How to Vacuum a Rug Without Damaging It

Vacuuming does more for the life of a rug than anything else, and doing it slightly wrong does more damage than not doing it.

Why it matters so much

Grit works down to the base of the pile and cuts the fibre every time someone stands on it. Removing it weekly is the single most effective thing you can do for a rug — more so than washing.

Settings

• Raise the head to its highest setting on a low pile. A head set too low crushes the pile and strains the motor.
• Suction only, or the gentlest brush setting, is plenty on a flat weave.
• Slow passes beat fast ones. Airflow needs time to lift grit from the base.
• Go in two directions — with the pile and across it.

The attachment to avoid

An aggressive rotating beater bar on a low pile is unnecessary and abrades the surface. It exists to agitate deep carpet pile. On a flat rug it does harm without any benefit.

The edges

Vacuum edges with the hose rather than running the head off the side, which drags at the binding. It is the first place a rug fails.