How to Clean Rugs by Hand and Easily Remove Stains

Have you ever looked at your rug and thought it was beyond repair because of the stains? The mud the kids brought in on their shoes after playing in the garden, or the daily wear and tear, has faded the original colours, making it look dirty. Below, we'll tell you how to clean rugs by hand to keep your rugs in perfect condition, extend their lifespan, and, most importantly, restore that feeling of a clean and cozy home. With the right techniques and a little patience, you can bring back their original look and ensure they last for many more years.

Why Cleaning Rugs by Hand Can Be Better

Cleaning rugs by hand gives us total control over the cleaning process. Manual washing allows us to adjust the intensity, temperature, and amount of product we apply to the rug's surface. The manual method is much gentler on the fibres. Washing machines, while they remove stains well, are too aggressive with the fabric and can cause wear and tear, deformation, or even tears in the short term, unless you're cleaning washable rugs.

Hand washing respects the rug better and preserves its appearance. We can also use mild soaps or products we have previously tested, avoiding last-minute surprises.

When to Use This Method

In these situations, cleaning rugs by hand is the best alternative:

Delicate Fabrics: Natural fibre rugs like wool, cotton, jute, or sisal are perfect candidates for hand washing. Both jute and sisal should be cleaned dry or with a damp cloth. These materials react unpredictably to industrial cleaning products and the high temperatures of washing machines. Depending on the material, the rug can shrink or lose its properties.
Size is a Limitation: Small and medium rugs are ideal for hand washing. If we try to hand-clean a larger rug, the process becomes more complicated, as it requires greater physical effort due to its weight.
Localized and Recent Stains: Treating a single stain individually is more effective than cleaning the entire rug. This is especially effective for food stains, which respond very well to gentle cleaning treatments.

Materials and Products Needed

To hand-clean your rugs, you need the right materials. Look for soaps specifically for delicate fabrics and avoid conventional laundry detergents, as they often contain bleach, softeners, or fragrances that can damage the fibres and alter the colours of the rug. A powerful vacuum cleaner is necessary, as you need it to vacuum up all the dirt before you start cleaning the rug. If you have brushes of different stiffnesses, get a soft one and a medium-stiff one, and finally, a large sponge will help you apply the cleaning solutions evenly.

Don't forget the latex gloves to protect your hands while you are in contact with the cleaning products you are going to use. You will also need several large basins to prepare the cleaning solutions and for rinsing, in addition to old towels to absorb any excess water that is generated. If you are going to dry your rug outdoors, we recommend finding a large cloth to place the rug on so it doesn't get dirty again.

Preparation Before Hand-Washing a Rug

This is the most important part of the whole process, as how you do it will determine whether the hand cleaning is a success or a failure, so take the time you need to prepare everything.

First, identify the type of rug you want to clean. Look for the label, which is usually in a corner on the back, and identify all the information about the fibre composition and washing instructions among other things. Always do a test before you start cleaning. Choose a less visible area, preferably in a corner, and apply a small amount of the cleaning product you are going to use. Let it sit for a few minutes and then gently rub with a clean cloth.

Important: If the cloth gets stained with the colour of the rug, find another cleaning method by changing the product you are applying.

How to Properly Vacuum a Rug Before Washing It

If you don't do it right, what you can achieve is that the dirt gets redistributed during washing, worsening the results. Always start by vacuuming the back of the rug. Place it face down and vacuum; the idea is to remove a large part of the dirt that accumulates at the base of the rug. Vacuuming the back first allows you to get rid of this more ingrained dirt. Do it with slow, overlapping movements, so you suck up the dirt particles. Vacuum in different directions: first in the direction of the fibres, then in the opposite direction, and finally diagonally. Once the back has been vacuumed, repeat the same movements on the visible side of the rug.

Shaking to Remove Dust

To remove the fine dust that clings to the fibres and that the vacuum cleaner can't always remove, you need to shake the rug vigorously. If your rug is small or medium, hang the rug over a railing or a rope and use a rug beater to hit it on the back, from the corners towards the centre.

Firm and constant blows lift more dirt than strong blows, while if you hit too softly, you won't be able to dislodge the ingrained dust. At first, you will see a cloud of dust come out, continue until the amount of visible dust is reduced.

Steps to Hand-Clean a Rug

To hand-clean a rug, you need to be clear on how to do it and have patience. There are two methods you can use: wet cleaning or dry cleaning.

Wet Cleaning Method: Step-by-Step Manual Wash

Wet cleaning is the most complete and effective method for rugs that can get wet. It allows for a deep clean that penetrates to the base of the rug, removing both superficial dirt and that which has accumulated in the deeper layers of the fabric. This method is suitable for machine-washable rugs or those with a backing made of a material other than jute with generalized dirt, persistent odours, or stains that have penetrated deeply into the fabric.

Choose the ideal place to wash: The bathtub is the most practical option for small and medium rugs, as it provides a contained space with a direct drain and easy access to running water.
Prepare the water at an adequate temperature: Between 25 and 30°C. This temperature is high enough to effectively activate the cleaning agents and dissolve greasy dirt.
Select the correct soap: Soaps for delicate fabrics are formulated to be effective without damaging the rug, and they typically do not contain bleaches or dyes that could alter the original colours.
Submerge and move the rug carefully to remove dirt: Begin by wetting a corner of the rug and observing how the material and colours react. If there are no changes, completely submerge the rug in the soapy solution. Rub repeatedly using movements with controlled pressure.
Repeat the process until the water runs clear: A single washing session is rarely enough for a complete cleaning. After the first wash, drain the dirty water and evaluate the colour of the water: if it is very cloudy, you will need to repeat the process.
Rinse with plenty of lukewarm water: Any soap residue left in the fibres can attract more dirt and leave the rug feeling sticky or stiff. Use lukewarm water with good pressure to completely remove all soap residue.
Wring without folding: Never twist or fold the rug, as this can permanently deform the fibres. Instead, press down firmly over the entire surface, from the center towards the edges. To absorb more moisture, roll the rug in large, clean towels and press.
Air dry: The ideal place is an outdoor area with good ventilation but without direct sun exposure. Spread the rug on a clean, flat surface, like a tarp. Turn it over every few hours so it dries on all sides. It should remain like this for a minimum of 24 to 48 hours until it is completely dry.

Dry Cleaning Method for Delicate Rugs

This method is based on the use of cleaning powders or foams that absorb dirt without the need for water. This method is ideal for rugs with very delicate fibres, rugs with a backing that cannot get wet, for rugs with a jute backing, in which case it should be done dry and with a damp cloth, never applying water directly to the rug, or when you need to clean your rug in less time.

Apply the cleaning powder: Sprinkle the cleaning product over the entire surface of the rug, using broad movements until the surface is covered with a thin layer of product.
Let it sit: The recommended time is between 30 minutes and 2 hours. During this time, the powder is absorbing grease, neutralizing odours, and removing dirt particles. Do not try to speed up the process by leaving it for less time, as you will achieve an incomplete cleaning, or by leaving it for more time than indicated, as this will result in the opposite effect to the desired one.
Brush gently: Use a soft-bristled brush to work in the product. The movements should be delicate, always in the direction of the rug's fibres.
Vacuum to remove all the product: Vacuum in several passes and in different directions to get rid of all the cleaning product and residues present in the rug.

When Can Hand-Cleaning a Rug Be Useful?

In situations where we are faced with different types of stains, a manual cleaning of the rug is the most recommended, but what types of stains can you remove?

Coffee or tea stains
Food stains
Mud or dirt stains
Pet urine or vomit stains
Ink or marker stains

Things You Should Not Do When Hand-Cleaning a Rug

Use Direct Heat to Dry

Never use hair dryers, radiators, heaters, or other methods to speed up the drying of the rug, as you can get shrinkage of the fibres with visible waves in the material, wrinkles, and irreversible deformations. In addition, heat can permanently set certain stains.

Use Aggressive Detergents with Alcohol or Dyes

Detergents with bleach can irreversibly discolour the dyes of the rug, creating impossible-to-correct marks. Artificial dyes in some detergents can transfer to the rug fibres, altering the original colours.

Not Testing the Cleaning Product on an Inconspicuous Area Beforehand

Each rug responds differently to cleaning products, even if it's the same rug and the same cleaning products are used. This is due to the rug's age, previous treatments, storage conditions, sun exposure, etc. You should perform the test at least 24 hours before cleaning, to give you time to observe how the area where you applied the product develops. Look for signs of discoloration, changes in texture, bleeding of colours, or any alteration in the shine or overall appearance of the fibres.

With the right techniques, the right products, and the necessary patience, you can keep your rugs in excellent condition for many years. Now you know how to hand-clean a rug at home, we at Atticgo encourage you to put these tips into practice and take care of your rugs so they look like new.