As you gather the rug up and carry it outside, be careful not to drop debris from it onto the floor.
Be sure to shake it with the wind blowing away from you and not to shake the dust out around other people. For larger rugs, have someone help you by holding onto one of the corners. Then you can shake the rug together to release the dirt.
If you have nothing to hang the rug on, you can have someone hold it as long as you are extra careful.
It is a good idea to wear a mask over your mouth and nose, especially if you have allergies, to avoid breathing too much of the dust flying out of the rug. Beat rugs once or twice a week depending on whether or not they are in high traffic areas. Rugs that don’t get walked on often can be cleaned every two weeks.
Vacuuming the underside of the rug works because dirt settles down past the fibers into the base layer or backing of the rug. Vacuum your rug once a week to keep it in good condition. Rugs kept in rooms where people rarely walk can be vacuumed every two weeks.
If you don’t want to run your vacuum on your hard floor, use a broom and dust pan to pick up any dirt remaining on the floor.
A microfiber cloth works well to avoid transferring lint or fibers onto the rug.
Rinse the cloth and continue dabbing at the spill to pull up as much of it as possible.
Wipe the vinegar mixture gently on a corner of the rug first to make sure it will not fade the colors of the rug. Don’t use this if you can tell that it visibly affects the fibers of the rug. Rinse the cloth and re-wet it as many times as necessary, but don’t over-wet the rug, and give it plenty of time to dry in a well-ventilated room. This type of treatment usually works well on water-based stains like soda, some juices, and some pet stains.
Professional cleaning is typically reserved for Oriental, Persian, or other hand-woven rugs that are significantly valuable. Weigh the cost of professional cleaning against the value of the rug itself.
