A handwoven rug is a long-term piece. With basic care, a wool rug lasts 30+ years; a jute rug 10–15. The right care routine isn't complicated, but the wrong one can wreck a rug in a single afternoon. Here's exactly what to do, by material.
The four universal rules (every material)
- Vacuum weekly. Dust and grit are what wear a rug down — the fibres get ground against each other and break. Vacuuming is the single most important thing you can do.
- Rotate every six months. Sun fades one side; foot traffic wears another. Rotating evens both out.
- Spot-clean spills immediately. The longer a stain sits, the deeper it sets. Blot, never rub.
- Use a rug pad. A felt-and-rubber pad doubles your rug's life and prevents slipping.
Wool Rugs
Wool is the most forgiving material to care for — the lanolin in the fibres naturally repels stains.
Daily / weekly
- Vacuum once a week with the beater bar OFF. The beater bar pulls fibres loose and accelerates shedding.
- Don't worry about shedding in the first 3–6 months — it's normal and stops on its own.
Spills and stains
- Blot immediately with a clean white cloth or paper towel. Never rub — rubbing pushes the stain deeper.
- For stubborn spots: mix 1 teaspoon mild dish soap with 1 cup cool water. Dab onto the stain, blot dry.
- Never use bleach, ammonia, or alkaline cleaners. They strip the lanolin and leave permanent dye damage.
Deep cleaning
- Professional cleaning every 2–3 years (or after pets/kids accidents). Look for a wool-certified cleaner who uses cold water and pH-neutral solutions.
- Avoid steam cleaning — the heat can shrink wool by up to 20%.
Jute Rugs
Jute is the trickiest natural fibre to care for because it cannot be wet-cleaned. Here's the routine.
Daily / weekly
- Vacuum weekly with beater bar OFF, paying extra attention to the edges where dust collects.
- Shake the rug outside every few months to dislodge embedded grit.
Spills and stains
- Never use water on a jute rug. Water leaves permanent dark stains as the natural fibres absorb it unevenly.
- For dry spills: vacuum or scrape up with a spoon.
- For wet spills: blot with a dry cloth IMMEDIATELY. Place a stack of paper towels on the spot, weighed down by a heavy book, and leave overnight to wick moisture out.
- For oil or grease: cover with cornstarch or baking soda, leave for 30 minutes, then vacuum.
Deep cleaning
- Use a stiff-bristle brush dry, working in the direction of the weave.
- For odours: sprinkle baking soda, leave for an hour, vacuum thoroughly.
- If a jute rug gets badly stained, it cannot be wet-cleaned and may need replacing — which is why we recommend jute for low-spill living rooms, not dining rooms or kids' rooms.
Cotton and Kilim Rugs
Cotton flatweaves are the easiest to care for — many are machine-washable.
Daily / weekly
- Vacuum weekly. Cotton kilims handle a beater bar better than wool but still wear faster with one — off is gentler.
- Shake outside or hang on a line to refresh.
Spills and stains
- Blot immediately with cold water and mild detergent.
- For tougher stains, smaller cotton rugs (under 5 × 8) can go straight in the washing machine on cold, gentle cycle, no spin. Air dry flat.
- Larger or wool-blend kilims should be spot-cleaned only.
Deep cleaning
- Wool kilims: professional clean every 2–3 years.
- Cotton flatweaves: hand-wash in a tub with mild detergent every year if heavily used.
Hand-knotted Rugs
Hand-knotted wool and silk are the most valuable handwoven rugs and deserve professional care from the start.
- Vacuum weekly with beater bar OFF.
- Rotate every 6 months.
- Professional cleaning every 2–3 years — choose a specialist who hand-washes (not machine).
- Repair any small unraveling at the edges immediately. A skilled rug repairer can save a hand-knotted rug for decades; left alone, the unraveling gets worse fast.
The Things You Should Never Do (To Any Rug)
- Never use a steam cleaner on wool or jute. Heat shrinks fibres and warps the rug.
- Never use bleach or ammonia. Both strip dye and damage natural fibres.
- Never put a rug in direct sun for long periods. Sunlight fades dyes — especially red, blue, and indigo.
- Never store a damp rug rolled up. Mildew sets in within 48 hours and is impossible to fully remove.
- Never use a rotating beater bar vacuum on hand-knotted or fine wool rugs. Use suction-only mode.
Routine that takes 5 minutes a week
- Vacuum (beater bar off) — 3 minutes
- Quick scan for spots; blot any new spills — 1 minute
- Lift one corner to vacuum underneath — 1 minute
That's it. Five minutes a week is the difference between a rug that looks great in 30 years and one that looks tired in 5.
Need a replacement or repair?
If a rug is past saving, we can make a replacement to your exact size and pattern — tell us your dimensions and our design team will send a mockup and quote in 24 hours.
