How to Clean a Sisal Rug Without Ruining It
Sisal rugs look great and they are tough underfoot. The catch is water. Sisal is a plant fibre, and like jute and seagrass it soaks liquid up fast, which can make the rug shrink, ripple or leave brown marks. So cleaning a sisal rug is mostly about using as little moisture as possible.
Here is how to look after one at home, what to do when you spill something, and when it is worth calling a professional.
Can sisal rugs get wet?
Only a little. A small splash blotted up straight away is usually fine. Soaking a sisal rug, scrubbing it with soapy water or going over it with a carpet cleaning machine can leave it shrunk, out of shape or stained brown by the fibre itself.
That includes hire machines. They are great on most synthetic carpets but should never be used on sisal, jute, seagrass or coir.
How to clean a sisal rug day to day
- Vacuum it every week. Go over it from both directions. Grit works its way into the weave and cuts the fibres from underneath.
- Vacuum the back too. Every so often, turn the rug over, vacuum the back and the floor under it.
- Turn it round every few months. It will wear evenly and fade evenly in the sun.
- Shake out small mats. Outside, on a dry day.
How to clean a spill on a sisal rug
- Act fast. The sooner you deal with it, the less soaks in.
- Blot, do not rub. Press a dry white cloth or kitchen roll onto the spill and keep turning it to a clean part.
- Lift solids gently. Use a spoon or a blunt knife, working from the outside in.
- If a mark is left, use the bare minimum of water. Dab with a cloth that is barely damp, with a drop of mild washing up liquid, then blot dry straight away.
- Dry it quickly. A fan or a hairdryer on a cool setting helps stop a water ring forming.
Do not use bleach, carpet shampoo or stain removers made for synthetic carpets. If the spill is large, or you are not sure what to do, send us a photo first. A spill that has been scrubbed is much harder to fix than one that has been left alone.
Are sisal rugs easy to clean?
Day to day, yes. They do not hold on to dust the way a thick pile rug does, and a good vacuum keeps them fresh. Stains are the hard part, because the rough natural fibre takes in liquid fast and does not like water. That is why quick action matters more on sisal than on most rugs.
Can sisal rugs be professionally cleaned?
Yes, with a dry cleaning method. We use a low moisture cleaning powder that is brushed deep into the weave, where it soaks up the dirt, and then vacuumed back out. No soaking and no shrinking, and the rug is ready to use again much sooner than after a wet clean.
This photo shows why it works. On the left is fresh cleaning powder. On the right is the same powder after it has been through a jute rug.
To be honest about results: a dry clean brightens a natural rug, lifts the dirt, freshens it up and can shift lighter marks. Old stains and water marks on natural fibres are harder to remove than on a synthetic rug, and we will tell you before we start what we expect.
How to protect a sisal rug
- Keep it away from wet spots, like the kitchen sink, the back door or the bathroom.
- Use a rug pad underneath, so it does not slip or wear from below.
- Keep it out of strong direct sun if you can, as natural fibres fade.
- Ask us whether a fabric protector suits your rug. It helps spills sit on top for longer, so you have time to blot them up.
Jute, seagrass and other natural rugs
Everything here applies to jute, seagrass and coir rugs too. They are all plant fibres, and they all prefer a dry clean to a wet one. Silk, viscose and antique rugs need different care altogether, and for those we work with the best rug spa in Scotland.
Sisal and jute rug cleaning in Glasgow
We clean natural fibre rugs in homes across Glasgow and the surrounding towns. For a price, send us a photo of the rug and its label, with a rough size, on WhatsApp 07759 058595, or call 0141 459 0419. You can read more about our rug cleaning service.
