Throw rugs and area rugs provide comfort underfoot while adding style and color to a home. Since they are often placed near entry doors or high traffic areas, they get dirty quickly.
Washing them by hand is physically demanding, and renting professional service requires extra expense. But can you wash rugs in a washing machine? Does it cause any harm to your rugs? Let’s read this Clairoliviawayman‘s article, and you will find the answer.
Table of Contents
Can You Wash Rugs In A Washing Machine?
Washable Rugs
Due to all the walking over a rug goes through, it is natural that it gets dirty quickly and requires frequent cleaning. That’s why having machine washable rugs takes away a lot of the domestic stress. The question here is, which rugs are machine washable?
The first thing you need to do is check the manufacturer’s directions before tossing your rugs into the machine. Not all rugs can go into the washing machine. Since repeated washes can shorten rugs’ life, machine washing should not be a frequently-used cleaning technique. Rubber-based rugs are subject to quicker wear with often washings.
Besides, rugs can be washed depending on the material they are made of. Cotton is among the few natural rug fibers that are machine-washable, making it the best choice. Besides the reasonable price tag, cotton rugs are comfy, cozy, and washed up well in the machine.
Synthetic fibers including polyester, nylon, and polypropylene, are also specifically designed to be machine washable, so rugs made from these materials can be washed easily to keep their cleanliness and hygiene.
Along with traditional machine-washable rugs, a company called Ruggable offers an alternative solution – a lightweight rug consisting of two parts.
These products involve attachable rug pads and decorative rug covers that are much thinner than your standard rug. Before washing, you just need to separate the rug cover from the rug pad and let it go in the washing machine.
Isn’t Rugs Washable?
However, if the rugs have a rubber base that gives them grip and prevents them from slipping around, it is not easy to wash them in a washing machine. Rubber base has a limited lifespan before it crumbles, and crumbled rug backing can come off and damage your washing machine. With this type, you need to wash with great care.
Although you can wash small braided or woven rugs in the machine, many are too big, heavy to run through a wash safely, and drying them will take almost forever.
In this case, you should wash it on the gentle cycle with cold water, and avoid frequent washing. For a small braided rug, place it in a mesh laundry bag or a zippered pillowcase before washing and let it air-dry after the process – especially when your rugs have rubber backing.
With large rugs that can not fit into your home washer, you will need an industrial-sized washing machine. Then, you have to let the local laundromat do the job or get them dry cleaned.
How To Wash a Small Rug in Your Washing Machine?
There will be times when vacuuming is not sufficient, and your rugs need a deeper clean, especially when you have kids, pets, and stains ground in. Don’t worry. You can wash a small rug in the washing machine by following these easy step-by-step instructions.
Step 1: Read Rug Care Tag
Check the label to see what an ideal washing method is. You even need to pay attention to it before buying to see if you can meet the dos and don’ts categories shown.
Step 2: Shake Rug Outside
Shake the rug vigorously to remove dust particles and debris. Or you can bang it against a fence, a wall, or beat it with a broom. This will save your machine from excessive sediment needed to be filtered out. Remember to do it outside to prevent dust from landing on other objects.
Step 3: Pre-Treat Stains
You will get better results if you pre-treat stains. Apply a small amount of stain remover to the stain and rub it gently with an old toothbrush. Leave it for about 15 minutes before the washing stage.
Step 4: Load the Rug in Washer
Since rugs tend to be heavy, you will need to balance them to not throw the drum around. Add a towel or two to distribute the weight since an unbalanced load can cause wild gyrations and even harm your machine.
Step 5: Wash Rug
Select a delicate cycle, use cold water and a liquid detergent.
Step 6: Air Dry Rug
Never dry rugs by a dryer! Rugs do not like dryers – especially those with a rubber backing, since extreme heat can cause shrinkage. Hang them on a clothesline and let nature take its course. Keep them from direct sunlight to preserve the color.
In Conclusion
So, can you wash rugs in a washing machine? Yes, you can, most of the time, as long as your rugs are small, and you do follow the advice mentioned above.
But with a washing-friendly fabric like cotton and synthetic materials, your rugs will have a longer lifespan. Choose the right type so you will not have to call in a professional or rent a rug cleaner. Thank you for reading, and I hope you find it helpful!
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