Rugs are an essential part of home décor, providing comfort, style, and protection for your floors. Because they are so treasured, spring cleaning rugs can be daunting! That’s why we’ve rounded up the techniques and tips that make spring cleaning rugs easy. Whether you’re dealing with an indoor area rug or an outdoor mat, keep reading for details on how to clean every kind of rug and mess this season.
Spot Clean
Don’t want to go through the hassle of a deep clean for a small spill? There’s no need! Spot cleaning is an effective method of spring cleaning rugs with isolated messes.
To spot clean, remove excess mess and blot with a clean cloth or towel. Dampen a clean cloth with equal parts lukewarm water and detergent and use a gentle blotting method to treat the stain. Use water and a clean cloth for a final blotting to remove the stain and any detergent residue. You may need to repeat this process a few times.

Shake It Off
Shaking out your rugs is a simple and effective way to loosen and remove dust and dirt from indoor and outdoor rugs while you’re spring cleaning rugs. If your rug is not already outdoors, pick up your rug and carry it outside. For large rugs, you may wish to tackle this with a friend!
Once the rug is outdoors, lift the rug off the ground and shake it in an up-and-down motion. You can also gently twist the rug to help loosen any dirt or debris that may be stuck. Repeat the process on the other end of the rug. If necessary, use a soft-bristled brush to loosen any remaining dust or debris. Flip the rug over and repeat the shaking and brushing process on the other side.
When you’re done shaking out your rug, use a vacuum or broom to sweep up any dirt or debris that may have fallen on the ground. You can now place your clean rug back wherever it belongs.
Va-Va-Vacuum
Most rugs may be vacuumed with a non-beater bar attachment to gently remove any surface-level dirt and dust. Vacuum your rug regularly, ideally weekly, to keep your rug clean and easy to maintain. If you have pets or kids, you may need to vacuum more frequently. Use a vacuum with a HEPA filter to trap allergens and dust particles, which can help improve indoor air quality.

It’s a Wash
Spring cleaning rugs that are machine washable is easy. They may be cleaned in your front-loading washer at home on a cold and gentle cycle. This is an excellent choice for households with pets, or any room where an easy-to-clean rug would be a perk. After washing, air dry the rug completely before putting it back on your floor. These are probably the easiest rugs to spring clean!

Go-Go-Garden Hose
Between rain, pollen, and all the natural elements, outdoor rugs are often exposed to the greatest messes. Fortunately, it’s extremely easy to spring clean these rugs with a simple water rinse using your garden hose.
An easy way to hose down your outdoor rug is to drape it over a railing. Stubborn stains may be scrubbed gently with water and detergent. Allow your rug to air dry completely before placing it back where it belongs.

Spring Cleaning Rugs Is As Easy As 1-2-3
Feeling ready to tackle your next spring cleaning rug project? Following the tips in this guide will help you extend the life of your rug and be prepared the next time a mess surprises you. Here’s the short recap of how to clean every kind of rug and mess this spring to make things even easier:
- For spills and surprise messes, spot clean the affected area.
- Shake or vacuum on a regular basis to keep dust and debris away.
- Machine washable rugs can be washed in a front-loading washer. This is best reserved for a deep clean.
- Outdoor rugs can be hosed down to rinse off dirt, pollen, or messes. Gentle scrubbing works wonders on heavier messes.
If you’d like to read more about spring cleaning rugs, check out our deep dive on washable rugs, our tips for care of new rugs, everything about cleaning outdoor rugs, and our comprehensive guide on maintaining and preserving your rug.
Stay Connected
Have you tackled spring cleaning rugs in your home? Let us know how things went in the comments below. Better yet, show us on Instagram or Facebook. We’d love to hear from you!
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