Nothing beats the look and feel of a brand-new cowhide rug. Visitors and guests eagerly walk and step all over your prized decoration and when they say their goodbyes, the dust and dirt they leave on your rug’s fine furs stay behind. But not to worry – we’ve got a couple of tips on how to clean and maintain your cowhide rug.
The great thing about cowhide rugs (aside from how awesome they look) is that they’re pretty easy to clean. Cowhide rugs possess a lot of natural properties - properties that help them keep their sleek look and durability.
Most of the common household items you’ve probably got laying around can do the job. The different stains that might dirty your rug are all cleanable – but you have to know the proper methods to deal with each one. The procedure for cleaning a spill is different than that of a food stain and a grease stain.
1. Act Fast
You watch in horror as a cup full of juice tumbles towards the floor, showering your precious cowhide rug with red liquid. Instead of just standing there, act quickly. Grab a paper towel or a dry cloth and blot out the liquid. If the stain has settled in, grab some non-alkaline soap, detergent, water or organic white vinegar and apply it to the stain. Then apply a bit to a damp cotton cloth and scrub the stains out.
2. Crumbs Everywhere
A rug can usually be found in the living room, and the living room is where people sometimes chow down on everything from snacks to meals. So don’t be surprised if you inspect your rug and find crumbs and other food stains embedded in its hairs. Use a dull knife, spoon or even a brush with hard bristles to scrape away the food particles so that they don’t embed themselves in the fabric.
3. Not Easy Being Greasy
Imagine getting grease stains all over your favorite shirt. It’s a nightmare, right? Well, think about how distressing it might be getting grease stains all over your new rug. Find a brush (with hard bristles), spoon or dull knife and carefully scrape the rug fibers in the direction in which they grow. Apply a small amount of organic eucalyptus oil onto the stain and brush methodically brush it with a clean, dry cloth. For the last step, wipe the stain with a damp cloth. Remember to air dry the rugs. If the stains remain, consider contacting a professional rug cleaning service.
4. The Steam Clean Dream
If steam cleaning is the route you choose to go, then the first thing you’ll want to do is vacuum to remove any loose soil. Activate the steam cleaner, allow it to heat up and steam clean the rug, going in the same direction of hair growth. Take caution not to leave the cleaner on one part of the carpet so no parts get too saturated. Let the rug air dry outside afterwards.
5. A Simple Shake
Sometimes you don’t need soap and water, cleaning supplies or a steam cleaner to get the rug clean. Sometimes a nice, hard shake is all the rug needs. Go outside and hang the rug on a clothesline or a fence and find a broom, baseball bat or another object that’s similar and give it a couple of good whacks. This will eliminate a good amount of loose dirt and dust, and the best part is that you can easily do it once or twice a week.
