How to Clean a Braided Chenille Rug

If you have a chenille braided rug and you take proper regular care to keep it clean and looking good, it can actually last you a lifetime! Here are some tips on proper maintenance and cleaning which chenille braided rugs require:

Hoover regularly

Make sure you sweep or hoover your rug at least once a week, or more often if there are pets, small children or people with health conditions which can be affected by dust. Thoroughly hoover the rug, and make sure you pay special attention to the high traffic areas and soiled areas. Regular vacuuming will get as much dust and dirt out of your rug as possible and keep it and the room sanitary and free from airborne dust particles.

Don’t beta your rug

Do not beta your braided chenille rug! This can cause permanent damage to the shape of the rug and to its fibres.

Treat spills fast

Treat spills immediately. Blot out the spilled liquid with paper towels or a clean soft cloth, or scrape any harder spilled stuff gently with a spoon. Then proceed to treat the spillage so as to avoid staining. Make sure you blot out any excess water or solution after treating the stain because chenille rugs to not handle water and moisture very well.

Test the solution first

Always test any homemade or commercial solution you are planning to use for cleaning or for stain removal on a small, inconspicuous spot on your chenille braided rug to see if there is a negative reaction from it before using it!

Usually, a mixture of water and mild dish-washing detergent or laundry detergent should do for removing stains. Do not pour the mixture on the rug though! Use a soft white cloth dipped in it to gently dab the stain until it is gone.

Read the labels

Read the labels of your rug to find out if it is safe to machine wash. Make sure you use the gentlest washing cycle and cool or cold water to keep the colours from running. If hand washing is allowed, use a gentle detergent and cold water. Put in the bathtub or take it outside to hand wash it. After you are done, do not attempt to wring it or hang it to dry. Just lay it flat outside, away from direct sunlight and let it dry naturally. For hand washing, use a baby brush or other brush with soft brittles and stroke the rug gently against the nap. After it is dry, use the brush to lift the fibres up again.