How to Properly Vacuum an Area Rug

PLEASANT HILL — If you own a fine wool, Oriental or Persian area rug, you obviously want to preserve its beauty and integrity. The simplest way to do this is by vacuuming it regularly. However, it’s not enough to merely take a quick pass with your vacuum cleaner every so often. Fine rug fibers (wool fibers in particular) tend to trap a lot of dry soil, so it takes a thorough job to actually get the rug clean. Follow this procedure for vacuuming your fine area rug:

1. Adjust your vacuum to an appropriate height. If the vacuum’s level is set too low, it can create a suction seal to the rug, which actually makes it less effective at pulling up dirt. You want to allow a little air in between the vacuum and the rug, so if it’s noticeably hard to push, raise the level up a bit.

2. Take multiple passes over the top side of the rug. Start with two complete up-and-down vertical passes. Go nice and slow to give the vacuum time to pull up as much dirt as possible. Next, take a couple of side-to-side passes—this way, you’re sure to hit those fibers from every angle.

3. Vacuum the bottom side of the rug. Even if the bottom side of the rug hasn’t been tread upon, it may still be harboring a lot of dust and soil. Move the rug and sweep the floor beneath to provide a clean surface. Next, flip the rug over and take a few passes with your vacuum to pull out the soil.

4. Take a final pass over the top side. After vacuuming the back side of the rug, flip it over again and go over the top once more. Don’t worry about going slow or coming from different angles—this is just a quick final pass for good measure.

Depending on your lifestyle, you should perform this procedure every one to three months. For instance, if you have children or pets, or the rug is in a high-traffic area, you should probably do it more frequently. By following proper procedure, you’ll preserve your fine area rug for the long-term.