How to Clean a Kilim Rug at Home

Do you own a Kilim rug? These pileless rugs are made using a flat-weaving technique. They often possess striking, colorful designs.

Once you’ve bought your rug, it’s crucial to maintain it properly so that it continues to look great for as long as possible. As we’re the experts in rugs here at Rug Source, we’ve compiled this helpful guide to cleaning your Kilim at home.

Read on for our top tips!

Vacuuming

Vacuum your rug regularly (at least once a week, but more if your rug is positioned in a high traffic area) to remove surface dirt.

Use the low suction setting or a small, handheld vacuum if you have one. Don’t go too hard on your Kilim rug.

Never apply the revolving brush to your rug as this can damage it by snagging the fibers. If your vacuum doesn’t have a low suction setting, use the extension hose when on the fringe. You shouldn’t vacuum the fringe, as you could easily unravel or tear it that way.

Kilim rugs have no backing. This means you can turn the rug over and run the vacuum over both sides.

Hand Cleaning

Be careful about how you treat your rug if you want it to last a long time and look as beautiful as possible. When it comes to hand cleaning your Kilim rug, you should follow these six steps.

Sweep the rug on both sides. This will get rid of any loose debris. You don’t want to add moisture to a rug that’s already clogged up with dirt, after all!

Use a broom on the surface then flip it over and repeat. A handheld broom is especially suited to this task as it offers you additional control.
Create a cleaning solution that’s suitable for Kilim rugs. We recommend combining half a cup of carpet shampoo designed for rugs with 4 and a half cups of warm water.

Add a tablespoon of white vinegar. This will stop the dyes in your rug from running. Blend it all together well.

Saturate a scrub brush with strong bristles in the solution, but don’t let it reach the point of dripping. Apply the solution to the rug in vertical lines until you’ve covered the entire surface.

Don’t apply too much pressure; this isn’t a job that calls for vigorous scrubbing.
Repeat step 3 on the back side of the rug. If the rug is still visibly dirty, you can repeat step 3 on both sides a couple of times more.
Get clean water and rinse your brush, removing the remnants of the cleaning solution as well as the dirt. Then, brush over the rug again both horizontally and vertically in order to rinse it and remove any residue.

Don’t let your rug get soaked, though!
Leave the rug to dry. Lay it out on an inclined surface under the sun or a fan. Every six hours, flip your rug over to dry it on both sides.

If you notice any cleaning solution residue at this stage, brush it away with a dry brush.

Your rug should be dry within 2 days, ready to be returned to its rightful position in your home.

Are you interested in investing in a new Kilim rug for your home? Check out Rug Source’s extensive collection. You’re bound to find something that suits your tastes!

Read our other blog posts on Kilim Rugs: