Updated 4/2/2022
Area rugs are a terrific way to liven up your home’s interior. A single area rug could radically transform a room’s appearance and help you feel relaxed.
However, rugs can become excessively dirty over time, even with frequent cleaning, and lose their appeal.
If your area rug isn’t looking its best, it might be time for a thorough cleaning using a pressure washer.
This guide will help you through the steps of how to clean an area rug with a pressure washer!
What Can a Pressure Washer Do?
A pressure washer is a tool that consists of 2 to 4 high-pressure jets mounted on a spinning rod that rotates as water flows.
This motion generates a consistent cleaning cycle that can quickly clean level surfaces.
Pressure washers use an electric or gas engine to operate a pump that sends high-pressure water through a focusing nozzle to spray away deposited filth on decks, pavements, and sidewalks.
How To Clean an Area Rug With A Pressure Washer
Rugs can benefit from a pressure washer to remove filth and muck. Due to the high water pressure, pollutants are forced out of the carpet fibers, making it a perfect tool.
We recommend one of the AR Blue Clean pressure washers for this job.
1. Find a Clean, Flat Surface to Lay the Rug On
Choose the location where you’ll wash your area rug. The space should be neat and tidy. It is better if the surface is level and wide enough to accommodate your rug.
You should generally look for an outdoor location to clean your area rug since pressure washing inside can be difficult and messy.
If the rug is heavy enough, suspending it from a sturdy metal railing is another alternative. This is a cleaner and more convenient solution if you cannot find a suitable flat surface.
2. Get Your Rug Prepped
Wipe the rug properly on either side before laying it on the floor to remove any loose debris from the surface. Lay the mat upside down after your cleaning area is organized.
Removing loose dirt, debris, hair, or any other solid particles before pressure washing can deliver remarkable results.
3. Soak Your Rug in Soapy Water
The carpet should next be pre-soaked in soapy water. Although a pre-soak solution is an option, a liquid dishwashing solution should suffice.
Another option is to spritz the rug with a spray bottle, which would be impractical for vast area rugs.
If your pressure washer has a tank for pouring in detergent, you can use it to load the soapy water mixture and immerse the rug in it beforehand.
If the pressure washer has no soap tank, you can spray the detergent manually on the stains on the area rug.
To remove the stains, use moderate cleaning products. Additionally, be careful to use tiny cleaning solutions because you do not want your rug to become discolored or faded.
Before proceeding with the next step, let it sit for a couple of minutes.
4. Rub the Rug Using a Brush
Before cleaning the area rug with a pressure washer, scrub any ugly or stubborn patches or residual pet hair using a brush with stiff bristles.
You should go with a brush with adequate flexibility in rubber bristles over a steel brush, which can harm carpet fibers.
Brush the rug from side to side, both forward and backward, to ensure you’ve covered the entire area.
If you don’t have access to a stiff brush with a long handle, a handheld will work just as well, but it will take considerably longer.
5. Get Your Pressure Washer Ready
Make sure the pressure washer is ready for the last rinse. Make sure it’s loaded, i.e., water should be in the pressure washer’s internal components that will flow to the hose.
Ensure your pressure washer is in good working order before using it. It should be equipped with all essential accessories and well-oiled.
Inspect the nozzles to make sure they are in an efficient operating state. Attach the pressure washer’s nozzle to the water supply after properly inspecting the unit.
6. Rinse it One Last Time
Keep the pressure washer’s hose about 0.3 meters from your rug’s surface. If the wand is placed too close to the rug, the rug may be ruined or swept away.
Squeeze the pressure washer button and begin properly cleaning your rug. Move the pressure washer’s wand well over the rug’s fabric, ensuring that all regions, particularly those with obvious spots, are covered.
Also, keep the spray pattern in mind; aim for an angle of 25 to 40 degrees and a distance of at least 12 inches above the rug.
To get rid of any soapy residues on the carpeting, spray in all directions. Dirt and filth will come off as you run the hose over it.
7. Leave the Rug to Dry
After double-checking that the rug has been thoroughly cleansed, choose an appropriate location to store it while it dries.
The location you select should be hygienic and dirt-free. Furthermore, it must be large enough to fit the full rug.
Ensure the location you choose is light and airy so the rug can dry quickly.
If you want to dry it outside, hang it on strong chairs or a railing. Do not bring a damp rug indoors, as it can result in mildew, mold, or bad odor.
For best results, you can dry it in the sun since UV rays help the process and help get rid of any lingering odor.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Can You Pressure Wash a Wool Area Rug?
Yes! If you want to know how to clean a wool area rug, follow these three easy steps:
Prepare – Prepare the area rug by hiding it under a protective cover or moving it to the garage.
Pressure Wash – Locate your pressure washer, set the pressure appropriate for your type of rug (medium for wool), and turn on the water.
Clean – Spray the carpet with water until clean and dry with a light brush over any stains that might still be visible before replacing them in their permanent location or storage container.
How often should area rugs be cleaned?
If it’s an office rug or something with a higher traffic load, then cleaning could be done as often as once per week with vacuuming and spot cleaning. If it is outdoors or in an area of lower traffic volume, you can wait every two or three months for the big deep clean. Generally, area rugs should be cleaned at least once a year.
Wrapping it Up
Now that you know how to clean an area rug with a pressure washer, be mindful of checking your rug’s care labels for any specific instructions.
While following these steps can help you achieve the desired results, to increase the longevity of your rug, you should vacuum it regularly and have it professionally cleaned once a year.
