How to Clean and Maintain Indoor/Outdoor Rugs for Lasting Beauty
Proper care and regular maintenance are key to keeping your indoor/outdoor rug in top shape and looking just as beautiful as the day you bought it. High-performance outdoor rugs are designed to resist water, stains, fading, mold, and mildew while standing up to exposure to the elements or heavy indoor foot traffic—but that doesn't mean they're indestructible. Our care guide offers expert advice on how to clean indoor/outdoor rugs, tips for removing stains, and the best ways to store them to keep your floor coverings beautiful for years to come.
Four Steps to Clean Indoor/Outdoor Rugs
Easy care is one of the primary benefits of choosing an indoor/outdoor rug for your home. Most indoor/outdoor rugs will have a care label with specific cleaning instructions for their material and construction. For the best results, always follow the manufacturer’s directions. In a pinch, you can follow these four simple steps to clean your outdoor rug.
- Remove loose dirt and debris. Shake, sweep, or use a leaf blower to remove pollen, leaves, and flowers that have settled on the rug.
- Wet the rug. Rinse the rug on both sides with a garden hose until thoroughly saturated.
- Apply soap and scrub. Use a gentle cleaning solution to scrub stains or dirty areas; make your own using lukewarm water and mild dish soap or choose an all-purpose cleaner.
- Rinse and dry. Rinse the rug thoroughly, then hang it in a sunny area or drape it over a fence to let it dry completely.
