How to Clean Shag Carpets

The resurgence of shag rugs is even more striking than the versions of the 70s of the 20th century. Designers sell it as rugs more often than wall-to-wall rugs, and designers use different materials, from wool to leather, and every color imaginable. The shag rug adds to the designer’s style and is also warm and cosy underfoot – a win-win for the décor.

Since the pile of a long-haired rug is long and plush, it does require more maintenance to look better compared to a thinner, flatter rug. Long fibers trap more dust and dirt than flat fabrics. Luckily, learning how to clean a wool rug isn’t difficult, it just takes some time. Taking the time to clean a wool rug by hand and vacuuming it properly can help it stay brand new.

How Often to Clean Plush Carpets

Ideally, shag or ribbon carpets that are frequently crowded should be vacuumed daily to keep the fluffy and remove dust and debris, especially if you have pets. In fact, vauming a few times a week should keep your carpet clean. A more thorough deep cleaning is recommended monthly or as needed.

What You’ll Need

Equipment/Tools

• Vacuum cleaner with padded attachment
• Sponge mop
• Small Bowl
• Microfiber towels
• Soft bristle brush
• Plastic tarps
• Broom
• Carpet rake

Material

• Dishwashing liquid
• Sodium bicarbonate
• Dry carpet shampoo granules

Regular Shag Carpet Cleaning

01. Shake off Dirt

If the rug is small enough to be easy to pick up, take it outside and shake it well. Another way to remove dust and dirt from the fibers is to hang the rug on a railing or sturdy clothesline and beat it with a broom or old tennis racket. A large amount of soil will be released.

If you need to clean your carpet without moving it, go to the next step and vacuum it.

02. Vacuum the Carpet with a Vacuum Cleaner

The best way to vacuum a long-wool carpet is to use a canister vacuum cleaner with a hose and upholstery accessories: a gentler suction will prevent the carpet ring from being pulled too hard.

If you only have a vertical vacuum, set the cleaner head to the highest pile setting and release the stirring lever. If your vacuum cleaner can’t make these adjustments, don’t use this on a woolly carpet. Instead, use a dust brush attachment or upholstery tool to vacuum the carpet in a gentler way without pulling out the fibers.

Once the proper vacuum is set in place, suck out dust and dirt. Work in a grid, slowly, and overlap each stroke to produce the best results. If you feel that the vacuum cleaner is pulling too much on the fibers of the wool carpet, stop vacuuming.

Turn the rug over (or if the rug is too large, fold it one part at a time to touch the bottom) and change the vacuum setting to the lowest pile setting, engage the stir bar, and vacuum the bottom to collect the embedded dirt. Don’t forget to vacuum the floor under the carpet.

03. Inspect and Dispose of Stains

Turn the rug over and check for stains. Topical treatment of the stained area is carried out in accordance with the stain-specific stain-specific decontamination guidelines. Most stains can be removed by mixing a few drops of dish soap in a glass of warm water. Soak a soft-bristled brush or microfiber towel in the solution and gently wipe the stain. Finally, rinse the area with a clean towel soaked in clean water and blot the carpet with a dry towel.

Hang the carpet to dry or elevate the cleaned section so that there is airflow around the wet area to dry it as quickly as possible.

04. Lift the Pile

If the fluff isn’t as fluffy as you’d like, lift and recover the fibers by hand, a carpet rake, or a children’s plastic garden rake. Be gentle – don’t pull too hard!

If you like to brush shag rugs, don’t use a regular brush for the job, or the fibers of the shag rug will become too coarse. Instead, use a horsehair cushion brush, which makes it easier to clean the fibers.

Deep Clean Shag Carpets

Most carpet cleaning experts don’t recommend deep cleaning large chunks of fluffy long-haired carpet yourself, as too much moisture or excessive scrubbing can damage the fibers and ruin the appearance of the fluff. Never use a rented carpet cleaner/steamer on a shag carpet as the suction is too strong for the fibers. It’s best to follow these steps to manually deep clean your deep pile carpet.

Warning: If your long-fur rug is expensive, consult a professional before doing any type of deep cleaning.

01. Shake and Vacuum

When it’s time to deep clean a shag rug, complete the weekly cleaning steps and take it outside to shake or pat it well. Then place the carpet inside and vacuum both sides of the carpet.

Tip: If your plush carpet sits directly on a hardwood floor, place a plastic tarp or plastic sheeting underneath the carpet before proceeding to the next deep cleaning step. You don’t want any moisture to get trapped between the carpet and the hardwood floor.

02. Brighten and Deodorize with Baking Soda

If the carpet is not stained, but it looks dull and smells a little musty, sprinkle a generous amount of dry baking soda on top. Baking soda can absorb dust and neutralize odors. Let the baking soda sit on the carpet for at least four hours (preferably overnight). Shake well and blot the powder.

03.Deep Clean With Dry Carpet Shampoo Granules

Lightly sprinkle Dry Carpet Shampoo Granules on the rug. Be sure to read the label and make sure the product is appropriate for your carpet fiber type (wool or acrylic). Use a soft-bristled brush or dry mop to brush the pellets into the coarse hair fibers. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for how long to leave the shampoo on the rug. Most take about an hour.

If there are stained areas, use more dry shampoo in those areas and brush them clean.

After the recommended waiting time has passed, take the rug outside and shake it well, then vacuum the remaining residue. Remember to vacuum both sides of the carpet. It is important to remove all shampoo residue to prevent damage to the backing of the carpet.

04. Lift the Pile

Use a carpet rake or lift the carpet fleece with both hands to fluff it up.

Tips to Keep Your Long-Haired Carpet Clean for Longer

• If you have a small plush rug that doesn’t have a rubber backing and the instructions say it’s machine washable, be sure to clean it this way to save time.
• Spills and stains should be removed as soon as possible and treated on-site.
• Enforce a ban on shoes around fur carpets, which can quickly flatten the fibers of wool rugs and spread dirt that is difficult to reach.