How To Clean A Shag Rug

Everyone loves the soft and squishy fibers of shag rugs. They’re perfect for a comfy family room or cozy bedroom. But the long fibers in shag rugs can make cleaning the rug a little more of a challenge. Dirt and debris can get trapped in the long thick rug fibers. Shag rug cleaning can be a little intimidating, but not to fear, we’ll teach you how to clean a shag rug with these simple techniques.

Shake

• Roll up your shag rug and take it outside.
• Hold the rug firmly by the corners and give the rug a powerful shake. Keep shaking until it looks like all the dirt, crumbs, debris, and other treasures have fallen out.
• If you have a large shag rug, you can ask for a few extra hands to do the shaking or you can hang the rug over a railing, fence, or clothesline and then give it a good beating with a broomstick or other strong stick.
• Let your rug sit out in the sun for a few minutes to help kill hidden bacteria and mites. Be careful not to leave your rug in the sun too long as it can cause it to fade.

Vacuum

Frequent vacuuming is key to keeping rugs clean.

• When vacuuming a shag rug use suction only. The beater brush of the vacuum can pull and untwist the long fibers on the rug which will cause the rug to wear more quickly, and in some cases, it can damage the rug.
• If your vacuum doesn’t allow you to turn off the beater brush, then use the upholstery attachment to vacuum it by hand.
• Don’t forget to vacuum both sides of the rug. Vacuuming the bottom of the rug (with the beater brush engaged) will help to loosen dirt and dust.
• We recommend vacuuming your shag rug every day to every other day.

Spot Clean

Drips and spills are bound to happen. Keep your shag rug in top shape by cleaning spots right away. If you wait to clean spots, they may be much harder to remove.

• Start by removing any excess water or waste from the rug.
• Using a clean white cloth, blot (don’t rub!) as much of the stain as you can.
• Apply a mild carpet cleaner to the spot and continue to blot the spot until it’s gone. Be sure to check the care label on your rug to see if carpet cleaners can be used.

Shampoo

Check the care label on your rug to see if in your shag rug can handle shampooing. Specifically, look to see if water and cleaners can be used on the rug.

• It’s always a good idea to test cleaners on a small part of the rug to make sure they don’t affect the color.
• Rent a carpet shampooer and follow the instructions on the shampooer to clean your shag rug.
• After cleaning, allow your rug to dry completely before putting it back in place.

If your rug can’t get wet, then try a powdered carpet cleaner.

• Sprinkle the cleaner on the rug and then vacuum it up.

Professional Cleaning

For hard-to-remove stains, we recommend having your shag rug professionally cleaned.

Alternative Considerations

If you're looking for a lower-maintenance rug we offer a wide selection of stylish, high-quality washable rugs. Perfect for busy households, these rugs can be easily cleaned, saving you time and effort. Explore our washable rug collection.