Yesterday Adrienne took a call from a customer who has a water stain on a Jute Rug. I swear, every call gives me an idea for a blog post.
Jute rugs are not a hot trend right now, but they are a timeless and stylish rug that we see often. Jute rugs are made from an Asian grass. They take the center of the stalk, spin it into fiber, bundle and soak it to soften the tissues of the plant fiber. They are a relatively soft rug compared to other grass rugs, and they are pretty durable – your rugs will actually come back from Mother Nature’s Cleaning rolled and tied with jute because we refuse to use plastic twine.
You can read about the pros and cons of Jute in my blog post about grass rugs. There are arguments for both sides. I have a jute rug under my bed right now, but it would not be my first choice for a high traffic area.
The key to keeping a jute rug clean is really about maintenance. We have been cleaning jute rugs for many years and here are some of our tips to keep them looking their best.
- Vacuum your jute rug regularly! This goes for every rug that you own. This will remove the dirt and debris on the surface but also the fine dirt particles that lodge between the fibers and cause wear and tear. Jute rugs also shed a lot, and this helps to keep it under control.
- Because soiling is next to impossible to remove from a jute rug, it’s better to prevent it from happening at all. Households that have a shoes off policy are safe with jute rugs. For those who do not, we do not recommend this type of rug.
- Apply protector to your rug when it is new. This will help to seal the fibers and prevent things from absorbing into the rug, it also makes your vacuuming, much more effective. It prevents things from sticking to the jute. Just be careful when applying because protector also adds moisture so don’t saturate the rug.
- If a spill occurs, even if it is only water, attend to it immediately. Water will brown your jute. Dirt particles, carried to the top by a spill, will leave a dark stain. Carefully remove any solids. Do not rub! Blot the spill with a clean absorbent cloth. Rubbing will push the substance deeper into the fiber. Start at the outside and work your way towards the middle to prevent the stain from growing and spreading.
- If you need to spot clean, a dry-cleaning agent is the best option. Pretest your cleaning agent in an inconspicuous area and proceed according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
- Professionally clean as needed. Never steam clean or wet-shampoo your jute rug or carpeting.
Hopefully these tips will help you to keep the rug in great shape, but of course, when you need help or just have questions, you can always call Mother Nature’s Cleaning and we are here to help in whatever way we can!
Happy Cleaning!
