You may be wondering if it’s possible to wash rugs in a washing machine when it comes to cleaning them. If so, how should this be accomplished?
All of your inquiries about washing rugs in a washing machine will be addressed in this article! Let’s take a look.
Can Rugs Be Washed in a Washing Machine?
While some rugs are created to be machine-washed, others are not.
It’s always best to first check the label to see if your rug can be machine washed if you’re unsure. Make sure you adhere to any specific instructions if there are any. It is best to proceed cautiously if a label doesn’t contain any instructions.
A rug’s material, size, and weight are a few of the elements that determine whether it can be washed in a machine. Let’s examine this more closely.
Factors That Affect Whether Rugs Can Be Machine Washed
Consider these factors before attempting to machine wash your rug.
1. Design
Some rug designs should not be washed in a machine. Usually, machine washing is not an option for rugs with intricate designs or those made of delicate materials.
For instance, your rug may have lengthy tassels that are simple targets for the machine. It’s usually best to hand wash rugs that are sentimental or expensive.
2. Material
Whether a rug can be machine washed depends on its composition. It is typically possible to machine wash rugs made of 100% cotton or synthetic fibers like polyester or nylon. On the other hand, delicate fabrics like silk and wool aren’t usually machine washable.
3. Size and Weight
The rug’s weight and size also have an impact on whether it can be machine washed. Large or heavy rugs might not be able to be safely washed in a washing machine. A large or heavy rug might be damaged by the washing machine or the rug itself if it is machine washed.
These two things typically go together, but even if you can fit your rug into your machine, it is still best to make sure it isn’t too heavy.
What You Need to Know About Machine Washing Rugs
If your rug can be washed in a machine, there are a few steps you should take to make sure it emerges from the washer smelling and looking brand-new.
Use a Gentle Cycle With Cool Water
Use a gentle cycle with cool water in the beginning. Anything above 40°C puts the material at risk of shrinking. Most rugs can be cleaned at 30°C and still look great afterward.
Use a Mild Detergent
A gentle detergent should be used; avoid anything too abrasive or harsh. Use sparingly because excessive use could harm the fibers or make the colors fade.
Check Your Washing Machine’s Capacity
You must confirm that the weight of the rug won’t damage your washing machine, as we previously mentioned. If it’s too heavy, it might damage the device or even cause it to malfunction. You can check the manual for your machine’s weight restriction by doing so.
Choose the Right Cycle
You must also pick the appropriate cycle. For the majority of rugs, a delicate cycle is ideal, but if your rug is particularly dirty or made of a more durable material, you might need to use a heavier cycle.
Air Dry After Washing
Last but not least, after washing your rug, make sure to air dry it. However, you can also lay it flat on a towel to dry; a clothesline is ideal for this.
Can You Put Rugs in the Dryer?
Unfortunately, our dryers can rip or tear rugs. Damage and shrinkage are possible as a result of the heat and tumbling effect.
We advise air drying the rug flat. Vertically hanging it could cause it to stretch and warp. So place it flat on a clothes horse, a clean piece of ground outside, or somewhere inside close to a window where it can get some fresh air.
Tips to Prevent Damage
There are a few important things to keep in mind when it comes to damage prevention advice.
Shake Out Your Rug First
Before placing your rug in the washing machine, shake it out thoroughly to remove any large pieces of debris and to prevent tangles.
Don’t Overload the Washing Machine
Second, avoid overcrowding the machine to avoid a distorted rug. It is preferable to leave your rug outside and hand wash it if you are having trouble fitting it into the washing machine.
Tie Up Tassels before Washing
Additionally, tie up any fringe or tassels on your rug before washing if it has any. As a result, they will be less likely to damage themselves by getting caught on something.
Use a Laundry Bag for Small Rugs
If the rug is small, you can put it inside a laundry bag. You could also use something else, like a duvet cover, to protect larger rugs.
Your rug may shrink or lose its color after being washed in a machine. If you use a gentle cycle and cold water, it’s possible but not very likely.
However, there is a small chance of damage whenever any type of fabric is washed in a washing machine, so make sure to inspect your rug for any loose threads or weak areas before doing so.
How Often to Wash a Rug
If your rug gets particularly dirty, you should aim to wash it every 12 to 18 months. However, you must regularly vacuum your rug. whenever you notice stains, spot-clean it. Finally, if it can be steam cleaned, do so every few weeks. This will eliminate bacteria and germs, keeping your rug incredibly clean.
Should You Machine Wash Your Rug?
The best method is always hand washing if the rug is old or especially delicate. However, for the majority of rugs, machine washing is perfectly safe and will clean them just as thoroughly as hand washing.
There are settings on the majority of contemporary washing machines that can roughly simulate hand washing. As long as they fit inside, they are ideal for washing rugs. You should have no trouble machine washing your rug if you heed the above advice.
Pros and Cons of Washing Rugs in a Washing Machine
Because washing machines aren’t made to clean carpets or rugs, there are fewer benefits to this method of cleaning than there are drawbacks. They are used to clean softer fabrics like blankets and quilts as well as lighter fabrics like clothing, bed linens, and curtains.
Pros
- It is quick, easy and very convenient
- In particular, if any toxic chemicals are released from the dye or the washing ingredients, it is safer to wash rugs in washing machines.
Cons
- Not all rug fibers, such as cotton, can be cleaned in a washing machine., jute fiber area rugs.
- To move freely, it requires a lot of space. Larger area rugs cannot fit in smaller home machines; they require larger, higher capacity machines. In light of this, only small rugs, including mats, light dhurries, flatweaves, and others, can be washed in washing machines. fit
- Heavy rug washing could result in an early machine failure.
- To get rid of or clean tough stains or dirt from rugs that washing machines can’t handle, it is occasionally necessary to use brushes, scrubbing, and other cleaning tools. Some rugs must be washed by hand specifically.
- While being washed, some color dyes tend to fade. Therefore, it becomes challenging to understand what’s happening inside the machine. Consequently, it may result in color overlapping or discoloration.
How to Wash a Rug by Hand
You might be familiar with how to wash a rug in the washer, but if the care label says not to, it’s crucial to hand-wash it correctly. We’ll demonstrate how to thoroughly clean your rug without the use of a machine to prevent harm to the rug.
The most crucial thing to keep in mind is that these kinds of rugs shouldn’t be and shouldn’t be soaked. They are typically made of natural fibers, which become damaged if they get too wet. Therefore, we will only vacuum and treat stains on the spot.
- Time: 30-60 minutes
- Difficulty: Easy
1. Shake and Vacuum the Rug
To get rid of grime, grit, crumbs, and other icky things, shake the rug outside. Hang the rug up and beat it with a wooden paddle or carpet beater for extra-large rugs (such as 5′ x 7′ rugs).
The rug should then be laid flat and thoroughly vacuumed. Use an upholstery nozzle if you have one to remove any embedded dirt.
2. Raise the Stains
We want to raise the stains rather than soak them because you shouldn’t get hand-wash-only rugs too wet.
Put two quarts of warm water, one teaspoon of your gentle laundry detergent, and one teaspoon of distilled white vinegar in a jug.
Use the mixture to lightly blot the stain after dipping a clean cloth in it. Blotting should continue until the stain is completely removed. This could take up to 15 minutes, but it’s important to do it this way rather than just soaking the stain and leaving it.
3. Dry the Rug
Fortunately, because you didn’t completely submerge the rug, it won’t be too wet. So use towels to dry off the wet areas. Laying the towels flat on the rug and then rolling it up will speed up the drying process.
For air drying, place the rug flat. Depending on the size of the rug and the weather, either a tarpaulin outside or a drying rack inside might be the best place for this.
How to Spot Clean Rugs
Only once every 12 to 18 months do you need to thoroughly clean your rug. Spills, smudges, and stains should, however, be cleaned up right away. Here’s how to do that by hand:
- Blot the stain: Blot the stain with a white, clean cloth. By doing this, extra liquid or dirt will be removed without any color from the fabric transferring to the rug. To prevent the stain from getting worse, be sure to blot from the outside in.
- Add water: Apply some cold water with a spray bottle to the stain.
- Blot again: With the additional water, you might be able to blot up even more liquid or dirt, making the following steps simpler.
- Apply stain remover: You will need to use a stain remover if water by itself wasn’t able to get the stain out. You have two options: you can use a commercial product like Tide Rescue, or you can use natural products. An excellent natural (and inexpensive) stain remover is baking soda or distilled white vinegar.
- Leave: If using a stain remover from the store, let it sit on the stain for the recommended amount of time. The typical duration of this is five to thirty minutes. If the stain is really difficult, you could leave the baking soda on overnight. Allow vinegar to sit for approximately 15 minutes.
- Soak up stain remover: Use a damp, white, clean cloth to blot the stain after the allotted time has passed. Hopefully, the stain will be revealed after this absorbs the stain remover! You must first vacuum the area if you used baking soda before moving on to the next step.
- Repeat if necessary: If the stain still exists, follow the instructions above again. Sometimes it requires several dryings, particularly with tough or old stains.
FAQs
How Do You Hose Down a Rug?
Take the rug outside and place it flat on a raised surface, such as a plastic table. Spray water evenly across the rug with your garden hose while aiming it at it. Allow it to run down the sides. Blot any extra moisture with some towels before allowing the rug to air dry. Because you soaked the rug, this could take a few days.
The rug shouldn’t be allowed to air dry vertically. The weight of the water can stretch the rug and rip it permanently.
Can You Wash a Rug in the Bathtub?
If your rug can be machine-washed, you can wash it by hand in the bathtub.
Your rug should typically not be soaked in water if it is hand-wash only.
Because of this, we only suggest using this technique for rugs that can be machine washed. If you’d rather wash them by hand in the bathtub than by machine, you can. Some people favor this method over using their washing machine because they believe they can achieve a deeper and more thorough clean this way.
Just keep in mind that small rugs work best for this because larger or medium-sized rugs might not fit in your tub.
FAQs
How to Wash a Wool Sweater in Washing Machine
Wool garments should be washed on the wool setting (usually gentle action at 40°C). Use the cold water wash or wash cycle for delicates if your washing machine doesn’t have a wool cycle. Use a neutral, gentle detergent that is preferably Woolmark recommended (look for the Woolmark symbol on the packet).
Can You Wash a Braided Rug in the Washing Machine
Yes, small rugs (such as throw rugs, braided or woven rugs, and others made of cotton or synthetic fibers) can frequently be washed in the washing machine unless the rug has a tag that specifies it should be dry cleaned.
Can You Wash An Oriental Rug in the Washer
Oriental rugs need to be swept and washed to keep them clean and in good condition. However, attempting to clean a fine wool Oriental rug in your washing machine will result in permanent harm. Keep in mind that these handmade items are quite delicate.