What is the Best Way to Clean a Large Area Rug at Home?

Wondering how to clean a large rug? A large rug, or area rug, can fill a room nicely, but cleaning them can be tricky. It would be wonderful if you were simply able to stick a rug in a washing machine, but this is pretty much impossible for big ones – and could damage the rug too.

While all rugs can be vacuumed, some rugs will only respond to professional treatments. However, some can respond to our home cleaning tips – see below for a quick guide:

• How to clean a large shaggy rug – Professional only
• How to clean a large faux fur rug – Dry home remedies only
• How to clean a large sheepskin rug – Dy home remedies only
• How to clean a large rag rug – Home and professional
• How to clean a large cotton rug – Home and professional
• How to clean a large wool rug – Home and professional
• How to clean a large fluffy rug – Professional only

Regular cleaning is essential. Unclean rugs can cause problems such as the following:

• Smells: We have all experienced visiting a mad aunt, odd uncle or someone else where you walk into a room and are struck by rug odour. Cooking grease, spillages and dirt can all cake up in the carpet, causing bad smells.
• Air: Dirty rugs can be a haven for mites, dust, hair, dead skin cells and other particles that can contaminate the air. Bad air quality means you will have a higher chance of irritating your airways and not breathing properly.
• Germs: Large rugs can also be a breeding ground for bacteria, especially in places with high humidity – which can trap moisture deep in the fibres. So, a dirty rug can make you sick! A clean rug promotes better health.

If you need a new rug, please browse our range of large, extra-large, and extra extra large rugs available to buy online – with FREE UK delivery. You can also get in touch with us if you have any issues buying or have any other questions.

We will now explore our top 5 tips for cleaning and will explain how to clean a large rug at home, which can also work with small rugs too:

The Top 5 Ways to Clean a Large Rug

The first thing to do is find an area that is big enough – and with a large rug, this means it is best to do the cleaning outside. If you do not have an outdoor space then you can still clean your rug indoors with all the methods we suggest – but you will need to be careful with ventilation and excess water.

Before you start, give it a good hoover. Afterwards, to clean a large rug more thoroughly, try the following simple steps:

1. Air it out and bash it: A nice starting point is simply to air the large rug out.  A good tip is to lie it flat on a table or draped over a washing line, you can also hang it between two chairs – then give it a good whack with a broom. If you have a balcony you can drape it over the railing and give it a shake.
2. Rinse: A  garden hose or bucket of water with a wool cleaning solution will trap dust particles in the water and remove them from the rug. Note that you should never follow this step if you are washing a sheepskin rug. You can then let it air dry, and it may take a long time for a large rug to dry.
3. Try a steam cleaner: Using a steam cleaner is an amazing way to deep clean your rug, which you can try before or after the first two tips. Sensitive wool fibres and cotton rag rugs can be a bit tricky to steam clean, but many have special settings to avoid shrinkage and warping.
4. Use a carpet cleaner: With the majority of the dirt now looser or entirely removed from the rug, you can use a carpet cleaning product, which is available at most supermarkets. Some cleaners are particularly good for stains, so select these if you have nasty, deep stains. Do a patch test first.
5. Allow to fully dry and vacuum: You will need to let the carpet dry out before you can lay it again. Hoover out all the remaining carpet cleaner and any dried out laundry solution residue, this will mean that it is ready to place back into your space. It should be easy as clean rugs are much lighter.

You should now have a very clean rug. If the above tips do not work as you expect then the best idea is to get a professional cleaning solution – this is the only choice if you have a delicate rug like a fluffy rug or an antique oriental carpet.

Of course, prevention is always better than a cure! So, make sure you regularly vacuum clean the rugs and do not walk on them with your shoes on. You can also do regular steam cleanings, once a year, to stop large rugs from becoming dirty.

Finding a good quality large rug is a challenge. Choose reputable suppliers, which will give you the best chance of a lasting rug that responds well to the cleaning tips we describe above. You will find that our rugs resist dirt well when you buy.

For more details on how to clean your rug see our ‘How to Clean Specific Types of Rugs’ page, which has info on how to clean a shag rug, pile rug and more.

Tips on How to Clean a Large Rug from the Professionals

As leading providers of high-quality rugs of all sizes, shapes, colours and fabrics we know a thing or two about the most effective cleaning solutions. Well-cleaned wool, natural fibre or synthetic carpets simply look, feel and even smell better.

When you buy your rugs from us you will find they are of an exceptionally high quality, which will give you a lasting rug with the best chance of resisting stains, dirt or other problems. Shop online and get in touch if you have trouble buying.