Hang the rug outdoors for at least 30 minutes to acclimate it to the cold temperature.
Heavy wool rugs can be difficult to clean well without chemical processes. Shaking is hard because of the weight, and beating the rug ends up with a flurry of dust in the air. But if you're in a deep freeze with plenty of powdery snow, the cleanser is right outside your door:
Snow cleaning is an old process that we've heard about in Scandinavia. It works in the midwest, too (or anywhere else, for that matter) during deep winter. After a recent dry dusty snowfall, I tried the cleaning method for myself.
What You Need
Materials at least 3-4" of clean, powdery snow
cold temperatures well below freezing
an area rug in need of a good cleaning
Equipment
broom
a place to hang the rug
Instructions
1. Hang the rug outdoors for at least 30 minutes to acclimate it to the cold temperature (when we did this it was 8F outside). This will prevent snow from melting on the rug.
2. Lay the rug face down in snow.
3. Beat it thoroughly with a broom.
4. Flip the rug over and beat it again.
5. Sweep the snow from the rug.
6. The deep freeze kills smelly bacteria. Beating in the snow loosens dirt and grime. And sweeping the tiny snow crystals from the face of the rug removes any last particles from the surface. The result is a deodorized, bright and clean rug.
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Comments (18)
*Eyes own rug*
*Is now insanely jealous of those in the deep freeze*
how do you dry it? how long does it take to dry?
My parents did that when I was little... Just sweeping the snow off the rug isn't enough (it would get very wet when you bring it back indoors). To really get snow particles out of the fibers, you need to hang the rug again after sweeping the snow, and *beat* the rug with your broomstick... or a tree branch, or something similar. Just hammer it as hard as you can - unless it's a very delicate or low-quality rug, I guess - and then take it back home. It would still get a little moist, but should dry within an hour or so.
And rugs do smell very nice after this kind of cleaning)) :-)
You need lots of dry, crisp and clean snow, though. Sadly, we don't get that in NYC...
I've never thought of this. I've been avoiding taking my rugs outside because of the snow. Maybe worth a shot, thanks!
Genius! Snow is also cleans puppy paws very well. When my two little guys come in from frolicking in the back yard these last few weeks their little paw pads have been scrubbed clean by the snow and the little pads are all cold and pink and so, so clean! They also smell like corn chips ;-)
I'm going to have to try this- thought I would have to wait for spring and get out the carpet shampooer on a day off.
Monica-hmmm, like corn chips? You don't happen to have bassets, do you?
@ mollyangel: I have Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, but my detailed scientific research indicates that all pupper paws smell like corn chips! I know it's weird but when I've scooped up a furbaby I can't help but take a quick sniff whilst I'm snorgling. My friends are all used to it now! LOL
Not worth it Snowiye, not worth it. Believe me. Just go buy a new rug.
And I always thought dog paws smelled like popcorn!
I am *so* trying this technique before winter is over.
And I'm happy to know that the puppy-paw/popcorn connection is not just my imagination! :)
My husband uses this method to get cat vomit stains out of the carpet (I know it sounds gross, but it's a fact of cat ownership). He'll grab a snowball and go grind it into the carpet. After a little while he mops up any residual moisture with a towel. Works like a charm! He wants to keep shaved ice in the freezer just for this purpose. The carpet shampooer doesn't even do this good a job!
Okay, not stains, necessarily, but whenever one of the cats barfs, he immediately attacks it with snow.
Dog paws totally smell like corn chips!
Great idea! Now just have to wait for the Canadian snow to fall...
During my childhood we've done it on a regular basis, yes, works great. I remember thumping on rugs laid flat opposite side up in the snow to beat the dust out of them.
It is a fairly common method back in Russia.
I've always thought my dogs paws smelled like corn chips too! I'm so glad other people agree!
Loved the idea and had to try it but um, yeah, it didn't really work out for me. I ended up with a slightly less dirty, but now wet rug. Full story at min hus.
lol sorry to not contribute to the carpet cleaning technique, which i do think is brilliant, i'm only here to agree with the popcorn/corn chip discussion happening here. love puppy paws.