Wool rugs are beautiful, soft, and long-lasting — but they need gentle care. Clean them too harshly, and you risk shrinking, fibre damage, or discolouration. This blog is a step-by-step guide on how to clean a wool rug safely at home. It will also tell you when it’s best to call a professional (like Buon Cleaning) to do the job for you.

1. Can You Clean a Wool Rug Yourself?

Wool is natural and delicate. But yes, you can clean many wool rugs at home. However, there are a few things you must consider before trying:

• Rugs with a dye bleeding risk must and should only be cleaned using professional services
• Very large or heavy rugs may be too hard to dry fully and must be cleaned professionally
• If stains are deep or the rug is antique/fragile, call a professional.

If you decide to DIY, proceed slowly and stop if you see damage.

2. What Tools and Supplies do you need to clean a wool rug?

Item	Why do you need it
Vacuum (on gentle mode)	To remove dust before wet cleaning
Soft brush or a microfiber cloth	For gentle scrubbing
A water bucket	To mix the cleaning solution
Lukewarm water	Too hot may shrink wool
Mild wool-safe detergent or wool shampoo	Use pH-neutral formulas
White towels or cleaning cloths	For blotting moisture
Fan or air circulation/drying rack	To speed up the drying
Spray bottle, soft sponge	For spot treatment

Important: Always test your cleaning solution on a small, hidden corner before full cleaning.

3. Step-by-Step: How to Clean a Wool Rug

Step 1: Dry Vacuum Thoroughly

Vacuum both sides gently. Make sure to get all loose dust and grit. This minimises abrasion later.

Step 2: Spot-treat Stains

• Use diluted wool detergent: mix a small amount with water.
  
• Blot (don’t rub) the stain from the outside toward the centre.
  
• For oily stains, you can use a little isopropyl alcohol on a white cloth (test first).
  
• For biological stains (pet, coffee), use an enzyme-free, wool-safe stain remover.

Step 3: Full Rug Cleaning (if needed)

• Fill a bucket with lukewarm water and wool detergent (follow instructions for dilution).
• Lightly wet the rug using a sponge or soft brush. Work in small sections.
• Gently scrub in the pile direction.
• Don’t saturate — avoid flooding the fibres.

Step 4: Rinsing

• Always use lukewarm water to rinse out soap.
• You can always use a second bucket.
• Ensure no soapy residue remains because it is the main attraction of the dust.

Step 5: Remove Excess Moisture

• Blot with towels. Press down—don’t wring the rug.
• Roll the rug (nap inward) over towels to absorb water.
• If the rug is small enough, stand it up to dry.

Step 6: Drying

• Dry flat in shade (direct sun can fade).
• Use good air circulation—fans, open windows.
• Flip the rug — dry the underside too.
• Avoid walking on it until fully dry (may take 24–48 hours).

Step 7: Final Touches

• Use a soft brush to lift the nap (the rug’s fibres) gently.
• Vacuum lightly to restore texture.
• Optionally, apply a fabric-safe protector for future stains.

4. Tips & Warnings (Don’t Do These)

• Don’t use harsh cleaners, bleach, or ammonia.
• Don’t scrub vigorously — wool fibres break easily.
• Don’t soak in too much water—wool absorbs and stays wet.
• Never use very hot water or high-heat drying.
• Avoid over-wetting edges/fringe—they can distort.
• Don’t let spills sit—treat immediately.

5. How Often Should You Clean a Wool Rug?

• Vacuum weekly or at least every 1–2 weeks.
• Do spot cleaning as needed (spills, stains).
• A full cleaning (DIY or professional) every 12–18 months is a good rule of thumb.
• If the rug experiences heavy foot traffic, has pets, or is in a dusty area, consider cleaning it yearly.

6. When to Hire a Professional (and What to Expect)

You should avail yourself of professional rug cleaning services if:

• The rug is large, heavy, or mounted
• The dyes are unstable or vibrant
• You are unsure of the material or fibre
• Stains are deeply embedded or old
• You want a safe guarantee

Then a professional service is safer. For example, Buon Cleaning offers rug cleaning services where experts inspect the rug type, pre-treat, deep clean, and apply protective treatments. They handle all types, including wool, and use eco-friendly solutions. 

Advantages of hiring professionals:

• They have equipment that rinses deeper without over-wetting
• They know how to treat difficult stains
• They can help with large or delicate rugs
• They often offer pickup/dropoff or in-home service

If you opt for a professional, do enquire about the following:

1. Do you specialise in wool rugs
2. What cleaning method will you use (wet, dry, steam)
3. Damage or shrinkage liability
4. Drying time and pick-up options
5. Cost breakdown

Because Buon Cleaning does carpet, rug, upholstery, and more, they likely already have expertise with cleaning wool rugs.

7. Maintaining Your Wool Rug (Between Cleanings)

• Rotate the rug every 6 months for even wear
• Use rug pads—reduce friction and wear
• Promptly blot spills
• Avoid placing it in direct sunlight
• Vacuum gently on low settings
• Use soft furniture feet to avoid indentations

8. Wool Rug Cleaning Cheat Sheet

1. Do vacuuming on both sides of the rug
2. Spot test and treat stains
3. Mix mild wool detergent in lukewarm water
4. Gently clean in small patches
5. Rinse thoroughly
6. Blot dry — don’t wring. Use towels or soft cleaning cloths.
7. Air-dry flat, flip, ventilate
8. Brush nap, vacuum
9. Maintain & rotate

9. How Buon Cleaning’s Services Relate

Buon Cleaning (based in Nottingham, UK) offers full rug cleaning services that include the following:

• Deep inspection and professional assessment
• Pre-treatment of stains to effectively remove the stains
• Deep cleaning without damaging the rug
• Protective finishing to keep your wool rug looking like new for longer. 
• Specialised services (pet stains, end-of-tenancy)

If your wool rug is large, old, or has stubborn stains, you can use Buon Cleaning’s expert service. Their experience with wool and eco-safe methods gives you peace of mind. 

Conclusion

You can clean a wool rug, but you need the right tools, the right methods, and a lot of time. Follow the guide above and do all of the steps. You can also hire a professional cleaning service like Buon Cleaning, which has been in business for over five years and has many satisfied customers.