How to Clean a Wool Rug

If you’re thinking about investing in home decor, consider a wool rug or carpet. As with other textiles, wool rugs can be cleaned at home. In addition to deterring bacterial growth, wool contains lanolin that naturally resists stains.

Our professional carpet cleaning team gathered a few tips for how to clean a wool rug without damaging it.

How to clean a wool rug

One of the wool’s main features and at the same time, issues, is the thicker quality of the material. Yes, it’s warm and comfortable to sit and lay on, but it also collects way more dirt in its fibres . The obvious way of preventing grime build-up is to clean the rug regularly, of course, but you have to know how to do it the right way, especially when you are dealing with a natural material like wool.

Vacuum your wool rug at least once a week by using the proper carpet setting. If the rug is placed in an area with more foot traffic, vacuum it more often. Do it widthwise – from side to side, not lengthwise – from end to end. Vacuum the backside of the rug at least once a year.
Treat fresh spills immediately with the correct stain cleaner for wool.

How to get stains out of wool rugs

In order to prevent stains from settling into your wool rug, take care of any spills as soon as they hit its fibres. Wipe it off with a microfiber white or light-coloured cloth. Spills shouldn’t be scrubbed.

A wool rug can also be cleaned with baking soda or vinegar in addition to commercial wool wash detergents. Baking soda is good for cleaning wool rugs, but vinegar is better for removing pet urine odours.

How to clean a wool rug with baking soda

Spray the wool rug with a bit of cold water until it’s slightly damp.
Pour a generous amount of baking soda onto the stained area.
Let the soda stay for around half an hour and then vacuum the rug.
Leave it to air dry in a shady place.

How to remove stains from a wool rug with vinegar

Make a cleaning solution by mixing half a teaspoon of dishwashing liquid, two cups of cold water, and half a cup of white vinegar.
Treat a small, inconspicuous area to test if the rug will have some sort of reaction to the cleaning solution.
If everything is okay, continue to apply the mixture to the stained areas by using a clean sponge or a cloth.
Blot the spot with a fresh white towel and cold water. You can absorb most of the moisture by applying more pressure. Repeat until the rug is almost dry.
The best way you can dry a wool rug is to leave it outside in a shady spot, away from heat and direct sunlight.
If you are not able to do so, lift up the moist part of the rug and place it against a piece of furniture which is not upholstered.
To speed up the drying process, place a fan across it and let it dry the wool rug.

Tips for taking care of wool rugs

The following tips will help take care of your wool rug. Here’s how to clean your wool rug like a professional:

We’ve said this before in the instructions on how to clean your wool rug at home, but it’s important to remember never to use too much water when you clean your wool rug at home or you are risking damaging it.
You will often find pet hair stuck to your wool rug, even after vacuuming. It works best to use a stiff brush. Rugs should always be brushed in the direction of the nap.
Don’t clean the whole rug if there are stains or spots. It is better to deal with stains and marks individually. Cleaning the affected area is the same as cleaning the entire rug.