Tufted rugs add a lovely, plush touch to any home. Unlike flatweave or braided rugs, tufted rugs have a deep, luxurious pile that feels delightful underfoot. Of course, all that pile also means they show dirt more readily and require special care. So can you wash a tufted rug?
You can wash some tufted rugs, but not all. Broadly, handmade tufted rugs with natural fibers like wool or cotton can you wash a tufted rug should not be fully immersed in water. In contrast, many mass-produced nylon or polyester tufted rugs have latex backings designed to withstand occasional washing. As a professional custom tufted rugs manufacturer, I will share more context behind the care recommendations for different tufted rug types.
Reasons You May Want to Wash A Tufted Rug
Before diving into whether you actually should wash that beloved can you wash a tufted rug of yours, let’s first cover why you’d want to wash it in the first place.
Removing Allergens
Dust mites and pet dander trapped in a tufted rug’s pile can aggravate allergy and asthma symptoms. Washing may help remove these allergens, especially if you use a laundry detergent for sensitive skin.
Eliminating Odors
Spilled food or beverages, pet accidents, smoke odors – all can leave a lingering scent in a tufted rug. Washing provides the deepest cleaning possible to remove stubborn odors from the fibers.
Brightening Colors
Over time, dirt and grime dull even the brightest rug. A wash can restore vibrancy to faded hues. Just be careful with natural fiber rugs, as hot water may cause dyes to bleed.
Sanitizing After Sickness
If someone with a contagious illness has been around the tufted rug, washing provides sanitization when done properly. Hot water and laundry detergent kill most germs and viruses.
So washing offers clear benefits regarding allergen removal, odor elimination, color restoration and sanitization. But can all tufted rugs withstand a spin cycle? Let’s explore that next.
Key Differences Between Tufted Rug Types
While a casual glance shows all tufted rugs have a plush pile, major differences exist between mass-produced synthetic rugs and handmade natural fiber rugs. These differences greatly impact whether washing is advisable.
Fiber Content
The fibers forming the tufted pile fall into two camps: synthetic (typically nylon or polyester) and natural (usually wool or cotton). Natural fibers can shrink or felt when agitated in hot water.
Meanwhile, synthetic fibers resist shrinking and retain their shape after washing. Durability and liquid resistance also differ between synthetics vs natural materials.
Manufacturing Method
Mass-produced rugs use automated tufting machines for high speed creation of the pile face. These rugs have latex backings to glue the pile to a woven cloth backing. Some also include a secondary backing for stability.
In contrast, hand tufted rugs are individually crafted by artisans using manual tufting guns. Backings tend to involve woven fabrics rather than latex. Construction focuses more on beauty and luxury than hardcore durability.
Backing Structure
Given their automated production, most synthetic machine-made tufted rugs have sturdy latex backings engineered to withstand reasonable wear. Special anti-microbial backings even resist mold growth when washing periodically.
Backings on wool or cotton hand tufted rugs tend to be simpler, usually just a basic fabric. Too much moisture can degrade the fibers or loosen the piles’ anchoring. Backings may also lack moth and mildew resistance inherent to synthetic materials.
Guidelines for Washing Tufted Rug Types
Given all these production differences, tufted rug washing guidelines depend greatly on whether the piece is handmade from natural fibers vs mass-produced from synthetics.
Can You Wash Hand Tufted Rugs?
In nearly all cases, hand tufted rugs with wool, cotton or silk piles should not be fully immersed or agitated in water. The fibers and dyes may bleed or distort. Backings and finishings are also vulnerable to moisture damage.
Instead, surface cleaning is recommended for hand tufted rugs. Regular vacuuming paired with immediate spot staining using gentle, wool-safe products allows cleaning without risking shrinkage or color loss.
If deeper cleaning becomes necessary, seek professional rug cleaning. Specialists have truck-mounted systems to deep clean in place without fully immersing the rug. Low moisture methods may also lift soils via centrifugal extraction.
Are Machine Made Tufted Rugs Washable?
Thanks to breeding innovations, today’s synthetic fibers like nylon and polyester enjoy great strength, stain resistance and colorfastness. When tufted into modular rugs with latex backings, the resulting pieces can tolerate occasional washing.
However, even synthetic tufted rugs require caution when laundering. Heat and agitation can still loosen the piles, unravel edges or degrade adhesive backings over time. So limit washing to only when truly necessary, and avoid extremely hot water or extended wash cycles.
Also, match the rug size to your machine’s capacity to allow thorough soaking and rinsing. Washing too large a rug for your appliance won’t effectively remove soils trapped deep in the piles.
Best Practices For Safely Washing A Synthetic Tufted Rug
If you determine washing is necessary and safe for your particular tufted rug, follow these best practices for effective, damage-free cleaning.
- Shake outdoors first – Thoroughly shake and beat the rug outdoors to dislodge dry soils and surface debris. This prep work prevents these particles from getting wet and staining the piles.
- Check label recommendations – If your rug has a manufacturer’s label, follow any washing and drying guidelines listed. These directions account for the rug’s specific materials and construction.
- Pretreat heavy stains – Lightly spritz stubborn spots with an enzymatic cleaner or detergent solution. Let dwell for 5-10 minutes to allow the pretreatment to penetrate.
- Wash with cold water – Use the coolest wash temperature possible, ideally cold. This protects dyes and prevents shrinkage. Double check dye stability in an inconspicuous location first.
- Brush piles first – Before placing in the machine, use a soft brush to lift piles and enhance soil removal. Avoid abrasive scrub brushes that could damage the loops.
- Choose gentle detergent – Wool-safe or other low-sudsing, dye-stabilizing detergents are ideal. Avoid bleach, optical brighteners or strong degreasers.
- Load properly – Put the rug in the machine by itself with nothing else. Loading other items can abrade or trap soils in the rug’s piles.
- Allow adequate room – A overly stuffed machine cannot properly circulate to rinse away all residues. Match rug dimensions to your appliance’s capacity.
- Tumble dry only – Line or tumble drying helps preserve the rug’s texture and dimensions. Avoid hanging to dry, as water weight can permanently stretch loops.
By correctly pretreating, loading, washing and drying your tufted rug, you can safely freshen its appearance and lift out soiled spots for better indoor air quality. Still have doubts? Seek professional specialty cleaning for worry-free revitalization of your treasured tufted rug.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you clean a hand tufted wool rug?
For a hand tufted wool rug, avoid full immersion washing. Instead, regularly vacuum then spot clean stains immediately with a mild, wool-safe cleaner. Seek professional cleaning only when necessary for deeper cleaning.
Can you put a Ruggable rug in the washing machine?
Yes, the unique Ruggable rug system features a removable, washable rug cover. Just detach this top layer from the rug pad foundation then machine wash and dry as desired. Use cold water and dry flat for best results.
Should you wash an outdoor tufted rug?
Outdoor tufted rugs made from synthetics like polypropylene or olefin can be washed periodically, ideally air dried. This refreshes colors and removes absorbed dirt. Increase washing frequency for rugs in high traffic entertainment areas or kitchen spaces prone to food spills.
So in summary, while some tufted rugs can indeed be washed sparingly, restraint proves wise to ensure sufficiently delicate handling for more fragile handmade tufted rugs. For optimal longevity with any prized tufted rug, specialized cleaning when truly needed beats risky overwashing.