How To Clean A Seagrass Rug
Posted on: 6 February 2017
If you have a seagrass rug, regular maintenance makes it last longer. Seagrass rugs are made from natural woven plant fibers and have a stain resistant coating, but they still aren't 100% immune to stains or spills.
Uncleaned spills or stains can soak in the carpet with time. You should be able to clean a seagrass rug yourself on the rare occasion a stain appears. Here are tips to clean a seagrass rug.
Prepare to Work
For this project, you need:
- white paper towel or rags
- vacuum with brush attachment
- blunt scraper such as a butter knife
- spray bottle
- baking soda (optional)
- bucket
- club soda (optional)
- ammonia
- mild laundry soap for delicates
- chlorine bleach
Don't use a steam cleaner on seagrass rugs. Seagrass rugs may resist most stains, but too much moisture and heat can damage fibers.
Try to remove most debris with a vacuum and brush attachment. Vacuum on a low-suction setting in all directions going right to left and top to bottom. If you spot a curled corner, dampen it gently and leave something flat on top of it overnight.
Remove Mold and Mildew
Seagrass does not easily resist mildew and mold. Mix some warm water and chlorine bleach in a spray bottle.
Test a small section for reaction. If the bleach mixture fades the rug, add a small amount of water, and try again. If the section doesn't fade, mist the mixture on the mold or mildew. After ten minutes dab the mixture dry with a cloth or paper towel. Don't rub. Let the rug dry naturally.
Clean Stains
For small stain areas, scrape what you can of solid stains and blot as much moisture as possible. If the stain is still present, mix one-half cup of water in a half-cup of laundry detergent and try to blot it with a rag or paper towel moistened in the mixture. Blot again to rinse the mixture with a clean paper towel or rag.
For pet stains, sprinkle on some baking soda to remove odor and let it stay for about an hour. Dab the mixture on the stain, and blot dry. For wine stains, use club soda and blot.
If stains cover a larger area, Make a solution from a teaspoon of ammonia and a half cup of water. Blot as normal. Clean the other side of the rug, if needed.
Seagrass rugs can be cleaned by hand, but they need extra care. Pay careful attention to spills. If you don't trust your skill or the rug still won't come clean, contact a housekeeping service.
Share