9 min read · Updated 27 May 2026
A well-cared-for rug can last ten or fifteen years depending on the material and the use it gets. The same rug neglected loses its looks in two seasons. That difference has nothing to do with what you paid or which design you picked, and everything to do with keeping up the right habits and matching the approach to the material. Here is the complete method, from preventive routines to emergency work on stains.
1. Identify your rug first
Three pieces of information govern everything else:
The main material (wool, viscose, Tencel, cotton, polypropylene, polyester, silk or Modal Silk). It always appears on the Casemira product page, in the specifications section. Our guide to choosing a rug material covers the care specifics material by material.
Whether it is washable. The more than 350 designs in the washable rug collection are built to go in the machine. The others are not, particularly handmade pieces and anything in viscose, pure Tencel or Modal Silk.
Whether it is an Easy Clean design (more than 50 references within the washables). These combine four technical treatments: machine washable, water-repellent and stain-resistant, non-slip, and scratch-resistant. It is the profile most forgiving of everyday accidents.
A quick tip: if your rug has a visible latex backing underneath and an Oeko-Tex certificate on the label, it probably belongs to the washable family. If in doubt, the Casemira team answers by email at contact@casemira.com.
2. Weekly preventive care
Four simple habits that extend the life of a rug with almost no effort.
Vacuum weekly, in the direction of the pile. Vacuuming lifts particles before they work their way into the fibre. Always go with the pile so as not to flatten it. On very dense rugs (long pile, shaggy), drop the suction to 50-70% to avoid pulling at the fibre. On a handmade rug, use a vacuum without a rotating brush.
Turn it every 6 months. Rotating the rug 180° avoids the uneven wear caused by traffic lines and light exposure. A rug always laid the same way round soon shows one side duller or flatter than the other.
Use a non-slip underlay. On hard floors (wood, tiles), a thin underlay protects the fibre from friction and stops the rug sliding. Most Casemira designs already have a built-in latex backing, but on varnished or very smooth floors an extra underlay reinforces the grip.
Air it twice a year. In spring and autumn, take the rug outside for a few hours (onto a terrace or balcony, in the shade) so the fibre can relax and release trapped moisture and deep dust. Beat it lightly with a carpet beater if the design allows.
3. Fresh stains: 5 emergency treatments
On a fresh stain, the first few seconds count as much as everything that follows. Always blot without rubbing, using a clean white cloth (a coloured tea towel can transfer its own dye).
Red wine. Blot up the excess immediately. Sprinkle generously with bicarbonate of soda. Leave it to absorb for 15 minutes. Vacuum. If a mark persists, dab with a mix of lukewarm water and liquid black soap (one teaspoon per half litre of water).
Coffee. Blot. Dab with clean lukewarm water until it dilutes. If the stain resists, use equal parts water and white vinegar, dab without soaking, then rinse with clean water.
Grease (oil, butter, sauce). Sprinkle immediately with fuller's earth (an absorbent mineral powder, sold in France as terre de Sommières). Leave it to work for 30 minutes to 2 hours depending on how thick the deposit is. Vacuum. Repeat if needed. Fuller's earth is unbeatable on grease and does not wet the fibre.
Pet urine. Blot up the excess. Spray with equal parts water and white vinegar, which neutralises the smell. Let it dry. Vacuum once it is completely dry. If it has soaked in deeply, follow up with targeted damp cleaning (see section 6).
Ink and felt-tip. Dab without spreading. On a polypropylene rug, use cotton wool soaked in diluted surgical spirit (50%) and dab. On natural fibres (wool, viscose, Tencel), use no solvent at all and go straight to professional cleaning.
"On a fresh stain, cold water is almost always the first right answer."
4. Material by product: what is allowed
| Material | Bicarbonate | Diluted white vinegar | Black soap | Machine at 30°C | Solvents |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wool | Yes | Yes (test first) | Yes (heavily diluted) | No | No |
| Viscose | Dry only | No | No | No | No |
| Tencel | Dry only | No | No | No | No |
| Cotton | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes (design permitting) | No |
| Polypropylene | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes (design permitting) | Diluted surgical spirit |
| Polyester | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes (design permitting) | Limited |
| Silk / Modal Silk | Dry only | No | No | No | No |
The general rule: the finer the fibre (silk, viscose, Tencel), the more the care is limited to dry methods. The more synthetic and dense the fibre (polypropylene, polyester), the better it tolerates damp cleaning and the machine. Cotton, a robust natural fibre, takes both depending on how the rug is built.
A warning: never use bleach, acetone or any whitening product on a textile rug. They attack both the dyes and the structure of the fibre, and the damage cannot be undone.
5. Dry cleaning: bicarbonate of soda and fuller's earth
Dry cleaning is the universal method, valid on every material. It freshens, deodorises and lifts minor marks without soaking the fibre.
The bicarbonate method (general freshening):
- Vacuum the rug to lift the surface dust
- Sprinkle generously with bicarbonate of soda (a 500 g box for a 200 x 300 rug)
- Brush lightly with a soft brush to work it into the fibre
- Leave it for at least an hour, ideally overnight
- Vacuum thoroughly (two passes in different directions)
Bicarbonate absorbs smells (smoke, pets, damp) and neutralises residual acidity. Repeat monthly for rugs in sensitive areas (kitchens, rooms where a pet sleeps).
The fuller's earth method (grease stains):
- Cover the stain with a thick layer (5 mm minimum)
- Leave it to absorb for 30 minutes to 2 hours
- Brush off the powder
- Vacuum
- Repeat if the stain persists
Fuller's earth is a naturally absorbent clay, particularly effective on oil, butter, sauce, salad dressing and greasy make-up. Available from hardware shops and DIY stores.
6. Damp cleaning: white vinegar and black soap
Damp cleaning is reserved for robust fibres (cotton, polypropylene, polyester) or targeted at local stains, and never used as a bath for handmade pieces.
The diluted white vinegar method:
- Mix 1 part white vinegar with 3 parts lukewarm water in a spray bottle
- Mist the area lightly, never soak it
- Dab with a clean white cloth in a circular motion
- Rinse by dabbing with a cloth dampened in clean water
- Blot dry, then leave it to air dry away from direct sunlight
White vinegar neutralises smells, degreases gently and revives colours without harming them. Always test on a 5 x 5 cm patch in a hidden corner before the first application on a new rug.
The liquid black soap method:
- Dilute one teaspoon of black soap in 500 ml of lukewarm water
- Soak a soft brush and wring it out
- Brush the area in small circles
- Rinse by dabbing with clean water
- Blot up the excess and leave to dry flat
Black soap is particularly good on older stains or for deep-cleaning one area. It is neutral for most fibres and does not affect the dyes.
A warning: never soak a rug. Moisture trapped under the fibre can cause mould, distortion and damage to the latex backing.
7. Machine washing, where the design allows
Machine washing is reserved for designs explicitly labelled washable. At Casemira, those form the washable rug collection (more than 350 references) and include the more than 50 Easy Clean designs. Our complete machine-washable rug guide covers best practice.
The machine wash method:
- Vacuum the rug before washing to lift loose particles
- Check the rug's dimensions against your drum (60 x 90 cm fits a 7 kg machine; above that, use a launderette with a 12-18 kg machine)
- Run a delicate cycle at 30°C, with a gentle spin (never a fast spin)
- Use a gentle liquid detergent, no bleach and no fabric softener
- Take the rug straight out at the end of the cycle, do not leave it compressed in a wet drum
- Dry flat on a clean surface, never in a tumble dryer and never hung on a line (which distorts it)
Flat drying takes 24 to 48 hours depending on the thickness of the fibre. Turn the rug halfway through so it dries evenly. To go further on how designs stand up to daily use and how to spot quality, see our guide to spotting a quality rug.
Recommended frequency: a washable rug takes a wash every 2 to 3 months in normal use, more often with pets or small children. Beyond 6 washes a year, the fibre starts to lose a little of its lustre even on the best designs.
Three Casemira rugs for the living room
Black Shaggy Washable Rug - Sahel
Pink and Burgundy Oriental Washable Rug - Terrazzo
Multicolour Berber Washable Rug - Vertigo
8. FAQ: cleaning a rug
Your questions about cleaning a rug
My rug is not washable. How do I deep clean it?
For a non-washable rug (wool, viscose, Tencel, silk or Modal Silk), use dry cleaning with bicarbonate of soda as a routine, and targeted damp cleaning with diluted white vinegar on local stains. For an annual deep clean, use a professional rug cleaner.
How often should I vacuum a rug?
Once a week in normal use, twice with pets or in a very busy area. Always vacuum in the direction of the pile, never against it, and on moderate power for thick or long-pile rugs.
Does bicarbonate of soda suit every material?
Yes, bicarbonate is universal for dry cleaning (wool, viscose, Tencel, cotton, polypropylene, polyester, silk, Modal). It does not wet the fibre, does not affect the dyes and neutralises smells. Avoid it only in wet applications on delicate natural fibres.
Can I wash my Easy Clean rug more often?
The more than 50 Easy Clean designs at Casemira are built for repeated washing (machine washable plus water-repellent stain resistance, a non-slip backing and scratch resistance). They take a monthly wash with no visible deterioration. Beyond that, the fibre keeps most of its properties but may lose a little colour intensity after 12 to 18 months of heavy use.
What should I do if my cat has weed on the rug?
Blot up the excess immediately with a clean cloth. Spray with equal parts water and white vinegar, which neutralises both the smell and the pH. Let it dry completely, then vacuum. If the smell lingers, sprinkle bicarbonate of soda, leave it overnight and vacuum. Where it has soaked in deeply, a professional clean is the definitive answer.
My handmade rug is badly stained. Should I have it professionally cleaned?
For Casemira handmade rugs (wool, viscose, Tencel and fine blends), a specialist rug cleaner is the right call for extensive or older stains. The cost is far below the price of replacing the rug, and specialist know-how avoids the irreversible damage that solvents or bleach could cause.
Written by the Casemira team, based in Brittany. More about Casemira.
