How To Clean a Seagrass Rug (5 Step-By-Step Guides)

Seagrass rugs are natural rugs made of woven fibers from dried sedge plants. Because of this, seagrass rugs are one of the most affordable, durable rugs you can buy and are highly resistant to stains and water. Even better, seagrass rugs are ecologically sound. We have step-by-step instructions on how to clean seagrass rugs below to help you keep yours looking beautiful.

How to Clean a Seagrass Rug (5 Different Methods)

1. Normal Cleaning and Maintenance of a Seagrass Rug

There’s no need to make a big fuss about the regular cleaning of a seagrass rug, as you can do it almost exactly the same way you clean a regular rug. Here’s the best way to do it:

1. Vacuum your seagrass rug once a week. Frequent vacuuming will extend your seagrass rug’s life.
2. Vacuum without the beater bar. It’s too rough on the natural fibers.
3. Set your vacuum to the highest suction level when possible.
4. Vacuum from several directions.
5. Make several passes over all areas of the rug.
6. Take extra care when vacuuming the border of the rug.
7. After vacuuming, lightly mist your seagrass rug with water and let it dry completely.

Because they’re made from natural fibers farmed in the sea, seagrass rugs dry quickly. If you live in an area with very little humidity, misting your seagrass rug after vacuuming is highly recommended. This will help reduce any bubbling of the rug and, as it dries, allow it to remain tightly woven. Be careful to apply a light mist since saturating a seagrass rug can cause it to expand and could cause the dyes in the underlay to make a stain.

2. Spot Cleaning a Liquid Spill on Your Seagrass Rug

An occasional spill is inevitable with any rug, and seagrass rugs are no exception. If you spill something on your seagrass rug, follow the steps below to clean it.

1. Blot (don’t rub) the spill immediately with a clean towel. Continue to blot the stain until the towel stops absorbing moisture.
2. Let the stain dry completely. It may take a few hours.
3. If there’s still a stain after drying, use a damp cloth and mild soap, rubbing lightly from the edges of the stain to its center to avoid making it larger.
4. Blot the cleaned but wet area with a towel, like in Step #1.
5. Immediately dry the stain using a hairdryer or a portable fan.
6. If the stain persists, try using a dry rug cleaner following the manufacturer’s directions.

3. Spot Cleaning a Solid Spill on Your Seagrass Rug

The cleaning procedure is slightly different for solid spills like chocolate cake, chip dip, guacamole, and soot.

1. Scrape up the solid food with the edge of a dull knife or spatula, taking care not to spread it further.
2. Follow the directions for cleaning a liquid spill.

4. Spot Cleaning Red Wine or Tomato Sauce on Your Seagrass Rug

Red wine and tomato sauce are the bane of any rug, especially seagrass rugs. Follow the instruction below to ensure they don’t leave a permanent stain.

1. Grab a bottle of club soda.
2. Pour some club soda onto a clean, dry cloth.
3. Dab (don’t rub) the towel on the wine or tomato sauce until you’ve absorbed all of it.
4. Mix a neutral dish detergent (Dawn works well) in a small bowl of warm water.
5. Using a sponge, sponge the soapy water onto the stain. Work from the edges into the center to prevent the stain from spreading.
6. Blot the soapy water away with a clean towel.
7. Clean again with soapy water if the stain persists.
8. Blot again if necessary.
9. Dry the stain immediately with a hair dryer or portable fan.
10. If the stain persists, try using a dry rug cleaner following the manufacturer’s directions.

5. Removing Mold From Your Seagrass Rug

If you live in a humid part of the US, you might find mold growing on your seagrass rug. When you do, follow the steps below to remove it and prevent mold from returning.

1. Make a water and chlorine mixture with ½ cup of chlorine bleach and 24 ounces (700 milliliters) of water.
2. Mix the water and chlorine bleach thoroughly. This will prevent the bleach from causing discoloration on your seagrass rug.
3. Pour the water and bleach into a spray bottle.
4. Test a hidden spot on the rug to ensure it doesn’t discolor it. If discoloration occurs, add some more water.
5. Spray a very light mist of the mixture onto the mold.
6. Let the mixture sit for 8 to 10 minutes.
7. Blot up the mixture with a clean towel.
8. Dry the area right away with a hair dryer or fan.
9. Repeat the process until the gum is removed.

Can Seagrass Rugs Get Wet?

Although seagrass rugs are highly water-resistant, they can still be saturated with water if enough is used. However, soaking a seagrass rug is the last thing you want to do, even if it’s filthy. If it gets saturated with water, the carpet can expand greatly, and then, when it dries, it will contract and distort the shape. If your seagrass rug is completely submerged in clean water from a burst water pipe, you should remove it, place it outside, and let it dry completely in the sun. If the rug was submerged in contaminated water, it might need to be discarded.

Can You Steam Clean a Seagrass Rug?

Rug experts advise that you never clean a seagrass rug with a steam cleaner or any other method that involves using heavy moisture. That includes wet shampooing. Too much water, as we’ve seen, can alter the shape and also cause seagrass rugs to become stained. Instead, a dry rug cleaning method is recommended.

Final Thoughts

Regular cleaning of a seagrass rug is relatively straightforward using your ordinary household vacuum cleaner. It’s recommended that you vacuum your seagrass rug often to remove dirt, dust, grime, and other gunk, which will extend your rug’s life. Cleaning most spills and stains out of a seagrass rug isn’t difficult but requires little time and effort. We hope the tips and steps we’ve provided today will help keep your seagrass rug looking fantastic for many years.

Featured Image Credit: paulalinescu, Shutterstock