How To Clean Bamboo Rugs
Do you have a bamboo rug and are unsure of how to clean it? Or do you want to know whether they are easy to clean before buying one?
Bamboo rugs are eco-friendly and durable and a perfect interior design element for anyone on a budget.
They may be delicate, but they are resistant to rot, mold, and water, which makes them a good addition to most areas in your home.
But that doesn’t mean you should neglect cleaning these beautiful rugs.
Lucky for you, there are some easy ways to learn how to clean bamboo rugs to ensure they maintain their beautiful finish.
In this article, we will explain the top methods for cleaning your bamboo rug. We will also explain how to deal with spills, stains, and general upkeep.
What this article covers:
How To Clean Bamboo Rugs
Step 1: Give It A Shake
The first step to cleaning any type of rug often involves dislodging any excess dust and debris.
For bamboo rugs, a simple shake-out should do the trick and get rid of most of the excess dust and debris.
Unlike the process for cleaning furry rugs, you don’t need to whack your bamboo rug with a broomstick to adequately rid your mat of all the debris that is lodged inside.
This is because bamboo rugs don’t have fibers that may cling together.
Just a simple shake should do the trick and prep your rug for the cleaning process. If you are dealing with a large bamboo rug that is too hard to shake out by hand, you can immediately proceed to Step 2.
Step 2: Vacuum
Before cleaning your rug, you want to continue to ensure that all dust and debris are removed.
This makes the process of cleaning natural fiber rugs much easier.
Use the suction attachment on your vacuum and avoid the beater brush as this may scratch the surface of your bamboo rug.
Be sure to vacuum in all directions to ensure you remove as much dust and debris as possible.
Bamboo rugs often come with protective fiber backing. This is often used on rugs made from other natural fibers such as alpaca wool to ensure that they stay in place.
So, when vacuuming and cleaning your bamboo rug (similar to cleaning alpaca rugs), you want to ensure that you vacuum both the front and back of this rug before moving on to the next step.
Step 3: Wipe
The good news is that cleaning bamboo rugs, much like cleaning synthetic rugs (e.g. cleaning nylon carpet stains), includes a good wipe down of the rug.
This is because bamboo can handle the exposure to moisture involved in this step.
Take a damp cloth and give your rug a good wipe.
You can dip the cloth in a mixture of detergent and water or even a little vinegar mixed with water if you are dealing with a very dirty bamboo rug or one that hasn’t been cleaned in a while.
Vinegar is not necessarily suitable for cleaning all types of rugs (like cleaning leather rugs for example) but can act as a good cleaning agent for bamboo rugs.
Step 4: Prepare Cleaning Solution
When it comes to cleaning your bamboo rug, there are a variety of products and home remedies that can be applied to your rug.
Of course, the best option is to invest in professional carpet cleaning chemicals, that are designed to thoroughly clean this type of rug.
We highly recommend something that is safe for use on natural fibers, such as Rug Smack to get the job done.
Unlike cleaning olefin rugs, the process of cleaning natural fiber rugs such as bamboo rugs requires chemicals that are safe for use on natural fibers.
If you want to ensure that the chemicals are safe for use on your rug, you can apply them to an inconspicuous area first to test their reaction.
Once you have deemed the product safe for use, simply dilute the product according to the instructions to prepare it.
If you don’t have professional chemicals at home, you can prepare a solution of dish detergent and water. You can also prepare a mixture of half/half white vinegar and water.
Another alternative is a gallon of warm water mixed with a few drops of dish detergent and a tablespoon of baking soda mixed in until everything dissolves.
Step 5: Clean The Rug
The next step is to apply your cleaning solution and clean your rug. You can place the cleaning solution in a spray bottle and spray it onto your rug.
Alternatively, use a sponge and ensure that the rug is thoroughly coated with the cleaning solution.
Then, use warm water and rinse the cleaning solution out of your rug.
Bamboo rugs are resistant to moisture but do not keep the rug wet for too long. As soon as you have rinsed out all the cleaning solution, move on to the next step.
Step 6: Dry
The last step is to dry out your rug.
The good news is that bamboo dries quite quickly. Hang it up somewhere outside or in a well-ventilated room in the house and leave it to dry.
Another option is to cover the rug with baking soda, which will absorb the moisture.
Leave the baking soda for a few minutes to do its work and then vacuum it up for a quick dry of your rug.
Maintaining Your Bamboo Rug
When it comes to bamboo rugs, proper maintenance is critical in ensuring the longevity of your rug. Find our top tips for caring for your bamboo rug below.
Avoid Sunlight
Bamboo rugs are great for outdoor use, but you want to avoid placing them in direct sunlight.
If you’ve ever had to clean cotton rugs that have been in the sun too long, you would know that the sun can have a damaging effect on rugs.
And bamboo rugs are no different. Prolonged exposure to sunlight can cause the coloring to fade over time.
You can reduce exposure to sunlight by rotating your rug often (every six months or so) to ensure even wear or changing its location in the house every now and again.
If your rug has faded, you can opt to re-stain it to return it to its original color.
Avoid High Traffic Areas
Bamboo rugs are less resilient than other types of natural fibers, such as wool, so you want to avoid placing them in places with high foot traffic like entryways and corridors.
You also want to minimize pets’ access to these types of rugs as their nails may snag the bamboo and cause scratches on the surface of the rug.
Vacuum
Vacuuming both sides of your bamboo rug can go a long way in ensuring its durability over time.
Do this on a bi-weekly or monthly basis depending on how much dust it collects.
Spot Clean
Bamboo rugs are coated with polyurethane, which makes them resistant to stains but you still need to ensure that spills are addressed as soon as they occur.
Like the process for spot-cleaning handmade rugs, bamboo rugs require a gentle approach.
To spot clean stains, use a mixture of 50/50 white vinegar and water with three heaped teaspoons of baking soda.
Use a soft-bristled brush and gently work the mixture into the stain. You can also use a cloth or sponge and blot it onto the area.
Then, use a clean white cloth and blot the stain until it is completely transferred from the rug onto the cloth.
Repeat the process for tougher stains.
Clean Stains ASAP
It is important to deal with stains as soon as they occur.
For liquid stains, gently blot the liquid spill with a cloth to remove as much moisture as you can. For solid stains, scrape up the residue with a blunt object.
This ensures that most of the excess debris or moisture is removed before attempting to clean the stain, an important step in cleaning stains from all types of rugs, including when cleaning rugs with delicate fibers such as when cleaning chenille rugs.
Then follow with a spot clean process using the method described above.
Protect Backing
Most bamboo rugs come with a fiber backing.
This backing needs to be protected and cleaned as often as the top side of the rug.
To clean the fiber backing, you can opt for a professional carpet cleaning shampoo (such as Rug Smack).
Simply dilute the product according to instructions and apply it to the fiber backing using a sponge or spray bottle.
You can also opt for a mixture of dish detergent and water.
Then, use a sponge and gently rinse the soapy mixture out of the fiber backing. It is important to ensure that you dry the fiber backing as soon as possible to prevent rot and mildew.
Hang the rug with the fiber backing facing upwards outside to ensure that the backing dries out completely.
Ensure that this side of the rug is always vacuumed when you vacuum the top side of the rug as well.
Also, avoid exposing the fiber backing to moisture as it will cause rot and mildew and damage the backing of your rug.
Keep Fabric Border In Tact
Some bamboo rugs also come with a fabric border. This also needs to be cleaned, vacuumed and maintained over time.
Remember that this fabric border also needs to be protected against moisture.
Avoid Heat
Exposing your bamboo rug to too much heat over an extended period of time can cause damage.
Heat reduces the lifespan of bamboo. So avoid placing it in a hot area or somewhere where it can be exposed to heat.
Bamboo is fire resistant but exposure to heat will damage the look of your bamboo rug.
Avoid Prolonged Exposure To Water
Bamboo rugs are known for being resistant to water but it is not recommended that they stay wet for too long.
If it has a fiber backing, this is even more pertinent. This is why you should always dry your rug after cleaning before returning it to the floor.
Also, take care when using bamboo rugs in bathrooms as they are prone to getting too wet at times, which may damage the bamboo rug or the fiber backing.
Avoid Harsh Weather
As mentioned earlier, bamboo rugs are a popular option for outside rugs. But, they should be protected against harsh weather conditions.
This is why experts recommend that they be brought inside during harsh winter conditions. You should also avoid leaving them out in the rain.
When storing your bamboo rug indoors, ensure that it is completely dry on both sides before rolling it up and putting it away.
Conclusion
Because of their resistance to moisture, bamboo rugs are quite easy to clean.
However, they are prone to damage from the sun or heat and also require regular upkeep to maintain their finish over time.
With the correct care and cleaning procedures, your bamboo rug will always look as good as the day you bought it.
But, if discoloration occurs, you can always opt to restain it to return it to its original color.
This makes it a durable and versatile option for decorating any area of your home.
Did you find our blog helpful? Then consider checking other guides:
- How to Clean a Rug
- How to Clean a Wool Rug
- How to Clean Faux Fur Rug
- How to Clean a Shag Rug
- How to Clean Sisal Rugs
- How to Clean a Jute Rug
- How to Clean Sheepskin Rug
- How to Clean Cowhide Rug
- Clean a Silk Rug
- How to Clean a Polyester Rug
- How to Clean Persian Rug
- How to Clean Braided Rug
- How to Clean Oriental Rugs
- How to Clean Woven Rug
- How to Clean a Moroccan Rug
