The rug provides lovely decor items in the living room and kitchen, if it is made of cotton or synthetic fibre and the rubber backing is still in good shape, you can wash it in the washing machine.
At some time, vacuuming won’t be sufficient to remove the stains, and you’ll begin to think about alternatives.
Your rug might be clean enough to wash in the washing machine.
You may also put small braided or woven carpets in the washing machine.
The danger of harming both the machine and the rug is if you wash a large rug or one that does not meet the aforementioned requirements in your typical washing machine.
You must do everything correctly, even while washing rugs in a machine.
All the information you need will be covered in the remaining paragraphs.
Instructions Before Washing Every Rug in The Washing Machine:
Polyester, synthetic fibre, and cotton rugs can all be washed in a washing machine with little to no issues.
However, if the rug is made of wool or silk, several things could go wrong including the following:
Colour bleeding:
The colour may bleed while washing some rugs in the washing machine, particularly when using cold water.
Although colour bleeding can be reduced, it might be challenging to stop it.
Shorter lifespan:
The strain that carpets endure in a washing machine is likely to cause older rugs to fall apart.
Even brand-new silk or wool rugs will look out of place after being washed just once.
Fabric damage:
Laundry detergent is harmful to wool and silk carpets.
Since these substances are protein-based, the proteases found in detergents will only degrade them while eliminating stains.
Step-by-Step Guidelines for Washing Rug in a Washing Machine:
Do you have any area rugs that can go in the washing machine? The actions you must take are listed below:
1. Read the Label:
Some rugs have been marked by the maker as machine washable. If the label says “dry clean only,” the colour can deteriorate.
Simply follow the aforementioned advice if you can’t find the label or read the writing on it.
2. Remove the Dirt:
Take the rug outside and shake it hard to remove any remaining dirt. To get the most dirt out of the rug, try pounding the rubber side of it.
Alternatively, if the ground is paved outside, you can beat the rug there or by the fence.
The extra dirt, food crumbs, pet hair, or tiny toys caught in the rug might destroy your washing machine.
3. Pre-treatment Stains and Spots:
The next stage is to attempt to erase the rug’s stains as effectively as you can once you’ve cleared away as much dirt.
There are various methods for various stains, such as beverage spills and pet “mishaps.”
If you’re not sure what created the stain, dab a small amount of liquid laundry detergent on it and slowly rub it in.
Leave the stain alone for about 30 minutes after it has been completely covered.
4. Fill the Machine:
It’s time to throw the rug in the washing machine after removing the spots.
Is the model of your machine front-loading?
For the greatest results, either add two towels to the washing machine along with one rug or wash two identically sized rugs.
When using a top-load washer, make sure the load is balanced on both sides.
To get the ideal balance, spread the rug equally around the central agitator and add towels.
5. Wash the rug:
Before washing the rug, switch it to delicate and fill the water reservoir with ice. Make sure the rug has adequate space to move around easily while being washed.
Don’t use too much detergent while adding it. Detergent usage for rugs is lower than for regular washing.
Using chlorine bleach on rugs with rubber or anti-slip backing is not recommended. While in the washing machine, the chemicals might destroy the rubber, ruining the remainder of your carpet.
Brands of bleach containing oxygen as the main ingredient are better at whitening rubber-backed rugs without causing any harm to them.
6. Dry the Rug:
Given the materials used to make the majority of rugs, a lengthy drying period is required.
Avoid drying it in the dryer as the heat may cause the rubber backing and other components of the rug to melt. Instead, air-dry the rug over a fence or a clothesline.
To avoid colour fading, though, keep it out of direct sunlight. Once your rug has dried completely, you can return inside.
More Tips for Rug Cleaning:
- Although it makes sense to clean your rug regularly, repeatedly putting it in the washing machine will simply cause it to deteriorate more quickly.
- Most machine-washable carpets’ rubber backings can only tolerate a limited number of machine cycles before breaking down.
- Only use the washing machine when necessary.
- It would be preferable to take the rug to a specialized rug-washing company if you are unsure of how the rug will suffer in a washing machine.
- This is especially valid for expensive rugs or rugs with a significant emotional component.
- If you are thinking about doing so, do not combine your rug with your other clothing.
- You’ll wind up destroying the rug and, in certain situations, you’re clothing.
Also read: How To Choose Rug Size for Queen Bed?
FAQ: How To Wash a Rug in the Washing Machine?
Most carpets made of 100% cotton, polyester, or nylon can be washed.
As real plant fibres, jute, and sisal rugs normally cannot be machine washed, look for alternatives that imitate the design.
In a bowl or small bucket, mix white vinegar and water in a third-part ratio.
After immersing the bristles of the scrub brush in the solution, rub it into the carpet.
Wipe any surplus moisture with a cloth after thoroughly massaging them into the carpet fibres (but without wetting them).
The Ruggable rug is a two-piece system that is simple to clean.
Our detachable Rug Cover is completely machine washable and is water- and stain-resistant.
Also read: Difference Between Rugs and Carpets
Conclusion:
You could feel it necessary to wash your rugs as soon as they begin to smell bad or become too unclean.
Although this is theoretically acceptable, you should take your time to make sure you are doing it correctly to protect your carpets and the washing machine.
Take the rug to a Laundromat if you are unsure about your machine’s capacity to wash it.
Although it’s likely they have the appropriate machine for this kind of washing, don’t forget to check.
