Shag rugs are definitely in style right now, and you may have already jumped on the trend, but you may be wondering how are you meant to clean them?
These fluffy style rugs look great in the room, and feel great under your toes, but you may be wondering how to vacuum your shag rug.
What is a shag rug?
A shag rug is basically the shorter name for a shaggy rug. These types of rugs have a much longer pile, which is what makes them so shaggy, fluffy and soft to the touch.
Shag rugs are often made out of long synthetic fibers, which is why they are so fluffy, however, this can put them at risk of catching and trapping dirt of dust, and you may be thinking that these types of rugs are a total pain to clean!
For instance, the long strands of fibers will need to be cleaned and cared for properly, or you could ruin the integrity of your shag rug.
Shag rugs are so stylish, but if yours is covered in dirt or debris, then your living space might not be so elegant after all. This is why you will have to know exactly how to clean and vacuum your shag rug.
How to Vacuum a Shag Rug
Shag rugs are highly delicate, and if you want to keep that fluffed up, shaggy design, then you will want to clean it carefully.
This means that you should be cautious when vacuuming the rug, as chances are it is going to suck up the shaggy fibers along with any debris in the rug, which can be damaging.
Because of this, you will want to avoid using upright vacuum cleaners on your shag rug, and if you do choose to use a vacuum, then make sure that you have a soft brush attachment.
To clean and vacuum your shag rug, you will first want to shake the rug out. This should help in removing any debris or items in the rug. Trust us, you would be surprised how many things can get lost in a deep furry shag rug.
To do this, you will want to take your shag rug outside and shake it around to remove any loose dirt or debris stuck in the rug itself. You can also use this opportunity to hang up your rug to air out outside, to remove any odors or dust.
You can also use a rug beater to remove debris if you need to. Once your shag rug has aired, you may still need to vacuum it to remove any excess dirt. When you vacuum your rug, make sure you use a specialized vacuum designed for shag or soft carpets:
A vacuum such as the Miele Complete for Soft Carpet is perfect for this as it is designed specifically for use on soft shag carpets, and has a delicate adjustment to simple glide over the shag material without damaging it.
However, if you do not have a carpet specific vacuum, then you can use one of your soft brush attachments for your regular vacuum. This will ensure that the vacuum does not damage or alter the structure of the shag rug when cleaning.
All you have to do then is pass the brush attachment on your vacuum across the shag rug to pick up any dirt and debris that may be left. You will also want to go over the same spots a few times, as the long fibers can keep debris really stuck down in there!
You can also hire a professional rug cleaner to help you keep your shag rug looking great, however, they will charge more for a shag rug than a regular rug because of how difficult they are to clean deeply!
That being said, after you have finished cleaning your rug, you may feel that your shag rug does not look as good as it did before. Luckily there are a few ways you can keep it looking as fresh as when you first bought it!
You can go through the shaggy parts of the rug with your fingers or a comb to brush out knots and make the rug fluffy again. Bet you didn’t think you’d have to brush your rug’s hair when you bought it! This may seem silly, but brushing out the shag rug is the best way to keep it looking fluffy and fantastic as ever.
You can also spot clean dirty areas instead of washing and possibly ruining the whole rug. This can be done with a mild soapy and water, and simply dab on the affected area, and rinse, before leaving to dry. You will want to remember not to use harsh chemicals on your shag rug, in case it ruins the fibers.
If your shag rug is dented by furniture, or its fluffiness seems a little flat, then we recommend using a few ice cubes. These can be placed on the affected dented areas, and left to melt. Once the water dries, it should give your fluffy rug a new lease of life!
