Tips for a Fresher Looking Natural Fibre Rug

Robert Anderson from Curtain Clean Palmerston North

In recent years, more and more people choose to bring natural fibre rugs into their homes due to their cosy warmth, excellent durability, and their eco-friendly manufacturing process. But you probably know all of this already since you bought one yourself. We’ve put together some helpful tips to keep your rug looking fresh.


1) Clean your rug on a regular basis. This may seem like an obvious thing to state, but you should know that it is much easier for dirt particles to become entangled in natural fibre carpeting than it is with their synthetic counterparts. To this end, make sure to regularly vacuum your rug using the appropriate upholstery attachment. Other methods you can try is shaking the rug to remove debris, or hanging it up outside and dusting it with a tennis racket, big stick, etc.


2) Use a damp towel to remedy curled rug corners. If you have been using your natural carpeting as an area rug, especially in high traffic areas, you will sooner or later notice that its corners have started to curl. To fix this, simply dampen the curled area with an evenly spread damp towel, place some weights on top, and leave it overnight. Keep in mind that you may have to repeat this process a few more times, depending on how long your rug had its corners curled.


3) Cut sprouting fibres using shears. Since most natural fibre rugs are braided and sewn by hand, they are very prone to sprouting. This goes double for jute, which has shorter fibres. To remedy this, simply use shears to clip down the fibres that have already stuck out from the rug surface. The good news is that, with time, the fibres will “settle in” and you will no longer have to use your scissors as much.


4) Always contact a manufacturer for advice on cleaning specific stains. If you cannot identify the stain on your rug, or it needs a more thorough cleaning overall, we highly encourage you to seek out the original manufacturer for specific cleaning recommendations, since most companies treat the fibres of their natural products differently.


5) Maintain consistent humidity within your premises. Sisal and other natural fibre rugs should be kept outside of areas with high humidity, since the extra moisture could stain them or even cause them to shrink. Consider purchasing a dehumidifier to maintain optimal humidity in the area where your rug is located.


6) Make sure your rug receives even amounts of sunlight. As mentioned above, sisal and other natural fibres become bleached when exposed to sunlight. So, if your room lets moderate to high amounts of sunlight in, ensure that your rug is either fully exposed to the sunrays or completely hidden in the shadows to maintain a consistent colour. If your rug is half in the sun, rotate it every other week to keep the sun-fade even.


7) Apply a fabric protectant spray. This step is only necessary if your carpet is located in a busy area of the house. Treating the fibres with fabric protectant spray (Scotchgard is pretty cheap at Mitre 10) will ensure that they are well protected against water spills and dirt. Just don’t forget to re-apply the spray regularly as its effect will wear off with time.

We hope you have found something you didn’t know before, please feel free to share with us any tips you have in the comments ?