Jute's comfy underfoot and forgiving of dirt and grime — up to a point. Here's how I clean mine.
Time 1 to 3 hours
ComplexityBeginner
Cost$0 to $10
Introduction
Jute rugs add a beachy, casual flair I love, but they can be a little tricky to clean.
Jute, a natural plant fiber taken from the inner bark of multiple species of Corchorus plants, doesn't hold up to traditional wet or steam carpet cleaning. That's not surprising, since jute's biodegradability is a major draw. In addition to rugs, jute is used for making environmentally-friendly packaging materials like burlap sacks and cordage, as well as erosion-control implements like sandbags.
But back to jute rugs. If you're not supposed to get it wet, how in the heck do you clean it?
Luckily, I've found a few successful "dry-clean" methods that are also safe for your rug. I've learned it's OK to spot clean it a bit, too, but avoid wetting large areas of the rug. Jute can discolor, and it's a bit like a sponge. It takes a long time to dry, and no one wants a moldy, smelly rug.
I try to clean up spills quickly and vacuum periodically (especially underneath where dirt falls through). This helped me keep my jute rug looking great for years. Vacuuming will suck up some of the plant fibers, so don't be alarmed the first time you look in the vacuum canister. If that's a dealbreaker, shaking out a jute rug works great, too.
Here's my simple five-step process for cleaning a jute rug:
Watch How To Clean a Jute Rug
Tools Required
- Bowl or spray bottle
- Clean white sponge or cloth
- Fan or hair dryer
- Spoon or other dull tool
- vacuum cleaner
Materials Required
- Dry carpet cleaner or baking soda
- Mild detergent or natural fiber soap
- White vinegar
Project step-by-step (6)
Step 1
Shake
- If it’s a small rug, take it outside and shake it to remove loose soil.
- For large rugs, hang it on your fence and beat it with a broom handle.
- If you can’t drag it outside (like me!), just lift and shake or beat, then vacuum.
- Avoid prolonged direct sunlight to reduce fading.
Step 2
Vacuum
- Vacuum using the hardwood setting (aka disengage the beater bar).
- Don’t forget to vacuum underneath to get dirt that falls through.
Step 3
Dry bath
- Sprinkle with dry carpet cleaner or baking soda.
- Allow to sit according to package directions so the dirt adheres to the cleaning particles.
- Vacuum, shaking the rug periodically to loosen cleaner or baking soda.
Step 4
Spot clean (dried)
- Loosen stuck-on food or mud with a dull tool, like a spoon.
- Vacuum large particles to remove them.
- Follow with spot-cleaning steps below.
Step 5
Spot clean (fresh)
- Dab small wet stain with clean white towel or sponge. Do not rub.
- Keep pressing the clean part of cloth into spill until no more is transferred.
- Place an absorbent towel underneath rug.
- Apply a mixture of mild soap, vinegar and water with clean cloth. Dab gently, don’t rub.
- Don’t overdo the soap. A few drops, a one-quarter cup of vinegar and a cup or two of water is plenty.
- Rinse by dabbing repeatedly with clean towel dipped in fresh water.
- Dry with a fan, or hair dryer on no-heat setting.
Step 6
When to professionally clean
I rely on pros when I have:
- Large stains and spills.
- Stains I can’t get out.
