How to clean a shag rug without tangling or pulling the pile

Step by step: how to clean a shag rug without tangling or pulling the pile

1. 1

   Read the label first

   Check the tag on the back for fiber (wool, polyester, cotton, acrylic) and whether the rug is machine washable. Wool and hand-tufted shags usually need spot cleaning or a pro; cotton and some synthetic shags can go in a washer. The label decides how wet you can get it.

2. 2

   Shake or beat out the grit

   Take the rug outside, hang it over a railing or line upside down, and shake it or beat the back with a broom handle or rug beater. Long pile traps sand, crumbs and pet hair that a vacuum cannot reach. Keep going until little dust comes out.

3. 3

   Vacuum the back

   Lay the rug face down and vacuum the backing with the brush roll on, if the backing is sturdy. The vibration knocks more grit loose toward the floor. Then sweep or vacuum the floor underneath.

4. 4

   Vacuum the front with suction only

   Flip it face up and turn the beater bar off, use a suction-only floor head, or switch to the hand or upholstery tool. Work slowly in the direction the pile lies, and on rugs with rows of tufts, vacuum between the rows. A spinning brush roll will grab and tear long yarns.

5. 5

   Blot spills right away

   Blot liquid with a white cloth until no more transfers, without rubbing. Mix 1/4 teaspoon clear dish soap in 1 cup of cool water, test it on a hidden spot, then dab it on the stain and blot. Rinse by blotting with plain water so no soap is left to attract dirt.

6. 6

   Machine wash only if the label allows

   For a washable shag, use cold water, a gentle cycle and a small dose of mild detergent with no bleach. A large rug may need a front-load or commercial-size washer so it can move freely. Skip the dryer unless the label allows it.

7. 7

   Air dry completely

   Lay the rug flat or drape it over several lines, out of direct sun and away from heaters, and turn it every few hours. Thick pile can take a day or more to dry through; a damp backing can smell musty. Do not put it back on the floor until the base of the pile is dry.

8. 8

   Fluff the pile

   Once dry, shake the rug again and comb or rake the yarns upright with your fingers, a wide-tooth comb or a carpet rake. This lifts flattened areas and frees any matted strands.

Why you should not use a beater bar on a shag rug

A rotating brush roll wraps long yarns around itself, which pulls them out of the backing, frays them and can jam the vacuum. Rug makers say the same thing. Lorena Canals, which makes washable shag rugs, says to never use a beater bar or rotating brush and to use a high-pile setting or the upholstery tool instead.

A rug care sheet supplied with a Home Depot rug listing adds two useful details for shags: flip the rug and shake out loose debris before vacuuming, and use a suction-only attachment between the individual rows. It also notes that shag rugs shed because of their high pile, so some loose fiber in the canister is normal, especially in the first months.

How to clean a shag rug by fiber

The fiber decides how much water and which cleaner the rug can take. Check the label and test any cleaner on a hidden corner.

For pure wool, see our wool rug guide, and for flat-weave and low-pile rugs, our area rug guide.

When to send a shag rug to a professional

Send it out when the rug is wool or hand-tufted, too big for your washer, smells of pet urine, or has a stain that spot cleaning will not lift. Deep pile holds water in the base, and an overwet rug can shrink, bleed dye or stay damp long enough to smell.

The Carpet and Rug Institute recommends professional deep cleaning every 12 to 18 months for carpet, and that is a reasonable rhythm for a shag in a busy room. A rug cleaner can wash it in a pit or on a floor and dry it in a controlled room, which is the hard part at home.

Mistakes to avoid

• Vacuuming the face with the beater bar on, which tangles and pulls out yarns.
• Scrubbing a stain, which frays and felts the long pile.
• Soaking a wool shag at home, which can shrink it or leave it damp for days.
• Putting the rug back down while the base of the pile is still wet.
• Pulling loose strands instead of trimming them level with the pile.