab it away — just use caution! You do NOT want to soak through to the backing of your rugs.

Methods For Cleaning A Shaggy Rug

1. Shake Your Rug

To clean your shaggy rug, start with the oldest and most effective method in the book – shake it outside. Hang up a clothesline or fence to get your hands on two different sides of this large piece of fabric, then unleash all that dust by shaking both ends vigorously at once. If you can't hang your entire carpet from such supports but still want some fresh air for its fibers, stick one end over an open window (or door) while shaking out dirt and debris on either side as best you can throughout each room. You may not be able to fully rid yourself of these dirty particles without leaving them indoors overnight if they're really wedged deep into those tough-to-reach folds between loops - so make sure to moisten any stubborn stains or dirt.

Shake your rug

2. Vacuum Your Rug

The extra-long pile of a shag rug requires more attention when vacuuming than do rugs with shorter piles. Long fibers can get caught in the moving parts of your vacuum and damage it, so adjust to a high height setting on your vacuum and turn off beater bars or use upholstery attachment for hand vacuuming instead. If you're looking at long-term wear then flip over a regular basis too because dirt buildup will happen faster due to all that traffic! Vacuuming is very important when it comes to rugs because they are so easy to get dirty and that dirt is deep in those tight spaces.

Vaccum your rug

3. Spot Clean

Every day, people are faced with a number of unforeseen moments that cause minor damage. It's easy enough for these incidents to go unnoticed as they happen - but when there's an accident on your rug, it can be hard not to spend days thinking about how long ago you spilled coffee all over its surface or got the milk out from under the couch cushions. The easiest way to treat soiled areas without cleaning everything else? Spot-cleaning! As soon as something happens (before it has time to settle) take care by pressing firmly with clean rags until most of the liquid has been soaked up; then spray the area with carpet cleaner before blotting dry outside edges. Remember to blot deep into the rows of fibers for a more effective cleaning method.

Spot Clean

4. Shampoo

Before doing anything with your rug that involves water, make sure you read the instructions carefully. If it can handle some moisture, then rent a carpet cleaner to shampoo your shaggy rug! A carpet cleaner distributes shampoo and hot water into your rug while simultaneously vacuuming back up everything cleaned from dirt or stains in one go. After cleaning let it air-dry outside so mildew doesn't form on top of all that good work. For rugs that shouldn't get wet try powdered dry shampoo instead - sprinkle some onto the surface of the fabric and vacuum until clean for an easier alternative than washing out a whole bucketful yourself. Cleaning your rug at home doesn't have to be a hassle. A carpet cleaner is an excellent option for area rug that can handle some moisture and the dry shampoo powder works well on those with delicate fibers or who don't want their rug getting wet.

Shampoo

5. Professional Cleaning

Many homeowners love the wool and shag rug's soft feel and texture, but it also means that dirt comes right in. If you're a busy homeowner who does not have time to clean your own rugs on a regular basis or if there are special circumstances like pets living at home or allergy concerns with carpet cleaners then professionals can be great options for removing grime, cleaning up spills quickly before they stain carpets over again from repeated footprints; even treating stains caused by food spillage while providing all of this without damage to the delicate fibers below. There's an easy way to keep your shag rug looking like new. Professional cleaning methods are the safest and most effective method of getting those stains out from deep within that carpet pile, so don't risk damaging it by trying anything yourself!

Professional Cleaning

FAQs

1. Can I Clean My Shag Rug With A Steam Cleaner?

No. The high heat and pressure of a steam cleaner will damage the wool, which is why it's best to call in professional cleaners for deep cleaning your shag rug. They are trained on how to care for these delicate textiles. You can also consider using a dry cleaner that is specially trained in this area or have your rug cleaned by the manufacturer. Using dry shampoo or a cleaning solution like baking soda, rug shampoo or a mild detergent will be a better way to clean your shag area rug as it gets out all the dirt without ruining the material.

2. Can I Deep Clean My Shag Area Rug?

Yes. You can use a professional steam cleaner to deep clean your shag rug but the high heat and pressure might damage it, so be sure to call in a pro for this job. You can also consider using dry shampoo or mild detergent followed by careful rinsing with water if you want to get out all the dirt without ruining the rug.

3. How Can I Clean Pet Stains From My Rug?

If you have pet stains on your rug, then before cleaning the stain make sure it has dried completely. Then use a dry-cleaning solvent to isolate and clean up the spot. This will remove any dirt or grease particle that might be stuck on the surface of the rug. Use an industrial carpet cleaner for carpets with a deep pile if there are heavy stains. If the rug is made of wool, you can use a solution of one tablespoon of dish soap and two cups of water to clean it before using a carpet cleaner on deep pile carpets with persistent stains.

4. Do I Need Regular Maintenance For My Shag Area Rug?

There are two ways to maintain your rug. One is to vacuum it regularly or have someone else do so, and the other way is by shaking out the rug in a room with plenty of natural light after vacuuming it. Shake gently from side to side for about five minutes, then replace on its original position. You can also use a vacuum with an attachment to clean up the edges of your rug. Maintaining your rug will keep it in good condition and extend the life span of your rug.

5. Is Professional Cleaning Recommended For A Shag Rug?

Yes! A professional cleaner will help you remove any dirt or stains on your high pile rug. Shag rugs with long fibers are more difficult to clean and they need professional help. They will clean the whole rug and use carpet cleaning detergents and a soft brush to remove dirt. I would recommend professional cleaning every one to two years.

With these seven secrets and our ultimate guide for how to clean a shag rug, your precious area rugs will be restored and cleaned to their original beauty. In case you need any more guidance, contact us and buy your favorite rugs from RugKnots. RugKnots have the best quality rugs that would beautify and comfort any space in your house. So, For more information please email us at info@rugknots.com or call us at (240) 252-5452. We are happy to answer your questions!

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