Expert Tips and Tricks for Cleaning Oriental Rugs

Keeping your oriental rug clean is essential, but extra care is needed—especially with wool or antique pieces. While you can clean it yourself, always test for colorfastness and read product labels carefully. When in doubt, consulting a professional is a smart move!

There may be affiliate links in this article. You can read more about this in my disclosure.

How Much Does It Cost to Clean an 8×10 Oriental Rug?

Costs can vary, and it tends to be more expensive to clean an oriental rug than to clean a synthetic rug. It can cost anywhere between $2 and $7 per square foot, meaning you could pay $150 or less, or as much as $600. 

How Often Should Oriental Rugs Be Cleaned?

It’s best to give your oriental rug a deep clean at least once a year. If your rug is in a high-traffic area, you may need to deep clean it twice a year. You can tell whether or not your rug needs cleaning by rubbing your hand over the fabric and seeing how much dust comes away. If there’s a lot of dust, your rug needs a clean. 

What is The Cheapest Way to Clean an Area Rug?

You could use a carpet shampoo or detergent; however, you will need to be careful. Some carpet cleaners may bleach or lighten some fibers, and could damage your oriental rug.

Always do a patch test first, if you’re unsure. Apply some of the product you intend to use on a small area of the rug, dab it in, and wipe off the product later to check there’s been no adverse reaction. 

If you are using a mild detergent, dilute with warm water. Don’t rub too hard when applying the product, as this can damage the rug. 

Can You Steam Clean Oriental Rugs?

Yes, you can. Be sure to check the label on your rug first, as it may not be suitable for all kinds of oriental rugs. Thoroughly vacuum the rug first. Follow the proper instructions, slowly and carefully going over the whole rug with the nozzle of the steam cleaner.

Once you’ve cleaned the whole rug, go over it again with the steam cleaner but without pressing the steam button. This should vacuum up any excess water. 

Once you’ve cleaned the rug, it will be damp. Prop up the rug so that it can dry well all the way through.

Can I Use Baking Soda on an Oriental Rug?

Yes, you can. Baking soda can be used to freshen up wool rugs, as well as cleaning away stains. It’s a handy and inexpensive cleaner, and a quick sprinkle of baking soda can be vacuumed up afterward. 

Once again, if you’re unsure whether baking soda is the right product for your rug, check the label first, and do a small patch test before using the product on a larger area of the rug.

What is The Best Way to Clean a Large Area Rug?

If you need a large area rug cleaned regularly, you might consider investing in a carpet cleaning machine, or a steam cleaner if you don’t already have one. This can make regular cleaning much easier. 

However, if you don’t have a carpet cleaner or steam cleaner, you can clean even a large rug by hand. Vacuum the rug thoroughly and clear the space of any furniture. You may need to vacuum several times, as this can make the cleaning process easier. 

Use a mild carpet shampoo, if this is suitable for your rug. You can also use a sprinkle of baking soda to freshen up your rug. Let the baking soda sit on the rug, and then vacuum it up later. 

While the rug will likely still need a deep clean, you can minimize the damage done to your rug by regular upkeep. This means dusting, vacuuming, and cleaning up any spills immediately. 

How Do You Clean a 100% Wool Rug?

Cleaning a wool rug is not as tricky as you might imagine. However, it’s very important to dry wool out thoroughly. So, if you’re giving your wool rug a deep clean, choose a sunny day and leave the rug to dry outside in the sun. It’s best not to get a wool rug completely wet, as mold and mildew may form if it doesn’t dry. 

Make sure that your product is wool-safe, and use a mild shampoo. You can treat spots and stains with a vinegar and liquid soap mixture. If you’re shampooing your whole rug, use a sponge or cloth, and dab gently. Vigorous rubbing can cause damage to the rug. Apply the soapy water in only one direction, and rinse out with clean water afterwards. 

Once you’ve applied the shampoo or product, try and get as much moisture out of the rug as possible. Then hang the rug out to dry in the sun. 

Why is Rug Cleaning So Expensive?

Good-quality rug or carpet cleaning takes time. The products used in professional carpet cleaning can be expensive, and it’s important to get right into the fibers of the material, as this is where dirt accumulates. All of these factors contribute to hiking up the price of professional rug cleaning. 

The prices go up even more if you’re dealing with an antique, wool, or silk rug, as extra care needs to be taken with these items. A soaked wool rug that isn’t dried properly can form mold and will be ruined, and using the wrong products on a colored silk rug can cause the colors to run. 

Should You Put a Pad Under an Oriental Rug?

A thick rug pad can help with wear and tear on your rug. A genuine oriental rug will be woven by hand, and will have knots on the underside. These knots can be rubbed against the floor underneath, which can cause damage over time. If you’ve just invested in an expensive, beautiful oriental rug, you may want to consider buying a rug pad to extend its life. 

Rug pads can also create a softer surface for walking on, and can help with slippery rugs on hardwood floors.

How Do I Clean My Rug Myself?

Prep your detergent or cleaning product of choice, and thoroughly dust and vacuum your rug first. For the best results, you should vacuum your rug, take it outside and beat the rug (not too vigorously) then vacuum a second time.

Place the rug face down, and soak with cold water. Now it’s time to shampoo your rug. Using your detergent (which you should already have patch-tested, to be sure it won’t ruin your rug) apply with a soft-bristled brush in the direction of the rug pile. Don’t scrub too hard, as this may damage your rug. Clean both sides of the rug, and thoroughly rinse out the detergent. 

Drying your rug is very important, so get as much moisture out of the rug as possible. You may want to use towels to dab away as much as possible before hanging up your rug to dry.

It’s best to dry your oriental rug inside, as too much sunlight can bleach the rug’s color. Don’t use heat lamps. Once the rug is dried, you can vacuum it one more time.

How Often Should I Clean My Oriental Rug?

This can depend on the type of rug and how much traffic it’s experiencing. A rug in a high-traffic area should ideally be cleaned at least once a year, possibly twice.

However, if you’re dealing with a delicate, antique rug that does not experience very much foot traffic, you might be able to get away with a deep clean every three to five years, coupled with regular dusting, vacuuming, and spot cleaning.

What’s the Best Way to Clean an Antique Wool Oriental Rug?

If you’re dealing with a valuable, antique wool rug, you may want to consider professional cleaning, especially if your rug is very dirty. 

However, if professional cleaning isn’t an option, you can follow the instructions for cleaning a 100% wool rug. It’s important to use a very gentle soft-bristled brush, or perhaps a sponge or cloth.

Be aware that a sponge or cloth won’t get right into the fibers of the rug. When you shampoo your rug, you may need to repeat the process several times, and remember to thoroughly rinse and dry your rug afterwards. 

What Are the Main Features of Persian and Oriental Rugs?

Both Persian and Oriental rugs are handwoven, colorful, and known for their beauty and artistry. 

Oriental rugs come from a variety of Asian countries, and are often very expensive in comparison to other synthetic rugs. This is because of the time and materials that go into the making of these rugs. The high-quality materials also mean that the rugs are warm, durable, and vibrant. 

Persian and Oriental rugs are a timeless addition to any room, and remain extremely popular today. 

+ posts

Farah Zeb is a mother of five, including two children with special needs. She shares practical parenting tips and resources to help other families navigate daily challenges and create supportive, nurturing environments.

Picture of Farah Zeb

Farah Zeb

Farah Zeb is a mother of five, including two children with special needs. She shares practical parenting tips and resources to help other families navigate daily challenges and create supportive, nurturing environments.

Follow Us

Resent Posts

Latest News

Scroll to Top