How to Beat Out an Area Rug
Area rugs, especially ones with a thick pile, are experts at grabbing dust, dirt and other household debris. Weekly vacuumings are your best bet to keep them clean and dirt free while causing the rugs minimal distress.
If you decide to beat your rugs to clean them, however, follow these basic steps to dislodge the most dirt without damaging the fibers or fabrics.
Things You Will Need
- Outdoor clothesline or horizontal pole
- Long-bristle broom
- Vacuum
Tip
Avoid whacking the rug hard with the broom. Rough hitting of the rug can dislodge the fibers of the rug and crack or otherwise damage the backing of the rug.
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Bring your area rug outside to a well-ventilated place where flying dust won’t damage any furniture. Shake the rug vigorously with the pile of the rug facing away from you. Allow dust to fall off on to the ground.
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Fold the area rug in half gently over the clothesline with the bottom of the rug facing you and the pile of the rug facing away.
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Beat the rug, hitting on the bottom with soft but rapid strokes, moving gently over the back surface of the rug. Continue beating the rug this way until you have covered the entire back surface of the rug and dislodged most of the dust and dirt.
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Bring the rug back inside and vacuum the surface of the rug thoroughly to capture dirt or dust particles that may have been dislodged from the area rug but remain on the pile.
The Drip Cap
- Area rugs, especially ones with a thick pile, are experts at grabbing dust, dirt and other household debris.
- Allow dust to fall off on to the ground.
- Bring the rug back inside and vacuum the surface of the rug thoroughly to capture dirt or dust particles that may have been dislodged from the area rug but remain on the pile.
Writer Bio
Ashley Friedman graduated from Sarah Lawrence College in 2003 with a Bachelor of Arts in Creative Writing and Social Sciences. She has experience writing copy for the websites of creative professionals, and regularly contributes to several blogs covering popular culture, travel, food, and social action.
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