Having a beautiful, fluffy, shaggy rug in your home can truly transform it with little effort. There’s such a wide choice today that you can embellish your space according to your style and personality. It can complement the existing design, colours and furniture and go along with the décor, whether it’s traditional or contemporary. It adds comfort, a touch of elegance and luxury and it makes the space more lively and inviting.
However, no one mentions what a nuisance they can be in terms of cleaning and maintenance. Due to their high pile fibres, they are extremely difficult to clean since all the dirt gets deep into gaps, making it impossible to reach. It also makes them heavy with time, which just adds complications to their cleaning. Just as there are many different sizes and shapes of these rugs, they are also manufactured from different materials that all require different care. This is why professional cleaners charge more for cleaning shaggy rugs than regular ones.
Types of rugs
Essentially, there are five types of rugs:
- Flokati – these are handmade, woollen, traditional Greek rugs, extra fluffy, light-coloured but get dirty very easily and quickly.
- Wool – these can have thick noodle-shaped fibres so they are extra soft but attract a lot of dirt and when trying to get it out, loosely attached fibres also come out; the other type is a shaggy wool rug that seems to be a better option as it has thinner fibres, woven closely together so the dust doesn’t get in so easily which also makes it easier to clean.
- Leather – these rugs are not everyone’s favourite as they may resemble crumpled wet paper; they are easy to clean with a leather cleaner but they are sensitive and can get ruined quite quickly so they shouldn’t be put in a place of high traffic, lots of food, drinks and pets.
- Synthetic – they are not the best quality, but they are easy to clean and they handle steam cleaners very well.
- Acrylic – these rugs don’t come highly recommended at all since they are extremely flammable.
Before you decide on the type of shaggy rug you want, you should determine what sort of effect you want to achieve within it. If you have any doubts, take a look at DecoRugs’ extensive range of shaggy rugs to find the themes and aesthetic flourishes that best reflects your own personal style.
Cleaning shaggy rugs
Although it’s not possible to fully clean shaggy rugs, it’s a chore that must be done regularly as it can significantly prolong its life and appearance.
If you’re going to use the vacuum cleaner, don’t use the upright one. It ruins both the rug and the vacuum. The rug is too thick, fibres get stuck in the machine and break it eventually. Try using the upholstery attachment, go slowly over the rug, do the back side too, and you should even shake it outside before you start.
Shaking the rug is another possibility. Take the rug outside, hang it upside-down and beat it with a broom or a mop handle. However, be careful and try to shake out the dirt without tearing the rug apart. Exposing it to the sun is also an option, but not for too long. The sun does kill lingering bacteria, but too much of it can ruin the colour of the rug.
Shampooing a rug is a simple DIY technique that is also very quick and cost-effective. You just need a dry carpet shampoo that is in powder form. Sprinkle it on top of the rug, gently brush it in, leave it for about 30 minutes (or longer if it’s really stained) and then simply vacuum it. It’s non-toxic, safe and hassle-free.
If all else fails, you can always call the experts to help clean it with their professional equipment. Whatever you choose, maintain it regularly and it will last for a long time giving your room a warm, cosy feel.