Why Moroccan Rugs Are Unique and Require Special Care
All rugs at Moroccan Miracles are a one-of-a-kind authentic Moroccan rug using traditional handweaving methods and made from natural materials, with most consisting of 100% pure Moroccan wool that is locally sourced.
A good quality Moroccan rug is very robust and if you care for your rug correctly, it will last you a lifetime. Here are your questions answered and some guidelines for cleaning Moroccan rugs, including ways to deep clean and spot clean:
Spot Cleaning a Moroccan Rug
It’s inevitable that you’re going to spill something on your rug - life happens. With self cleaning small stains or spills, you don't need a harsh chemical cleaner. It is best to act quickly on spills so you will not need professional rug cleaning. Follow these simple steps to ensure the longevity of your Moroccan rug:
Step-by-Step Guide:
Step 1: Blot the spill with paper towels or a dry cloth.
Step 2: Soak the stain with a mixture of warm water and a mild dish soap cleaning solution. Please use a mild detergent and not a harsh chemical cleaner.
Step 3: Dab gently with a damp cloth. It’s best not to scrub the stain - as this will force the substance deeper into the fiber of the rug.
Step 4: Blot dry and let it air dry for a few hours until it is dry completely.
Deep Cleaning Your Moroccan Rug
To deep clean Moroccan rugs, the most important thing you can do for the cleaning process is to air your wool rug in the sunlight at least twice a year. Follow this easy two-step process.
Step 1: Take your rug outdoors and give it a good shake or bat it a few times with a beater bar or broom handle to remove loose dirt. We recommend wearing eye protection particularly for keeping dust from your eyes when you remove dirt from your rug.
Step 2: Hang the rug in an area with sunlight and good airflow for a few hours. The UV light from the sun will help to kill any bacteria in the rug as well as loosening dust and dirt.
Cleaning High-Pile Moroccan Rugs
A good quality rug such as those from our Beni Ourain collection are thick, dense and plush. To keep them like this rotation, airing and giving them a bash is important.
Cleaning Flat Woven or Low-Pile Moroccan Rugs
Flat woven rugs like those from our Kilim and Boujad collections are easier to handle due to their lightness. Easily hang this style of Moroccan rug to air on a sunny day for sustaining best quality.
For cleaning Moroccan rugs when they get grubby, we recommend professional rug cleaning. Getting it professionally cleaned for a deep clean will keep your rug at its best.
Cleaning Different Types of Moroccan Rugs
Let's break down cleaning methods for each type of moroccan rug that we stock.
Azilal, Beni Ourain, Boujad and Kilim rugs
These rug collections are all new Moroccan rugs made from natural materials that you need to vacuum regularly. Make sure you get to those hard to reach places where your rug can develop dust and recollect dirt like under the couch, bed and dining room table. It is important to air your rug outdoors (at minimum) twice a year and give the entire rug a bash with a broom handle to remove loose dirt.
Vintage rugs
Older vintage rugs have already had a life of their own and this is the beauty of this type of Moroccan rug! For in home cleaning of these beauties, use a vacuum cleaner regularly to remove excess dirt, hang the rug in the sun at least twice a year and give the entire rug a bash with a beater bar to remove that loose dirt.
Berber Rugs
We do not use the term Berber rugs, as Berber is a derogatory term used for the indigenous peoples of North Africa that was imposed by the colonisers. It stems from the word barbaric. The majority of the Moroccan population is indigenous and every good quality rug is made from techniques that come from these tribal traditions.
Moroccan Rug Rotation
Move it, shake it, rotate your rug!
It is important every so often to rotate your rug ensuring bacteria does not build up in areas where there is less foot traffic and sunlight. You can move your Moroccan rug in the opposite direction or even flip it onto the other side. All our rugs are made from natural fibres and they love to be moved around, which helps the cleaning process, to remove excess dust. This will also help to age the rug evenly.
Note: direct sunlight may cause fading of your colourful rug over time.
Long-Term Care and Professional Cleaning Tips
There is no time frame of when to professionally clean your Moroccan rug. It depends if it's in a high foot traffic area, shoes are worn on it (which we do not recommend) or if life just got a bit messy.
When your entire rug looks a bit lacklustre, we recommend professional cleaning for your Moroccan rug. A professional clean can remove stains, get rid of a stained area, a stubborn stain and assist with stain removal of dark spots.
Be sure to maintain your rug with a regular vacuum to get rid of excess dirt and spot clean small stains.
We recommend leaving shampoo products off your rug. Even a non corrosive shampoo can leave a sticky residue or shampoo residue and excess liquid which is not ideal.
How to Maintain Moroccan Rugs in High-Traffic Areas
In areas where there is a lot of foot traffic like hallways we recommend using a rug pad. A rug pad will assist your Moroccan rug to stay in place. As this area gets more use it is important to vacuum regularly to remove dust and dirt particles to extend rug life.
FAQs
How can I remove dust and allergens from my Moroccan rug?
Vacuum regularly to keep your wool rugs clean removing dust and dirt particles. We recommend using a soft brush roller head and vacuuming in one direction i.e. from top to bottom. Don’t use a vacuum cleaner with a brush or rotating motorhead, as these tend to tear out the natural fibres. If you can, flip the rug over and vacuum the back as well it will help it to shed and settle.
Do Moroccan rugs shed? Is there any way to prevent it?
All our new Moroccan rugs are made from natural wool fibres. When you initially get them home Moroccan rugs shed excess wool. You will need to vacuum your rug regularly for the first few weeks until your Moroccan rug settles into itself. Once your authentic Moroccan rug gets past this initial stage the entire rug will have made itself at home!
Older vintage rugs have already been through this initial process and do not shed like new rugs.
Can I wash my Moroccan rug at home?
You can clean Moroccan rugs at home rather than professional cleaning. The cleaning process we use for cleaning Moroccan rugs in Morocco is often done at home. The Moroccan style deep cleaning involves hanging the rug up (often on a tall ladder) and hosing it down with cold water or taking it to the local car wash for a 'dry cleaning' service.
How do I safely remove pet stains from my Moroccan rug?
Pet stains can be removed by spot cleaning small stains on your Moroccan rug.
You can also get the rug professionally cleaned for stain removal. A professional cleaner will remove stains from a stained area or a more stubborn stain that wont budge in home cleaning.
Do Moroccan rug colors fade?
Anything fades with enough exposure to the sun and your Moroccan rug is no different.
Direct sunlight may cause fading of your colorful rug and its natural dyes over time, so rotation of you rug is important so the fade is even over time.
What are common mistakes to avoid when cleaning Moroccan rugs?
Not airing or rotating your Moroccan rug enough! This is an important step in self cleaning, for a clean Moroccan rug. When your rug gets a deep clean, rug cleaning will be more effective and keep your rug looking it's best for generations.
We recommend leaving shampoo products off your rug. Even a non corrosive shampoo with cold water, can leave a sticky residue or shampoo residue and excess liquid which is not ideal.
How often should I get my rug professionally cleaned?
A professional cleaner for a deep clean of your rug shouldn’t need to be done more than once every couple of years.
