How to vacuum a rug

Why it matters

Grit and sand settle at the base of the pile. Every step grinds them against the fibers, which wears a rug down faster than anything else. Regular vacuuming removes that grit before it does damage.

Vacuum busy rooms about once a week and quiet rooms every week or two.

Turn off the beater bar

A spinning brush roll is made for wall-to-wall carpet. On a handmade wool rug it can fuzz the pile and pull loose fibers, and it grabs fringe in seconds. Use a suction-only setting, a hard-floor setting or an upholstery tool instead.

Many low-pile machine-made rugs handle a brush roll well. Check the care label if you are not sure.

Go with the pile

Run your hand along the rug. One direction feels smooth and the other feels rough. Vacuum in the smooth direction so the fibers lie flat and the color looks even.

Work across the rug in slow, overlapping passes. Slow passes pick up more than fast ones.

Keep away from the fringe

Stop just short of the fringe and lift the vacuum head off the rug. If the fringe needs cleaning, use the hose with a soft brush attachment and brush along the threads, not across them.

Robot vacuums often catch fringe and tassels. Tuck them under or set a no-go zone around the rug.

Vacuum the back now and then

A few times a year, flip the rug and vacuum the back. This shakes loose grit that has worked its way down, and it is the best time to look for moth damage. Then vacuum the floor under the rug before you lay it back down.

Rug by rug

Shag and high pile: use suction only and go slowly. A good shake outdoors helps too.

Flatweaves and kilims: use low suction or the hose so the rug is not pulled into the machine. Many are reversible, so vacuum both sides.

Silk and silk blends: suction only, with a soft brush attachment and a light touch.

Jute, sisal and other plant fibers: vacuum often, since dirt sifts through the weave. Use suction only and keep them dry.

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