How to Clean an Area Rug

Introduction

No need to hire a professional when you can clean an area rug yourself! You may need a friend if it's large, but otherwise this is a basic DIY project.

You love your area rug, and you probably do the regular care and maintenance that it needs. You vacuum it regularly, making sure to keep the pet hair in check. And you likely rotate it once a year so that it doesn’t get too worn out. And even if you don’t have time for a thorough cleaning, you probably shake it out every now and then and handle spot treatments.

Eventually, the time comes when your area rug or removable carpet needs more than just another vacuuming. If stains are piling up or there are deep-rooted problems with dust (or worse, dust mites), it’s time for a full cleaning. Fortunately, you don’t need to hire a professional to fully clean your rug! You just need the right tools, cleaner and approach. Here’s how to clean an area rug from start to finish.

Note: A true area rug will be far too large for one person to successfully handle. Spare your muscles by getting a couple of other people to help you with this task. It will only take a couple of hours if everything is properly prepared!