How to Gently Clean Throw Rugs and Keep Them Like New

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By jaredsgirl
User-Submitted Video

Gently Clean Throw Rugs and Keep Them Like New

Throw rugs are a beautiful addition to any room including the bathroom, kitchen, dining area, and living room. However, keeping throw rugs clean, yet still looking good, can be a task. Often times, after a few washes, throw rugs become tattered and torn. I've wasted many throw rugs by trying to clean them and instead wearing them completely out. Here are some tips for keeping throw rugs clean and still looking like new so that you don't waste money constantly buying new throw rugs.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Step 1

Throw them in the washer, but not in the dryer. You can actually wash throw rugs in the washer on a gentle cycle. In fact, if you use fabric softener, you can thoroughly clean your throw rugs and protect them, keeping them looking like new. The trick is to wash throw rugs in cold water and place your washer setting on the most gentle, quickest cycle possible. Using the gentle cycle and cold water on throw rugs prevents shrinking, tattering, and ruining throw rugs. Hang rugs to dry outside or in the basement on a line. Drying them in the dryer ruins them and wears them quickly. Let throw rugs air dry to keep them looking like new.
Step 2

Hand wash throw rugs in the bathtub. Washing throw rugs by hand with a little detergent or liquid soap will cleanse the rugs, yet prevent them from getting damaged. Fill the bathtub with lukewarm water and soap. Swish around to create a few bubbles. Lay throw rug in the bathtub as straight as possible. Let the throw rugs soak for a half an hour. Swish the rugs around a little to wash them thoroughly. Ring them out gently, and hang them up to dry outside or in the basement on a line. Soaking throw rugs in the bathtub will get out stains and cleanse them well, while preventing any tattering or tearing.
Step 3

Take throw rugs outside and spray them gently with a hose. Washing throw rugs outside with a hose will cleanse them thoroughly, yet prevent damaging them. Spray throw rugs first with a mixture of soapy water in a spray bottle. Let the soapy mixture sit on the throw rugs for about 15-20 minutes. Be sure to coat the entire rug, front and back. This can be done easiest by hanging the rug on a line. Spray the throw rug off well with a hose on the finest mist that will get rid of the soapy water. Let the rug air dry.
Step 4

Take throw rugs to the dry cleaners to wash. Dry cleaning throw rugs is probably the most effective way to clean them and keep them looking like new. If you cherish certain throw rugs in your house and don't mind spending a little money to keep them looking new, dry cleaning your rugs may be the way to go. Simply take your rugs to a dry cleaning place or laundry mat that has dry cleaning and drop them off. Pick them up the next day or so when they are finished. Your throw rugs will be clean and dry as soon as you pick them up so there is no fuss. You can lay them back down and be done with them.