Check the label before anything else
Most rugs have a label on the back with the fibre content and care instructions. It might say machine washable, spot clean only or professional clean only. Ignore it at your peril: viscose (often sold as 'art silk' or 'bamboo silk') can be ruined by water, natural fibres such as jute and sisal shrink and stain when wet, and hand-knotted wool rugs can bleed dye.
If there's no label, test a hidden corner with a damp white cloth. If colour transfers to the cloth, or the fibres feel rough or change texture as they dry, don't wet clean it at home.
Regular care for every rug
Vacuum both sides regularly – the underside collects grit that grinds at the fibres. Use suction only, without the beater bar, on shaggy, delicate or fringed rugs, and vacuum fringes carefully from the centre outwards so the brush doesn't catch them.
Small and medium rugs benefit from being taken outside a few times a year, hung over a washing line or wall and beaten with a carpet beater or broom handle. It's surprisingly effective at removing deep dust. Rotate rugs every few months so wear and sunlight fading are even.
Cleaning rugs by type
Once you know the fibre, choose the matching approach:
Machine-washable cotton and synthetic rugs
Small cotton and polyester rugs can usually go in the washing machine on a cool, gentle cycle with mild detergent. Make sure the drum isn't overloaded – a wet rug is heavy – and air dry flat or over a line. Avoid tumble drying rubber-backed rugs, which can crack.
Wool rugs
Wool is naturally stain-resistant and forgiving, but it doesn't like heat or alkaline cleaners. Spot clean with cool water and a wool-safe detergent, blotting rather than rubbing. For a full clean of a small wool rug, some people use a carpet shampoo on a dry day outside, but large or hand-knotted wool rugs are much safer with a professional, who can control the water and dry it quickly.
Jute, sisal and seagrass
Natural plant-fibre rugs should be cleaned dry. Vacuum often, and treat spills immediately by blotting. Dry cleaning powders can be brushed in and vacuumed out. Water causes brown watermarks and shrinkage, so avoid shampoos and steam.
Shaggy and viscose rugs
Shake shaggy rugs outside and vacuum with suction only. Viscose rugs look like silk but are very weak when wet – water flattens and yellows the pile, and rubbing makes it fuzz. Blot spills with a dry cloth straight away and leave anything more to a specialist rug cleaner.
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Dealing with spills and smells
Blot spills with a clean white cloth or kitchen paper, working from the outside in. Don't rub – it spreads the stain and damages the pile. For most water-based spills on wool or synthetic rugs, a little cool water with a drop of washing-up liquid, then a blot with plain water, then a dry towel pressed firmly, is enough. Our carpet stain removal guide covers specific stains.
Sprinkle bicarbonate of soda over a musty rug, leave it for a few hours and vacuum it up. Pet urine soaks through to the backing and underlay quickly; it usually needs an enzyme cleaner or professional treatment – see pet urine odour removal.
When professional rug cleaning makes sense
Large rugs, antique or hand-knotted rugs, viscose and silk, and rugs with heavy pet damage are usually better cleaned by a professional. Some carpet cleaners clean rugs in your home using low-moisture methods; specialist rug cleaners often collect them and wash them in a workshop, where they can be dried properly and fringes treated.
Rug cleaning is often priced by size or by square metre, and is commonly added to a carpet cleaning visit. See our carpet cleaning prices guide for indicative UK costs, and our comparison of hot water extraction and dry carpet cleaning for which method suits which fibre.
