Homemade Cleaning Methods for Handmade Rugs
Whether your handmade piece is a small runner or a large area rug, maintenance and regular cleaning are required. It is essential to tackle all spills and dirt right away.
Here the Go Cleaners Company will help you learn what methods are safe for the fibres of your piece and what homemade solutions work well on handmade rugs.
You can go for professional carpet cleaning or choose a less costly alternative – to wash and clean your carpets at your home. For that, you will need to make your own cleaning solution by using shampoo, baking soda powder or vinegar.
For this post, we asked the rug specialists from Rugs and Beyond to highlight the natural methods for cleaning handmade rugs at home.
Important: Regardless of which method you use, always test on a small, not so visible area of your carpet and wait for a day to dry before tackling your entire piece.
Let’s see how you can clean your handmade rugs at home:
In this guide:
Make a homemade cleaning solution
Using a solution of carpet cleaner and conditioner
This method is efficient against stains and keeps the threads soft. So, you will need:
- 2 tablespoons of the regular detergent;
- 1 tablespoon of fabric softener;
- 1/2 spoon of oxi cleaner;
- 4 litres of hot water.
Mix the ingredients together in a large bowl or a bucket. Then gently add the hot water to avoid making bubbles.
Using entirely natural ingredients
If you have kids or pets and toxins represent a worry, then you can make an eco-friendly solution. For this one, you will need:
- 1 cup of white vinegar;
- 2 cups of water;
- 1 tablespoon of salt.
You can add 15-20 drops of lemon juice for removing bad smell from the carpets.
Using a solution of window cleaner and hot water
This is the simplest solution for cleaning handmade carpets. Simply combine equal amounts of window cleaner and hot water.
Using ammonia solution for stubborn stains
This solution is used for the dark spots and stains. Always wear protective gloves and be careful because ammonia can burn your hand, skin or eyes.
- 1 tablespoon of liquid detergent;
- ¼ part of ammonia + ¼ part of vinegar;
- 11 litres of water.
Using baking soda
This is also a simple method. Sprinkle some baking soda on the affected area and leave it for 20 minutes. Then vacuum your piece thoroughly.
Using hydrogen peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide is a powerful cleaner while the lemon leaves a pleasant scent. These two ingredients combined also work well for cleaning handmade rugs.
- 176 ml of hydrogen peroxide;
- 350ml of water with a 3-5 drop of lemon.
Mix these things together and apply.
Wash by hand using a detergent
Handmade carpets can be washed by hand, so you can treat yours at home. Apply the detergent solution with cold water on the carpet and scrub using a soft long hair brush. Remember, the direction of scrubbing process is the direction of the piles.
Also, the flow of the water is in the same direction. You can use long hair brushes for the wool carpet but for the silk fibres, avoid the brushes. Silk carpets are expensive and the brushes may destroy the piles and decrease the overall aesthetics of the carpet.
Use vacuum cleaner
You should aim to vacuum the dust off your piece on a daily or weekly basis. Just make sure you vacuum the carpet on both sides. You can apply this method when you have less time and your item takes more time for dry completely. Regular vacuuming surely prolongs the life of your carpet.
Using a shampoo
Shampoo is the best option for cleaning for the silk handmade pieces. Along with giving it a pleasant scent, it also conditions the piece. Apply the shampoo solution on the carpet and scrub using hands. Then rinse it with cold water and let it air dry.
How to dry your piece
Handmade rug manufacturers advise that air drying is the safest method to use after cleaning. Place your piece on a flat surface, or if it is small enough, hang it somewhere. You can speed up the process by placing fans around the piece to help air circulate better.
Important: Avoid placing rugs in the drying machine as this can cause it to shrink, warp or lose fibres.
If you prefer hard floor surfaces, see what tools and solutions do you need to maintain them in a sparkling condition.
Consider professional help
Once in a while, DIY needs the help of professional carpet cleaners. Depending on the fabric at hand, you’ll need either pressurised hot water extraction method or the classic dry chem treatment.
Cleaning carpets DIY, remarks
These are all easy methods that you can try for cleaning handmade carpets at your home. However, be careful before applying any chemical solution. Make sure that the colours of carpets are fixed or not. If the colours are not in fixed color then they may go to fade.