How to Care for Silk Rugs

Take special care of silk rugs.

Silk rugs are made from silk harvested from the cocoons of silk worms. Silk, a delicate fabric, is made into bed linens, clothes and rugs. Cleaning and caring for silk rugs is as delicate a process as the silk itself. When caring for a silk rug you must treat it properly to ensure you do not damage the soft fibers.

Things You'll Need

• Broom handle
• Vacuum
• Vacuum cleaning attachments
• White cloth or white paper towels
• Club soda or vinegar wash
• Damp rag
• Hair dryer or fan

Instructions

1. Flip the rug upside down or lay it across a clothesline. Beat the underside of the rug with the broom handle. This loosens the dirt caught inside the silk fibers, making it easier to remove when vacuuming. Do not beat the top side of the rug, as you may damage delicate silk threads.

2. Vacuum a silk rug twice a week to remove dust and dirt that falls into the rug's fibers. Because of a silk rug's delicate threads, use a sweeper attachment to clean the rug.

3. Blot any spills on the silk rug with a white cloth or paper towel. Continue dabbing the stain until all liquid is removed.

4. Pour a small amount of club soda onto a clean white rag. Dab the club soda onto the stain, working from outside the stain toward the inside. You may also mix one part white vinegar and one part water and apply this to the stain if you do not have any club soda. Continue blotting until the stain is removed.

5. Apply a dampened rag to the stain to remove the vinegar or club soda from the silk rug.

6. Dry the damp area with a hair dryer or leave a fan running on the rug until the area is dry.

7. Store a silk rug by rolling it up with the fuzzy side on the outside. This keeps the silk fibers from being smashed. Lay a sheet over the rug to keep dust from settling into the fibers.

Tips & Warnings

• Do not lay any heavy objects on a silk rug when in storage.

• Try to place your silk rug in low-traffic areas, as the silk fibers do not stand up well to abuse.

• Take your silk rug to be dry cleaned once a year.

• Do not wash or allow silk rugs to become wet.

References

• The Rug Cleaner: Rug Tips
• University of Arizona: Silkworms