Cleaning a shaggy rug: how to get deep fibres really clean

A shaggy rug creates a cosy atmosphere at home. It feels soft under your feet and gives the room a warm look. But there's a downside: thanks to the long pile, it's a magnet for dust, crumbs and pet hair. Where dirt stays on top of a flat rug, with a shaggy one it sinks deep down to the base.

Many people think a quick vacuum is enough, but the base of the rug often stays dirty. Want to clean your shaggy rug yourself and get that fresh, airy look back? In this article you'll read how to tackle it step by step, how to prevent matting and what to look out for with different materials.

The challenge of the long pile

What characterises a shaggy rug is the low density of the threads combined with their length. This creates space between the fibres. Gravity does the rest: sand and dirt sink to the backing of the rug. When you walk over it, this sand acts like sandpaper that damages the fibres at the bottom.

That's why just vacuuming a shaggy rug on the surface often isn't enough. For a truly clean result, you first need to loosen the dirt from the base.

Weekly shaggy rug maintenance: the flip trick

Before we move on to wet cleaning, it's important to get the basics right. Because the vacuum cleaner doesn't always reach the base, there's a simple but effective method to remove loose dirt: gravity.

Flip the rug over: Lay the rug pile-side down on a clean floor.
Beat or walk: Walk over the back of the rug or gently pat it with the flat of your hand. The vibrations make heavy dirt and sand fall out of the pile onto the floor.
Vacuum the floor: Roll up the rug and vacuum the sand off the floor.
Repeat: Keep doing this until no more dirt comes out.

Then flip the rug back over and vacuum the top. Please note: Always use the smooth nozzle (without bristles). The rotating brush of a turbo nozzle can grab the long threads and pull them loose, leaving you with bald patches.

Step-by-step plan: cleaning a shaggy rug yourself

Has the rug turned dull or does it no longer smell fresh? Then it needs a deep clean. Follow these steps for a safe result.

Step 1: Remove all the dust thoroughly

Never start with water on a dusty rug. That turns dust into mud, which you'll barely get out again. Use the flip trick above and then vacuum the rug calmly, strip by strip.

Step 2: Test the material

Not every rug reacts the same way. Cleaning a shaggy wool rug calls for a different approach than a synthetic one. Always test your cleaning product on a small corner first to check that the colour doesn't run and the fibre doesn't deform.

Step 3: Clean with care

For cleaning a shaggy rug, use a mixture of lukewarm water and a mild carpet cleaner or a dash of white vinegar.

Use a soft cloth or sponge.
Dab the mixture into the fibres (don't rub, that causes tangles).
Work from the outside in on stains.

Step 4: Deep cleaning (optional but recommended)

Because it's hard to reach the base by hand without soaking the rug, a spray extraction machine (carpet cleaner) is often the best option. It sprays water into the fibres and sucks it straight back up. This rinses the dirt away from the base without the rug staying wet for days.

Step 5: Dry and brush up

This is crucial with a shaggy rug. Because the fibres are long, they can stick together as they dry.

Dab the rug as dry as possible with towels.
Make sure there's good ventilation.
Is the rug starting to flatten? Gently brush the pile upwards with a soft brush while it's still slightly damp. That way it dries full and airy again.

Cleaning a shaggy rug with a steam cleaner: yes or no?

It seems like an easy solution: cleaning a shaggy rug with a steam cleaner. The hot steam kills bacteria and freshens things up. Still, caution is needed.

Synthetic: Many shaggy rugs are made of synthetic materials such as polyester or polypropylene. These plastics can melt or deform at the extreme heat of steam (100+ degrees). The fibres can then fuse together and turn hard.
Wool: Wool can shrink from the heat.

Still want to steam? Then don't hold the steam head directly on the rug, but hover a few centimetres above it. Also always wrap a cloth around the steam head to soften the worst of the heat. For most shaggy rugs, a cleaner that works with water extraction is safer than steam.

Removing stains from long pile

A stain in a shaggy rug is tricky because the liquid slides down along the strands.

Don't rub: This spreads the stain and damages the pile.
Absorb: Immediately place a thick layer of kitchen paper on the stain and press it down.
Rinse: Use a little sparkling water to loosen the stain and dab dry again.

For grease stains (such as gravy), it's best to sprinkle some baking soda or cornflour on the stain. This powder draws the grease out of the fibres. After half an hour, you can simply vacuum it up.

Having a shaggy rug professionally cleaned

Sometimes the rug is too big, too heavy or too dirty to tackle yourself. In that case you can choose to have your shaggy rug professionally cleaned. Professional companies have machines that can beat and rinse the rug in a so-called rug wash line.

This is especially recommended for: