How to Clean Polypropylene Rugs

A rug can hide around 0.5kg of dirt per 1 sq.m, which makes cleaning them at regular intervals that much more important. Dirty rugs will not only hamper the look of your house but will also affect your health adversely. 

How to Clean Polypropylene Rugs

Do you wish to know how to clean Polypropylene rugs? If yes, then check this article to get an idea about the specific methods and steps. 

Method #1: Regular Vacuuming

The best way of cleaning the polypropylene rugs is by vacuuming regularly. It helps remove the dirt, dust, and debris easily from the surface. Moreover, it doesn’t damage the rug. Here are the steps how you can clean your rugs by this method:

• Use a household-grade vacuum cleaner for this purpose. 
• Turn it on and first take it over the spots that seem the dustiest. 
• If you have reversible rugs, vacuum both the sides 
• If you have delicate rugs, use nozzle attachments for lifting dirt from the surface.
• Use a suction control attachment for cleaning a lightweight rug. Else, it might damage the fabric.

It is advisable to vacuum your rug at least once a week. If you have pets in your house, you can opt for vacuuming two times a week. Here’s a video that shows the right way to vacuum a carpet.

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Warning

Avoid beating the rug, as it will deteriorate the latex backing of it. In case the polypropylene rug is not reversible, then you should avoid vacuuming its back. Vacuuming the delicate back of a rug might damage the fibers.

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Method #2: Spot Clean the Stains

Polypropylene rugs are quite durable. However, oil stains can seem impossible to remove from them. Just like any other rug, a polypropylene rug needs immediate attention when it encounters an oil stain.

The longer the stain stays on the rug, the more difficult it gets to remove it. Here are the cleaning steps you need to follow:

• Check the manufacturer’s instructions about spot cleaning of the particular rug. 
• For wet stains, use a clean cloth or paper towel with water to blot them. If required, you can mix mild dish soap with water and pour it over the cloth.
• Oil stains demand dry cleaning liquid for removal. Hence, use the dry-cleaning liquid to blot the stain. Continue it until the spot vanishes. 
• If the stain is solid, scrape debris from the rug’s surface before blotting the area with water/dry cleaning liquid and a clean cloth.
• Once the spot is out, you can vacuum the rug. 

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Warning!

When you blot, remember not to rub the stain with the cloth. It will damage the fabric and digs the stain deeper into the polypropylene rug.

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Method #3: Clean with A Garden Hose and Dish Soap

Polypropylene rugs need less maintenance than compared to other types of rugs. It is quite easy to wash these rugs as well. The steps are as follows:

• Take out the rug outside on a sunny day. 
• Wet it entirely with the garden hose. 
• Use a small quantity of mild dish soap for cleaning.
• Use a scrub or brush for cleaning the rug, with dish soap applied to it.
• Now, rinse the rug again with the garden hose properly to leave no dish soap residue.
• Let the rug air dry over a clothesline rope. Air drying is better than machine drying to avoid damage to the fabric of the rugs. 

Cleaning all of your rugs in the spring is the best thing you can do to ensure that they last you years.

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Warning

Avoid taking out your rug in windy, cloudy, or dusty weather, as it will damage your rug.

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Method #4: Steam Cleaning the Polypropylene Rugs

Steam cleaning is yet another popular method of cleaning polypropylene rugs. It is actually pretty effective in cleaning non removable cushions as well. It is in no way harmful, as polypropylene is a durable material to withstand this cleaning method. So, go ahead with yet another convenient mode of cleaning rugs:

• Get a quality steam cleaner that has intensity controllers in it. 
• Remove all the furniture and other things placed on the rug. 
• Now, use a vacuum cleaner to get rid of dirt, dust, and debris from the surface. 
• If you see stains, use the spot cleaning method to blot them with the usual water or dish soap solution. 
• Now run a steam cleaner over the outer side of the polypropylene rug. Do it fast on the rugs, as slow steaming might damage the fabrics. 
• Now, put the carpet or rug to dry after steam cleaning is over. 

This is a method that combines vacuuming, spot cleaning, and steam cleaning altogether for efficient & cleaner output.

Method #5: Water & Bleach Blotting for Stubborn Stains

At times, some stains are super stubborn for people to eradicate them from rugs. The usual methods might not work feasibly on stubborn stains. Therefore, you need to make use of a mixture of bleach and water for effective results. 

• Prepare a solution with 90% water and 10% bleaching agent.
• Submerge a clean cloth into the mixture and blot it over the stain.
• Move the cloth in circular motions. 
• Doing this twice will give you the desired results.

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Note

You need to go with this method only if the stain is not removable by the above-mentioned methods. This method is your last resort to clean the most stubborn stains out of the polypropylene rugs. This also works great for deep cleaning bath mats.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How Frequently Should I Clean my Rug?

You need to vacuum your rug once every week. Thorough washing (method 3) of the polypropylene rugs can be done once a year. Moreover, other stain removal methods are preferable when there are visible and unbearable stains. 

Are these Methods Appropriate for Cleaning all Types of Rugs?

Every rug has different fabric properties, for which you need to wash them differently with diverse methods. You need to understand that inappropriate cleaning can damage the rug and shorten its life. So, take note of appropriate cleaning measures of different rugs, as the aforementioned methods are only for a polypropylene rug.

Can I Use a Hairdryer to Dry my Polypropylene Rug After a Wash?

You should not try it at all. Hairdryer pushes out hot air to the rug surface, which damages its fabrics. It is better to put the rug in direct sunlight over the clothesline to let them air dry. 

How to Clean Vomit, Urine, and Mud Stains from the Rugs?

For cleaning such stains, use bleach and water mixture and dab the stained area with it. Use a sponge or clean cloth to do the blotting. When the stain is out, you can let it dry and then vacuum it. Method 5 is the right option for such stains.

Conclusion

Polypropylene rugs are quite an investment for any house. Moreover, residents intend to keep it clean to add a majestic appeal to the house. Therefore, all of these methods stated above can help you achieve proper and efficient cleaning without much expense.