Braided rugs are a great investment for your household because they last longer than normal rugs, they’re more convenient for high-traffic areas, and they don’t wear out that easily. However, anyone who owns a braided rug knows that figuring out how to clean a braided rug is a difficult task.
Weekly vacuuming is an effective way to keep your rug clean, but every once a while, you’ll need to carry out a thorough cleanse to maintain the original color and look of your rug.
How to Clean a Braided Rug – Step By Step
Remove the Dust & Debris
Before you start the cleaning process, take your rug outdoors, and hang it from your clothesline. Use a broom to scrape off dust and debris from your rug. If you apply a cleaning solution to the rug without getting rid of the dirt, you’ll end up with mud-like stains on the carpet. Some people prefer to use a rug beater instead of a broom, which also works just as well.
You can also do a thorough vacuuming to take out any extra dust or dirt from the fibers. Before going ahead with washing your rug, make sure that the label says that it is washable.
Make a Diluted Vinegar Solution
Make a solution with equal parts of vinegar and water. It’s better not to use soap because it leaves white remnants in the fibers of the rug.
If you have a newer rug, it’s possible that the fibers won’t get ruined from using a solution other than vinegar. If you have a machine-made rug, you can purchase a dry cleaning solvent that won’t leave a residue.
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Apply this solvent in an open area to avoid inhaling fumes. It should be applied to one section at a time and then wipe off with a towel. Don’t wash off the solvent with water because it might make the dye in the fibers bleed and ruin the color.
Scrub
Using a brush to scrub the rug with the vinegar solution. Use gentle motions because if you scrub too hard, you’ll damage the fibers, and your rug will age more quickly than it should have.Â
Rinse
Use a hose outside to rinse out the residue from your rug. If your hose doesn’t have high-pressure water, take the rug to your local car wash and use the hose there. You should use plain water for rinsing the rug. Anything with a cleaning liquid mixed in leave white stains once it dries.
It’s very important to dry the rugs on a flat surface, preferably out in the sun, so that they maintain their shape. Drying it over a bent surface will make the rug dry that way.
Bonus: Clean it with Snow
One way of cleaning braided rugs that not many people know about is cleaning it with snow. In this method, you have to have around 2-5 inches of fresh snow in a clean area. The area should be at least two times as big as the rug that you want to clean.
Place the rug flat on the snow and secure it into the snow by walking over it until it is fixed into the ground. The pressure from your walking is to make the snow particles go into the crevices of the rug and between the fibers.
Next, flip the rug over onto the other side, in another part of clean snow. Use a broom to sweep off the layer of snow on top of the rug, and you’ll see that the dirt inside the fibers will come off with it. If you want to clean it further, repeat the process. Then do the same for the other side, but make sure you do it in a clean part of the snow.
Don’t leave the rug in the snow long enough for it to absorb the moisture and become damp. In this procedure, the rug should be capable of being placed back on the floor in your home without having to dry out first. In case you aren’t sure that the rug is completely dry, you can leave it out on your porch or balcony for a few hours when it’s sunny. Don’t leave it out for too long in case the sun tampers with the color of the rug.
FAQs
Q) How do you clean a braided rug that’s too small to scrub properly?
A)If your rug is washable and new, the fibers may be able to tolerate a machine wash. Check the label and see if it can be machine washed. You can place the rug inside a pillowcase and button or zipper it shut. A mesh laundry bag can also work. Use cold water and tumble dry on low with a gentle cycle.
Q) I need to know how to wash a braided rug that is very old?
If you have a brush that is exceptionally delicate or antique, take extra precautions before washing it.  When vacuuming it, put a nylon screen over it, and then weigh it down, so it doesn’t come off while vacuuming.  You can also have them serviced by a professional once every year so that you don’t risk any damage to the fibers. Newer rugs can withstand the cleaning solutions, while older rugs are more susceptible to fiber breakage.
Q) How to clean a braided wool rug that I use for my animals?
To clean a rug that has been used by animals, you need to keep in mind that it will have a lot of fur and hair left on it. Use a brush to collect the fur off of the rug before proceeding to wash it. You should vacuum or shake out the fur and use a broom to dislodge any fur that is stuck between the fibers. Don’t use any cleaning solvent that could irritate your animal’s skin.
Final Thoughts on Cleaning a Braided Rug
Remember, maintaining your rug is essential if you want it to last. If you can’t handle the cleaning, ask a professional to come in for you. Leaving your rug to accumulate dust over the years will ruin its natural beauty.
We hope these steps have helped you learn how to clean a braided rug. Braided rugs can be handmade and antique, some of them running in our family for years. They can have a sentimental value, as well as their aesthetic appeal, which makes it important to clean them safely in a way that maintains their original look. However, it is still important to wash them at least once a year so that you aren’t risking any allergic reactions from the dust.
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