The Proper Way to Clean Your Shag Rug

keep your shag rug clean

Shag rugs are fashionable, but maintaining and cleaning them can be difficult. Nevertheless, they require little maintenance. A big pile rug will give the interior of the house a classic feel. As you get out of bed, your toes are welcomed by the soft and cushiony ground.

Shag rug

A plush shag rug is a wonderful addition to the living room, bedroom, or family room. Additionally, it looks fantastic over cold hardwood, laminate, or tile flooring. That is perfect for kids who like to play on the ground or spread out in front of your TV.

What is a Shag Rug

Given their high quality and adaptability, shag rugs are just as well-liked today as they were back in the 1980s. Nevertheless, they are now offered in almost every color imaginable and a huge variety of styles.

what is a shag rug

They may provide a wonderful smooth touch to a space, but cleaning their fluffy, delicate fibers is not a simple task. Your rug will probably never be completely clean, however, if you clean it frequently, you could extend the life of your rug. Therefore, maintaining a shag rug may be more challenging than maintaining rugs with a lower pile.

Here are some tips we’ve gathered for cleaning and maintaining a shag rug.

What are the Advantages and Disadvantages of Having a Shag Rug

Advantages

  • It can make any room’s interior decor more lively.
  • Gives your foot comfort because of its fluffy texture.
  • When the weather gets cold, a shag rug helps keep you warm.
  • These carpets can last for many years if they are crafted from natural materials.

Disadvantages

  • The primary drawback of shag rugs, as previously indicated, is their high maintenance requirements.
  • Dust mites, dust particles, as well as other allergens get easily trapped in the fibers due to their structure, which can be problematic for those who are more sensitive and children.
  • Shredding is frequently caused by constant foot activity, especially on recently placed shag carpets and rugs. Even while this is only a short-term issue with new rugs, it can be an inconvenience.

How to Clean Your Shag Rug

Long, floppy piles on saggy rugs make them pleasurable to lie on but challenging to clean. Don’t worry if you’re thinking about what to do to clean shaggy rug fibers without spending a lot of money. You can wash them carefully at home, just make sure to thoroughly read the rug’s care tags.

How to clean a shag rug

Step #1. Loosen Trapped Dirt

  • Bring the rug outside. Hang it from a sawhorse or a railing.
  • Use the side of your broom or the handle of a mop to gently beat the rug to remove any trapped dirt, dust, or debris.
  • Leave the rug out in the sun for a few hours. The dust mites and germs that frequently grow in soft materials like bedding and carpet are killed by the sun’s scorching rays.

Step #2. Vacuum the Rug

  • Vacuum your shag rug as necessary, which could be every day if children or pets use it frequently or once a month if they seldom walk or play on it.
  • In case your vacuum cleaner has a high pile setting, choose it. If the cleaning head isn’t movable, you might want to invest your money in a vacuum that has this feature to assist you to regulate the suction and enable the head to glide more effortlessly.
  • Thoroughly vacuum up the filth. A carpet’s fibers will break down or deteriorate if dirt is allowed to continue wearing them down. On a shag rug, avoid using the power head or beater bar of the vacuum. The whirling motion can grab, twist, or rip out strands.
  • Turn your rug over to see the woven underside. Use the beater bar on the vacuum to remove more dirt when you vacuum this surface every month or as needed. To prevent a small rug from getting sucked into a vacuum head, stand on one side of your rug then push the vacuum head out off you. Utilize the power head carefully when the suction is very strong.

Step #3. Freshen Up the Rug

  • To freshen the rug, sprinkle it with absorbent carpet cleaning shampoo granules.
  • Without turning the vacuum on, use the cleaning-head bristles to push or brush the cleaning granules into the rug. Spend the time specified on the package, which could be up to an hour, letting the shampoo sit.
  • The granules should be properly vacuumed away.

Step #4. Steam Clean Your Rug / Wash It by Hand

Steam Clean

  • If you don’t have one, you can hire a steam cleaner from a rental company or some grocery stores when you need one. Make sure it has a low setting.
  • After vacuuming the rug, use a steam cleaner, hot tap water, as well as a non-foaming carpet cleaner to steam clean the shaggy rug once maybe twice per year, as it becomes dirty or as it becomes discolored. Be extra careful when steam cleaning your shag rug. If it is not done properly, it may cause permanent damage to your rug.
  • For a few hours, blow air across the rug using a fan to dry it. Shaggy carpets are very water-absorbent and can retain moisture for a very long period.

Hand Wash

  • Prepare a large tub or a spacious area where you can wash the rug.
  • Fill the tub with water and a cap full of the rug shampoo of your choice (make sure it is suitable for your rug type). If your rug is big, add more cleaning solution that is sufficient enough to wash the whole rug.
  • Let it soak for 10-15 minutes. This can make a huge difference, making it easier for you to clean as it helps the dirt and stains to come loose.
  • Use a soft bristle brush to clean the rug. Check the spots that have stains on them, you may have to soak the rug a little bit more if the stain is too hard to remove.
  • Rinse it with clean water. Wring out as much liquid as you can. You should ask someone to help you with this especially if your rug is too big.
  • Hang it out to dry completely. Never use it if it is still a bit wet. If you use it too early, this can make your rug stinky.

Warning: The majority of carpet cleaning experts advise avoiding deep cleaning a big shag rug by yourself since too much moisture or scrubbing might harm the fibers and detract from the pile’s appearance. A shag rug should never be cleaned with a rented carpet shampooer or steamer since the suction is too strong for the fibers.

If your shaggy rug is pricey, and you think you cannot do this step properly, seek advice from a specialist before performing any kind of deep cleaning.

Step #5. Clean Up the Spills

  • Use a light-colored, absorbent cloth, like a white, terry cloth or microfiber towel, to quickly wipe up any occasional spills.
  • Use the rag to continue blotting up the spill after rinsing it and squeezing out the majority of the water.
  • See if the stain is really spreading any extra color to the cloth. You can eliminate the possibility of coloring the carpeting by using a white rag.

Tip: Purchase some white microfiber towels instead of rags. Microfiber cloths are highly recommended since it does not leave any loose fibers behind when cleaning.

How to Keep Your Shag Rug Fluffy

Rug rakes are an excellent technique to keep a thick pile looking as wonderful as it did when you bought the rug! They are also fantastic at removing deeply entrenched dirt particles and pet hair for a quick clean.

For a shaggy rug’s long-lasting softness, shampooing and conditioning treatments must be done. Before using any chemicals, we advise doing some research to make sure they are the best fit for your rug. Depending on the fabric, some products may not be appropriate.

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Hellamaid is a top-rated cleaning company in Canada that’s changing the cleaning industry. Led by two engineers, Ahmed and Abdul,  Hellamaid is on a mission to make cleaning services a better experience for both ends of the market: homeowners and cleaners. We offer value to homeowners through easy online booking and impeccable customer service, while offering a flexible and well paid opportunity to our cleaning partners. Learn more about us here!

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