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There's a Formula 409 rug cleaner foam that you spray on, scrub in, then vacuum up. Before we gave up on the Dreadful Beige Faux Oriental Rug, I used this cleaning method with great success. It's about $4 a can, and a can will do an 8x10 area rug.

Like many of my methods, if it doesn't work, you haven't spent much nor done anything that would prevent you from trying something else.

I don't know how fragile it is, but you could try washing it in cold water in the 'gentle/delicate' cycle at your local laundromat.

this is a great question because I have the exact same cream shag rug from target in my living room and my bedroom. I love how it looks (and the price was great) but I've had it for over a year and it's totally dingy and gross now. Also, my cat puked on a portion of it and I can't seem to get the stain out. Is there any place you can take a rug like this for a reasonable price? Any advice is greatly appreciated!!

ok, first of all, baby wipes work great for cat/dog vomit (and other emissions) if used in a timely manner. next, Spot Shot is good for small stains. finally, good luck with keeping a light colored rug clean in ny!

Andrea, I know this might not be what you're looking for with your rug, but I just wanted to pass along the info to anyone else in rug-cleaning mode.

I have a (domestic, synthetic) shag rug that I bought two and a half years ago (for around $600) that was desperately in need of cleaning--mostly because my husband is a big fan of shoes inside the house and my dog spends most of his days sprawled out on it. We had a smaller shag in our last apartment that we tried cleaning with my parents 'professional-quality' steamer, and while TONS of dirt came out, it ended up looking a streaky mess. So ruling out that option when it came to cleaning our living room rug, I decided to spring for sending it out. After reading some reviews I went with LI Carpet Cleaners. They'd given me a phone estimate of $106 (with Scotchguard and deodorizing) but after the rug went thru 'inspection' that estimate went out the window and went up to $148. We got the rug back last week (the entire process takes two weeks-and while it's definitely A LOT cleaner, I was admittedly hoping for better results. (I was apparently hoping for a miracle, but dog bones leave some pretty stubborn stains ; ) Anyway, despite the discrepancy between the estimate and final total, and however disproportionate to the original cost of the rug, I'm happy I went with the service. It just makes the entire living room *feel* cleaner.

FWIW, my co-worker swears by Resolve Foaming Carpet Cleaner ; )

I have a shag flokati rug (6' x 8') and from all of the research I have done, most sites recommend hand washing it.
I wash it in my tub with woolite and a cup of bleach.
It usually takes 2-3 washings and appx an hour. It is hard work because the rug sucks up all of the water and then you have to squeeze it out. But I must say when I'm finished, and it dries, it is much brighter and cleaner.
I wouldn't take it to the laundromat unless you want the owners to be mad at you. Rugs shed and clog up washers.

Um, how often do you vacuum these rugs?

If small enough, take the rug to a dry cleaner that does household items.

I second Resolve foaming carpet cleaner but also second throwing it in the washer. The latter is what we do with bathroom mats (ok they're not shag but I imaging an $80 target rug could take it cuz our's are target also) and they come out fine every time.

I second the comment about using the bathtub - my mother always washed large items that way (in the UK we have less of a dry-cleaner culture) - she would do duvets and blankets and rugs and curtains and basically anything that was washable would just go in the bathtub - its great fun to get in there with your bare feet and stomp up and down on it to get it thoroughly clean - just be careful when lifting to squeeze water out - larger items can become very heavy when soaked with water - if you've got something you can put underneath it to let it drip through for 10 mins it will save your back untold injuries

I have the same rug and the same problem. Where in New York can you find a laundry that has a washer big enough for it?

I bought a 100% acrylic rug about 6 months ago. I expected shedding in the beginning but it is crazy how much this rug sheds! I have red fuzz everywhere. Even in the rooms across the house from it. When I clean out my air filter, the entire filter is pink from fuzz. So oviously we are breathing this stuff. What should I do to get rid of this problem? I have vacuumed it with my kirby on the highest adjustment so it doesn't tear up the rug, I don't know what else to do!

I've got a 5'7"x7'10" shag rug from Ikea named Fenja Rya. It is 54% cotton, 28% viscose/rayan, 20%wool. It recommends 'Professional Flat wash (water)' but I'm pretty sure it'd cost more than the rug cost new. My friend tells me the laundrymat will trash it but I'm not attached to the rug. Plus,I'm tired of my girfriend griping about how filthy it is so I'm taking it to the neighborhood laundrymat while she's out of town. I'm going to try cold, gentle cycle & see what happens.....I'll let you know if I'm going rug shopping tomorrow.

I'm not sure what size carpets you are talking about but how would you fit 5x7 or a 7x10 in a washing machine? I'm just wondering because i'm desperate to get my shag carpet cleaned and I just don't understand how it could fit? Any more information would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks!

indeed, i have the same problem. i have a nice heavy weight 7x10 flokati that needs to be cleaned soon. there is no way i can fit it into the tub and it would be way to heavy to suspend and hang dry if i somehow managed this feat. would a commercial size washing machine fit such a beast? any thoughts aside from finding a willing cleaning service?

I have the same shedding problem with my new rug. It sheds way more than my dogs:) Any advice? When will this stop? I have had it for a month now.

I just found a website that said shedding can last a year, great.