How to Clean a Leather Rug
A quality rug can add taste and texture to a room, warm up floors that are cold to the touch and absorb echoes in a sparse living space. Leather rugs are no different, but they can be a sizable investment in comparison to wool or cotton rugs, so buyers would be wise to take great care of them at all times.
With proper cleaning, a leather rug can be a centerpiece for your room and a valuable heirloom.
Things You Will Need
- Natural soap
- Dry towel
- Bowl of water
- Three clean rags
Tip
The best way to clean your rug depends on the type of leather it's made of, and the type of stain. Consider having the rug professionally dry-cleaned if a stain looks particularly tough to remove. Always test any spot cleaning method on a small, out of the way area on the rug first.
Warning
Don't use harsh chemicals that can crack your rug. Buy an all natural soap.
Keep the rug out of direct sunlight.
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Take your rug outdoors and shake it out -- this is a quick way to get rid of loose dust particles that gathered on it due to foot traffic or miscellaneous loose dust in the room. Once you've done that, bring the rug inside.
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Mix water and a mild, natural soap into a bowl or a bucket, depending on the size of your rug. If the manufacturer of the leather doesn't recommend cleaning with soap and water, use a foam-based leather cleaner.
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Dip a rag into the cleaning mixture and wipe softly in a circular pattern.
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Wipe away any residue from the soap or foam with a second rag dipped in clean water and wrung for excess moisture.
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Blot the rug dry using soft towels weighed down with heavy objects. A book will do the job nicely. This will reduce the possibility of scratching or color damage from any cleaner you haven't completely wiped away. If the rug is still moist after you've blotted it, allow it to air dry.
The Drip Cap
- A quality rug can add taste and texture to a room, warm up floors that are cold to the touch and absorb echoes in a sparse living space.
- Take your rug outdoors and shake it out -- this is a quick way to get rid of loose dust particles that gathered on it due to foot traffic or miscellaneous loose dust in the room.
- If the rug is still moist after you've blotted it, allow it to air dry.
