Whether you have a family heirloom carpet that needs a good cleaning or just love collecting old items like vintage cast iron skillets, knowing how long it takes to hand-clean a rug is important.
So how long does it take to hand-clean a rug, anyway?
Hand-cleaning a rug can vary significantly in time depending on several factors:
- Size of the Rug: Larger rugs will naturally take longer to clean than smaller ones.
- Type of Rug: The material and weave of the rug can affect cleaning time. For example, a thick wool rug will take longer to clean than a thin synthetic rug.
- Level of Dirt: Heavily soiled rugs will require more time to scrub and rinse compared to lightly soiled ones.
- Cleaning Method: The method you use (e.g., scrubbing with a brush, using a vacuum with a rug attachment, or applying a cleaning solution) can influence the time it takes.
For a general estimate of the time it takes to hand-clean a rug:
- Small to Medium Rug: Cleaning by hand might take anywhere from 30 minutes to 1.5 hours.
- Large Rug: This could take anywhere from 1.5 hours to several hours, especially if you’re dealing with a complex cleaning process or if the rug needs to be dried thoroughly.
Here’s a simplified process you might follow:
- Vacuum: Remove loose dirt and debris. Read on for our preferred model.
- Pre-Treat Stains: Apply a stain remover or mild cleaning solution.
- Scrub: Gently scrub the rug with a brush or damp cloth.
- Rinse: Thoroughly rinse out the cleaning solution. See below for our favorite affordable option.
- Dry: Allow the rug to air dry completely. It’s important to have a rack or drying line for this.
Gear to make hand-cleaning rugs much easier:
- Bissell Little Green Machine: It washes and power vacuums nearly-impossible stains incredibly fast. We love this for area rugs, carpeted stairs, car upholstery and other complicated cleaning jobs.
- A basic oxygen-powered carpet cleaning solution: This one is cheap, easy and works on most rugs without worry. A little goes a long way.
If you’re dealing with a particularly valuable, especially old or delicate rug, it’s often best to consult a professional cleaner.
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