How To Clean A Faux Fur Rug [5 Steps]

A nice faux fur rug can make a great addition to your bedroom or living room. Unfortunately, at some point, you may find your rug riddled with dirt or stains from everyday usage. It's important to know the best ways to clean your rug to ensure that you don't damage it during the process. We did the research to come up with the best cleaning method. 

Here are the steps to clean a faux fur rug:

1. Shake or vacuum the rug
2. Fill a tub with soapy water
3. Let the rug soak in the water
4. Rinse the rug with warm water
5. Dry the rug

The steps to clean your faux fur rug will vary slightly depending on the material that the rug is composed of, its care instructions, and the type of cleaning that the rug needs. Below we've provided the steps for a general method that you can use to clean your faux fur rug, so keep reading. 

Steps To Clean A Faux Fur Rug

Many faux fur rugs should be dry-cleaned, as opposed to machine or hand-washed to keep them from becoming knotted and tangled. Before you attempt to wash your faux fur rug using any of the methods below, always be sure to look at the care tag beforehand.

Things you'll need for the cleaning processes:

• Handheld vacuum or upright with a hose attachment
• Mild laundry detergent or sheepskin detergent
• Cat brush
• Baby shampoo
• Baking soda
• Sponge
• White cleaning cloth

1. Shake Or Vacuum The Rug

Before you apply chemicals or water to the rug, it's always best to remove any loose dirt or debris that may be embedded in its fibers. One of the best ways to do this is to simply vacuum it with a handheld vacuum or an upright vacuum with a hose attachment.

When running the vacuum over the rug, be sure to run it in the direction of the grain to prevent the rug from becoming tangled. You can also simply shake the rug to remove any loose dirt as well--it's best to do this outside to avoid creating a mess inside your home.

2. Fill a tub with soapy water

Start by filling your sink or bathtub with lukewarm water and add a tablespoon of mild laundry detergent to the water.

3. Let the rug soak in the water

Place the rug in the tub and gently swish it around with your hand, agitating it to loosen up any dirt and debris caught in the fibers. Don't rub or wipe the rug in any way, as it could cause it to become matted and develop knots. After agitating the rug, allow it to soak in the water anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes, depending on how soiled it is.

4. Rinse the rug with warm water

Once you are satisfied that the rug is clean, drain the water from the tub or basin. Next, re-fill the tub with lukewarm water and gently agitate the rug again to remove all of these soap and residue from its fibers. Be sure that you do not squeeze or wring out the rug while rinsing it off. Instead, simply roll the rug up tightly to help squeeze out any excess water.

5. Dry the rug

After you have rinsed the rug, unroll it and stretch it out on a flat surface for it to dry. Be sure not to overstretch the rug when laying it down. If the weather is warm and sunny, you can also hang it outside on a clothing line to dry.

Sometimes your faux fur rug may need a lighter or heavier cleaning depending on how soiled it is. Below are a couple of other ways that you can give your rug a quick cleaning.

For Light Cleaning

If your faux fur rug is slightly dirty and in need of a light cleaning, here are the steps to do it:

1. Start by shaking the rug outdoors to remove any embedded dirt and dust.
2. Next, take a vacuum and run it over the rug in the direction of the fibers. If you are using an upright rug, be sure to use the hose attachment.
3. Take a fourth of a cup of mild detergent and pour it into a bowl of lukewarm water.
4. Grab a soft sponge and dip it in the water, making sure to wring it out before applying it to the rug.
5. Lightly dab the rug with the sponge, paying special attention to heavily soiled or darker areas on the rug.
6. Rinse off the sponge with lukewarm water and go over the rug again to soak up any soapy residue.
7. Use a cat brush to go over the entire rug and smooth out any areas that have become matted.
8. Hang the rug outside (if the weather permits) or place it on a flat surface for it to dry. When hanging it outside, be sure not to hang it in an area where there is direct sunlight, as it may cause it to shrink.

If your faux fur rug is heavily soiled or needs a more thorough cleaning, you can also toss it in the washing machine (if the care tag recommends it).

Click here to see this detergent on Amazon.

For Heavy Cleaning

If you machine-wash your faux fur rug, it's best to use a front load washer, as it is less likely to become matted from the agitator in a top-loading washer. Too much agitation can cause the rug to become frizzled and knotted. Here are the steps to give your faux fur rug a deeper cleaning by using a washing machine:

1. Start by brushing the rug with your cat brush to remove any tangles or knots.
2. Next, place the rug inside the washing machine making sure to flatten it completely so that it is spread out evenly around the washing machine (you want its weight to be evenly distributed).
3. Add a tablespoon of mild washing detergent to the washing machine.
4. Place the washing machine on the lowest setting (i.e. wool, delicate, gentle, i.e.) and set the water temperature to cold or warm.
5. Once the rug has completed the cycle, hang it out to dry on a clothesline away from direct sunlight or lay it on a flat surface to air dry. Do not place the rug in the dryer, as it may ruin the fibers and cause them to harden.

Click here to see this cat brush on Amazon.

How to spot clean faux fur rugs

Like most rugs, faux fur rugs will typically get a stain at some point, however, it doesn't mean that you'll need to toss the rug completely. There are methods that you can use to effectively remove stains from the rug, which can save you money on a dry cleaning bill. Let's take a look at a few of them.

1. First, use a towel or paper towel to clean up the stain immediately. Try to remove as much of the liquid from the rug as possible.
2. Next, grab a white towel and apply half a tablespoon of mild laundry detergent to it.
3. Rub the stained area with the towel in a circular motion working from the outside of the stain toward the middle. If the stain persists, add a bit of OxiClean to the cloth and work it into the stain. Before applying the OxiClean, it's best to do a spot test on the corner of the rug.
4. Once the stain has completely lifted, rinse the towel with warm water and gently go over the area to remove any remaining soap residue.
5. Allow the rug to air dry on a flat surface.

Click here to see this OxiClean on Amazon.

Quick tip

If you have an oil-based stain on your faux fur rug, you can sprinkle a few teaspoons of cornstarch on the rug to help absorb the oil. After applying the cornstarch, allow it to sit on the rug for 2-8 hours, and then use a vacuum to remove it. Afterward, clean the rug by hand or machine washing to remove the stain.

How to get rid of odors from faux fur rugs

A rug that smells can cause your entire room or home to smell as well. If your rug develops an odor as the result of pet urine or spilled foods, try sprinkling baking soda on the rug and let it sit for anywhere from 10-12 hours. Remove the baking soda using an upholstery tool from an upright vacuum. If the smell persists, re-apply the baking soda and let it sit for 24 hours.

How Do You Make A Faux Fur Rug Soft Again?

Typically, when a faux fur rug loses its softness it's because it needs to be washed. That being stated, the best way to make your rug soft and fluffy again is to either hand or machine-wash the rug yourself or take it to the dry cleaner.

Can You Put Faux Fur In The Washing Machine?

It depends on the material that the faux fur is made of. Faux fur blankets are often machine washable, while many faux fur rugs are made of acrylic or wool and require dry cleaning instead. Jackets and coats made of faux fur are typically dry clean only as well.

How Do You Fix Matted Faux Fur?

The best way to fix matted faux fur is to gently brush it with a cat brush. Not only can this help to remove any dirt that may be embedded in the first fibers, but it will also remove any knots and tangles in the fabric.

Wrapping Things Up

We hope that this post has provided you with all of the information that you need to clean your faux fur rugs and apparel safely and effectively. Remember to read the care tag instructions before deciding which cleaning method will work best.

Before you go, be sure to check out our other posts:

12 White Fluffy Faux Fur Throw Blankets You Need In Your Home

10 Best Extra Long Runner Rugs For Long Hallways