How to clean a silk rug

Check what it is made of

Many rugs sold as silk are art silk, also called viscose or bamboo silk. It looks similar but behaves very differently. Water can leave viscose stiff, matted and yellowed, and those marks rarely come out.

If you are not sure which you have, treat the rug as viscose and keep water away from it. Our guide to silk rugs explains how to tell the two apart.

Regular care

Vacuum with suction only, moving with the direction of the pile. A beater bar or brush roll can pull silk fibers loose. Leave the fringe alone or vacuum it lightly through a cloth.

Shake out or vacuum small rugs once a week in busy rooms and less often elsewhere. Rotate the rug every few months so wear and light are even. Silk fades in strong sun, so use curtains or UV film on bright windows.

Spills and spots

Act quickly. Blot from the outside of the spill toward the middle with a clean white cloth. Press; do not rub or scrub, which untwists the fibers and leaves a dull, fuzzy patch.

On real silk, a little cool water on a cloth can help lift a fresh spill. Test first on a hidden corner, because some dyes bleed. On art silk, use dry blotting only. Do not use carpet spot cleaners, vinegar or bleach on either.

Dry the spot flat with a fan. Never use a hair dryer or a heater.

When to call a professional

Send a silk rug for cleaning when it looks dull or gray all over, after a pet accident, or when a spill has dried in. Choose a cleaner who hand-washes rugs and can show you silk work they have done.

Ask how they test the dyes and how they dry the rug. A good cleaner checks for color run before washing and dries the rug flat and fast.

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