Area rugs only cover a small area of the whole floor. Even then, they go through a lot, especially if they are in a high-traffic area.
People, specifically children, tread on them wearing shoes, pets make a mess of them by bringing dirt from outside or even you can create stains on them by spilling wine or other beverages. So you have a way to clean them promptly.
Although the usual cleaning processes include using water, there is a downside to those processes. After cleaning an area rug with water, you can’t use it right away. Depending on the material of the rug, sometimes you may need to wait a minimum of 6-12 hours for the rug to dry off completely. So, you must know how to clean area rugs without water.
Let’s see what the processes are for dry cleaning an area rug.
4 Effective Ways To Clean Area Rugs Without Water
Wet area rugs not only are not usable before drying, but if left alone, they invite mold and other harmful pathogens to grow on them. So it’s not ideal to keep them wet for an extended period.
Yes, water is a very good choice when it comes to cleaning, but sometimes the weather is rainy and you can’t dry the rug properly in the sun, which only enhances the mold problem. So how would you clean a rug at home without water? Follow the processes below, that’s precisely what.
1. Vacuuming the rug normally
The most common waterless way of cleaning an area rug is to vacuum them regularly. Cleaning the rugs once a week will suffice. Doing this will get rid of the dirt, food particles, and other dust particles regularly, not allowing them to settle on the rug and be a festering spot for bacteria and other pathogens.
It also removes grime, the accumulation of which can eventually lead to discoloration of the rug. So regular vacuuming also means that you are saving your area rug from losing its color and beauty.
2. Vacuuming the rug using baking soda
Baking soda is an excellent stain remover. No matter what the type of surface is, using baking powder will almost work if your goal is to remove stains from that surface. Not only stains, but baking soda also removes the foul smell made by some stains.
So if you want to clean an area rug inside your home, sprinkle a generous amount of baking soda all over your area rug. Let the soda sit there for at least a couple of hours. Then vacuum the rug along with the baking soda to clean your rug properly.
Read: Decorating Hardwood Floors with Area Rugs | Ideas With Pictures
3. Immediately perform spot cleaning on the stains
The best way to deal with any kind of stain is to act promptly. As soon as the stain goes on the rug, you need to start cleaning it. Otherwise, the fibers of the rug will begin to absorb the stain and you will need to deep clean the rug and call professionals.
The worst possible outcome will be the growth of mold and the creation of a health hazard. So, as soon as the stain is created, soak the area with either vinegar, club soda, or baking soda. All three of these are excellent stain removers, especially the ones made from spilled coffee.
The key to cleaning fast is to keep all the cleaning materials close to the rug. As a result, you can clean an area rug without moving it, which is a big deal when it comes to cleaning instantly.
After you apply any of the aforementioned trio of cleaning materials, let them sit for about 20-30 minutes. Then take a damp, clean cloth and start dabbing the stain to remove both the stain and the cleaning material.
This way you won’t have to deal with a wet area rug while also cleaning any chemical that remains on it. Remember to dab only, instead of rubbing the cloth over the stain. Because if you rub the stain, you will only smear it all over the rug and make it go deeper into the fibers.
4. Using flour
If you have grease on your area rug, it will cause more problems than most other stains. Using traditional methods, it is very hard to get rid of grease. So, here is an idea that is as out of the box as it is useful- using flour.
Yes, flour isn’t the first thing that comes to mind when there is a discussion about cleaning materials for area rugs. But for removing grease, there are hardly any better materials out there, especially when you are cleaning your home.
To get rid of grease from your area rug, sprinkle flour all over the grease stain. Make sure every bit of the stain is covered with flour. Then take a piece of brown paper large enough and cover the stain with it.
Put books, bricks, or some other heavy objects on top of the paper. This means it will be pressed against the grease stain while also not being able to fly away at the slightest of air currents.
After waiting for about 30 minutes, remove the weights and the paper. Then clean the carpet using a broom. You will see that the grease is on the carpet no more. If there are some remnants of the grease, repeat the process until you are satisfied with the result.
Final words
Stains on an area rug are not only visually disruptive but are extremely harmful to the rug as well as the inhabitants of the home. So, knowing the best way to clean an area rug without water is necessary for the time you can’t use water.
But you can not always dry clean area rugs by yourself. If you see that the stains have become old and gone deep, or don’t know what the rug is made of, then it’s best not to try cleaning the rug yourself and call in a professional.
This is Autem Decker. Main Author of ‘TheHomeDigs‘. You may not find her on the list of top 10 contemporary Canadian interior designers, but everyone who knows her says she was born to be an interior designer.
She makes her plan in her head and draws them in her years-old diary with a note in the corner. The way she plays with color and shape amazes us.
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