Odds & Ends: How to Stop a Rug From Shedding
At about this time every year, I find myself in a total spring-cleaning frenzy. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t obsessed with organization all year round, but even my normal tidy tendencies seem to be heightened in the spring. I want my space to be spotless and sparkling from top to bottom.
When Operation: Spring Clean started this year, I promised myself I’d find a solution to one of my biggest cleaning frustrations: the constantly shedding rug. I have a couple of the beautiful Morrocan-inspired shag rugs that are in style right now, and I love them except for one thing: the trail of dust bunnies they leave behind. So, I did a little research, and found a couple of tricks to eliminate that dreaded fuzz. Check out my tips below…
Rake Your Rug
You can purchase a specialty rug rake at a carpet store or on Amazon (here’s a handheld version as well). A pet brush may also do the trick, but using the intended tool eliminates the risk of pulling up the rug’s delicate fibers. I know it feels funny to groom your rug like you would your dog, but believe me, it helps!
Don’t Skip the Rug Pad
Along with protecting your rug from dirt, moisture, and general wear and tear, using a rug pad absorbs some of the impact of walking on your rug. Treading lightly on your rug by using a rug pad or placing it in a lower traffic area will eliminate some of the shedding.
Vacuum Your Rug the Right Way
You might be tempted to go full force on your shedding rug with your arsenal of vacuum attachments. But in fact, a brush or beater bar attachment will actually just pull the fibers out more. If you’re going to take a vacuum to your rug, be sure to use a low-pressure setting without any brushes on it.
Be a Savvy Shopper
If you already have a shedding rug at home, your best bet is to resort to the tips listed above. But if you’re in the market for a shag rug and want to find one that sheds less to begin with, make sure you know what to look for. A “continuous filament” rug means that it’s made of one long fiber that won’t unravel or pull out. These are generally more expensive, but much better quality. A “staple fiber” rug is made of many short strands that can potentially come out and cause excessive shedding. It’s kind of a case of “you get what you pay for.” If the fiber type isn’t listed on the tag, don’t be afraid to ask a salesperson.
Do you have any other spring-cleaning questions I can answer?
Let me know below!
xo Ilana
P.S. Here are a few of my favorite Moroccan-inspired rugs as of late (just make sure to follow the tips above, as they will shed!)…
