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March 25, 2021
How To Choose the Best Rug Material
March 25, 2021While your outdoor carpets can withstand the harsh environment on your patio or deck, giving them a good wash from time to time will help them stay strong against the elements. Luckily, due to the hardy nature of outdoor carpet materials, it doesn’t take much effort to clean them—even if they grow mold or mildew. Take our advice on how to properly clean your outdoor area rug, and prepare your outdoor living spaces for the onset of warm spring weather.
A Quick Wash for Lightly Soiled Outdoor Rugs
If your outdoor area rug is only slightly dirty, you may just need to hose it down and dry it on a clothesline or the railing of your deck or patio. Make sure the spot where you dry it can withstand the weight of a wet area rug. Spray down the area where the rug was, wait for the rug to dry, and put it back in place!
Because the outdoor porch carpet selection at Koeckritz Rugs is resistant to mold and mildew, keeping up with a regular hose-down routine should prevent any extra effort during the cleaning process. Even the toughest rugs may grow mold after enough time without a wash or sweep, so be sure to make a habit out of regularly hosing down your outdoor carpet.
Washing With Soap and Water
For rugs that require some extra love but aren’t moldy or mildewy, you can use mild dish soap with water to scrub it down. Avoid using harsh soaps that could damage your rug, such as strong cleaning chemicals. If there’s a persistent stain, you can spot clean it with a rug shampoo until it comes out. Use a bristled scrubbing brush to clean between the fibers, and look for any dry messes along the way.
Once you’ve scrubbed the rug to your liking, hose it off and dry it on an outdoor railing or clothesline.
Taking Care of Mold and Mildew on an Outdoor Area Rug
When your rug has survived the most extreme elements—or you left it outside all winter—you may experience some mold or mildew growth underneath and within the fibers. Don’t panic—your rug a lost cause!
Pour vinegar onto your outdoor area rug, and let it sit for an hour. Don’t dilute it with water—just use plain white vinegar. After letting it soak, pour a cup of vinegar into a bucket of warm water, and use your bristled scrubbing brush to finish the job. Wear gloves when cleaning the rug because you don’t want to touch the mold and mildew. Once you’ve scrubbed the rug, you can wash it with dish soap and water and let it dry just like the others.
To prevent mold and mildew from growing, take your outdoor area rugs to a sheltered location when you know severe weather is on the way. When using them on a boat, let them dry over the rail when it’s not in use or on the dock. Hose your outdoor area rugs down regularly and let them dry in strong sunlight to stop mold and mildew in its tracks.
Always read the details of your specific outdoor carpet when researching how to properly clean your outdoor carpet. They may include more specific instructions for certain rug materials.