Jute is a natural fiber from the jute plant, which is found in Asia, which is often used to make soft, environmentally friendly area rugs. The fiber is known for being very durable and is found in a wide range of tan and brown colors and can either be left unaltered or dyed to any color shade and pattern.
Although jute is generally easy to maintain, removing stains from a jute rug can be difficult due to the fiber’s high tendency to absorb moisture quickly. Knowing how to clean a jute rug is very paramount in preserving the looks of the rug.
You can clean a jute rug using a vacuum cleaner, move the vacuum over the rug in several directions to remove dirt and debris. Alternatively, using baking soda works like magic and also absorb bad odors.
How to Clean a Jute Rug
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Cleaning your jute rug regularly is very vital in preserving its looks; the fibers are very absorbent, so stains tend to sink deeply into the rug. Water causes discoloration on the jute rug, which can come as a bumper as you need water to clean the rug, so how can you clean the rug without causing discoloration.
Vacuuming
Vacuuming your jute rug regularly is a number one step in maintaining its look. Use a vacuum with strong suction to remove loose dirt and debris.
Make sure you remove the beater bar before using the vacuum on the rug; frequent and regular vacuuming will increase your jute rug’s life by preventing dirt and debris build-up, which can be difficult to clean.
Move the vacuum over the rug in several directions and go over an area a couple of times in order to completely remove all the dirt and debris.
Placing your jute rug in areas with low traffic and humidity will also help to increase its durability. If you need to wash the rug, you also need to do a thorough vacuuming to remove dirt as adding water to any dirt still trapped in the rug; it may result in permanent staining.
Try to set a vacuuming routine for your rug at least once a week, to make sure there’s no chance for dirt buildup.
Cleaning Up Spills
If you spill something on your rug, you want to get it out immediately. Not dealing with a spill immediately as it happens will lead to the rug holding on the smell of the stain.
If you are dealing with a solid stain, you will need a dull butter knife or nail file to scrape the spill. Remove as much as you can with the knife, then take a clean paper towel and blot the area of the spill.
You want to make sure you get most of the solid out before you start blotting, as blotting can drive the solids deeper into the rug fibers.
When blotting, you want to do it in tapping motions and not rubbing motions, as rubbing the stain will only spread it, and work from the outside edge to the middle in order to prevent the liquid from also spreading.
You can add some club soda to the blotting towel or cloth and keep blotting the spill until the cloth or towel comes away from the spot clean, then allow the area to air dry.
For wet spills, you want to also act fast. Use a clean and absorbent cloth or towel and gently dab on the spill; you also do not want to rub the stain as that could spread it, work from the outside in and pull up most of the stains.
After you get out most of the stain, use a hairdryer to help dry up the area. If the stain is still there, you can slightly dampen a clean towel with some water and cleaning solution and wipe the stained area with it.
Then use the hairdryer heat up the jute fibers; this can take up to 10 minutes for the area to dry completely. Once the area dries up, the stain should be gone. If you are dealing with a spill of wine or tomato sauce, it might be difficult to remove, and you might have to repeat this process until the stain is gone.
You can also try Spraying a light mist of white vinegar over the stain, then blot it. This can help to remove or bleach out the stain.
Pet Accidents
If you have pets, especially those that are yet to be potty trained, then a jute rug might not be the best type of rug for you.
A jute rug’s fiber tends to hold on to stain and smell quite strongly, so if your pet decides to go on your rug, even after cleaning it up, you will still deal with the smell as the very absorbent jute interior fibers will act as a sponge and the synthetic fibers hold the moisture inside the jute.
So this can make it difficult for the rug owner to dry out these areas, and this leads to a fungal and bacterial pet petri dish in these rugs.
However, this can be managed; dealing with a pet accident as soon as it’s detected can help to prolong the life of your jute rug and minimize the chances of the rug retaining the smell. Start by blotting up as much of the accident ( urine or poop) as possible with a white cloth or paper towel.
Remember to use tapping motions and not rubbing motions. Then, mix a quarter cup of white vinegar and a quarter cup of water. Using a very small amount of the mixture, gently dab at the stain.
Next, alternate between dabbing the vinegar/water mixture and a dry, clean towel. This can help to neutralize the odor and get rid of the stain, then allow the rug to air dry or use a hairdryer to dry the spot.
Using baking soda
Jute will turn brown when it’s wet. It releases oils that brown the fibers. And the fact that the known traditional way to get rugs clean is to wash them, this can create a cleaning challenge. Using a “waterless” method might just be the way forward.
Using baking soda on your jute rug works great to deal with all types of stains and will help with bad odors as well. Baking soda also helps in reducing moisture. So here’s how to go about the application;
Vacuum
The first thing you want to do is to vacuum; this helps to remove loose dirt and debris that would cause an obstacle otherwise. If there is a spill or stain on your carpet, handle it with the above-mentioned technique and procedures.
Apply the baking soda
After vacuuming and removing any spill or stain, sprinkle baking soda all over the area you want to clean and let it sit overnight. Allowing the baking soda to sit overnight will make you get better results.
The next morning vacuum the rug all over again to remove all the baking soda. If you really want to deep clean your rug, you’ll need to repeat this same process on both sides of the rug.
Remove Loose Fibers
Jute fibers will get loose over time of usage. If you notice some loose strands, you can simply cut them off. This also helps to prevent more strands from unraveling anymore; simply use a pair of scissors to snip the fibers close to the place where it’s unraveling but make sure not to snip any other fibers.
Dry Cleaning
You can also use a dry carpet cleaner for cleaning your jute rug; you can get it online or at any hardware store. There are various types of dry carpet cleaners but find the one that works best for a jute rug.
Even if the carpet cleaner says it works on a jute rug, make sure to test it out on a small area of the rug to see its reaction on the rug before applying it all over to avoid using something that can cause damage to your rug.
When you get a cleanser that works perfectly on your rug, apply it generously over the problem areas, then use a soft-bristle brush to work the cleanser into the jute fibers, making sure you go in the direction of the weave.
After this, you should add another generous layer of dry carpet cleanser over the same areas and allow it to sit overnight, or you can check the cleanser instructions to see the recommended amount of time you should leave it for and you cannot walk over the rug while the cleanser is sitting.
The next thing to do is vacuum, but you have to make sure the carpet is thoroughly dry, then use your vacuum to remove the dry cleaner.
You might have to vacuum a couple of times to get all of the dry cleaning powder out of the rug. You can also take your rug outside and give it a good shake to help remove the embedded dry cleanser.
How to Give Your Jute Rug a Longer Lifespan
Jute rugs are quite affordable and have an earthly look, but they are also the least durable natural fiber. Jute rugs cannot withstand constant usage, and If they are placed in an area that receives a lot of foot traffic, they may only last a few years before sustaining so much damage that they’ll need to be discarded.
Jute rugs also have a high tendency to become ridden with mold or mildew, especially if you live in a humid climate; this makes jute rug unsuitable for wet areas like the kitchen or bathroom areas. Their inability to withstand high traffic means they cannot be placed at the front porch.
This natural fiber rug has a tendency to shed, and you may notice strands fall out when you move the rug or clean it. So try to move or clean the rug as little as possible.
If your jute rug has mildew, you can quickly remove it by mixing six parts water to one part bleach in a spray bottle.
Using bleach on your colored jute rug is something you need to do with utmost caution; after mixing the bleach mixture, Spray a bit on an inconspicuous side of the rug and check to see If there is any discoloration; if there is, then dilute the spray with more water and test again.
When you have the right amount of water to bleach, spray the mixture on the mildew, and use a soft brush to work in the solution. Wait ten minutes, then rub the area with a dry cloth.
Related: How to fix jute rug shedding
Conclusion
In order to keep the natural beauty and charm of your rug, you want to make sure you follow all the expert tips mentioned above. The cleaning process used for jute rugs is totally different from most other rugs in the market.
Your jute rug is one of the best accessories you will have in terms of adding beauty and comfort to your home, and knowing how to clean your jute rug will help you to maintain that beauty.
Refer to the tips above for how to clean a jute rug so that you can prolong the life of your area rug. These quick and easy to apply tips and tricks can keep your jute area rug clean.