How to clean a wool rug: an expert guide

Discover how to clean a wool rug at home as part of a regular routine or when it needs a deep clean

Knowing how to clean a wool rug the right way is essential to preserve its soft texture as well as its color or pattern, and to ensure it lasts for many years. Even with the most careful of home inhabitants, spillages onto a wool rug can happen, and it’ll need regular cleaning along with other flooring in any case whether because it's one of your living room rugs, or it's in a bedroom or another space.

Cleaning a wool rug yourself isn't hard. What is crucial is to follow the manufacturer's recommendations to keep it in great condition, so check any label before you begin.

Here, we provide expert cleaning tips for keeping a wool rug pristine.

Cleaning a wool rug is largely the same as cleaning an area rug, but it's important to have wool-specific cleaners to hand, as well as use the right techniques. This is how to clean a wool rug.

Make sure you’re equipped with everything you need to clean a wool rug as part of your regular household tasks, and for the times when it needs a deeper clean.

When you chose a rug made from wool you may have been advised about caring for it using a particular cleaning product but otherwise opt for a rug shampoo that's specified as suitable for wool. As an alternative, you can use a solution of non-bio laundry detergent.

You’ll also need a vacuum cleaner for regular removal of any dust, dirt and debris tracked onto the rug, white microfiber cloths for shampooing, and paper towels to blot up any spillages. Some wool rugs can be cleaned using a steam cleaner, but do check the manufacturer's recommendations.

A wool rug should be vacuumed regularly to remove dust, dirt or other debris. Be mindful that a new wool rug will shed fibers for a while, too, in the same way that a new wool carpet does.

Vacuum once a week or more; you might want to do so twice weekly when the rug is new to remove the shed fibers.

Choose a vacuum with a beater bar you can adjust to suit the rug's thickness and that has soft bristles for a wool rug. If you have any animal companions, a vacuum for pet hair of this type will help remove the hair that can get knitted into the rug's fibers.

A vacuum with a choice of suction levels is preferable for a wool rug, which requires a lower suction level than a carpet.

Don't use the beater bar on any fringes. These should be cleaned using the upholstery attachment.

‘If the rug is of a size and weight you can manage, take it outside to shake off any loose dirt first,’ recommends Lucy Searle, global editor in chief of Homes & Gardens. ‘You can take the traditional approach and beat it, too. If you don't have a rug beater, a tennis racket will work.’

Go in both directions to pick up all of the dirt and dust when vacuuming a wool rug and to restore the pile.

From time to time a wool rug can benefit from a deep clean. This might be the case because it's a favorite spot for the family pooch to lie and it's become a little smelly, or there's been a drink spilled onto it.

Always use a shampoo recommended by the manufacturer or a product made for wool rugs. Alternatively, add a cupful of a gentle, non-biological laundry detergent to a bucket filled with cold water and mix.

Be sure to follow the rug manufacturer's cleaning instructions, and always test a small area before going ahead. ‘This is the golden rule when cleaning a rug,’ says Lucy Searle. ‘Pick somewhere inconspicuous – I recommend a corner. You’re making sure that cleaning won't be detrimental to the rug's color.’

Wool can be highly absorbent so never overwet a wool rug when shampooing it. Just dampen a white microfiber cloth and work in the direction of the fibers, and dab gently – never scrub. You’ll have to spend extra time on any areas where there's heavy soiling and you should rewet the cloth with your cleaning solution as necessary while avoiding getting the rug wet.

To rinse the shampoo or cleaning solution, use plain water and apply with a white microfiber cloth. Once again, dab gently without oversaturating the rug.

Afterwards, blot the dampness using a dry white microfiber cloth so the rug is as dry as possible.

Leave a wool rug to dry naturally. ‘Allow it to dry completely before walking on it again,’ say the experts at Dunelm. ‘If necessary, hang the rug up or use fans to speed up the process.’ Avoid heat, however, which can harm the wool fibers.

You can't wash a 100 per cent wool rug, although you can clean it. Wool is absorbent, so it's crucial not to overwet it. Use a damp microfiber cloth and dab gently using a manufacturer-recommended cleaner or one that's suitable for a wool rug to avoid this. Once rinsed, blot dry the rug with dry microfiber cloth, and don't walk on the rug before it's completely dry.

If there is a serious stain on the rug, it's worth contacting a professional cleaner.

Wool rugs generally aren't hard to clean. ‘One of the benefits of wool is that it's inherently stain resistant, and that can make it better at shrugging off things other rugs might be marked by,’ says Lucy Searle.

Make sure to vacuum regularly to get any grit or similar debris out of the rug's fibers, as over the long term they can become damaged by this. If shampooing is necessary, always follow the rug manufacturer's recommendation or use a product that's safe for use on wool.

Sarah is a freelance journalist and editor. Previously executive editor of Ideal Home, she's specialized in interiors, property and gardens for over 20 years, and covers interior design, house design, gardens, and cleaning and organizing a home for H&G. She's written for websites, including Houzz, Channel 4's flagship website, 4Homes, and Future's T3; national newspapers, including The Guardian; and magazines including Future's Country Homes & Interiors, Homebuilding & Renovating, Period Living, and Style at Home, as well as House Beautiful, Good Homes, Grand Designs, Homes & Antiques, LandLove and The English Home among others. It's no big surprise that she likes to put what she writes about into practice, and is a serial house renovator.

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