5 tips for cleaning and care of cowhide rugs

Cowhide rugs work great in all areas including the most dense and highest traffic areas of your home due to the durable materials of the hide. Cowhides rugs are resistant to stains and are quite easy to maintain can last ages before a need for replacement. At the same time they give cosiness and a natural feeling of your place.

So,what’s the easiest way to clean without any damages?
Here’s a step by step guide on how to clean cowhide rugs:

1. SHAKING OFF THE RUG
Shaking it off outside or hitting it against a wall to get out all of the dust is an easy and effective way to quickly get off all of the surface particles off the rug. Worry not, hair is heavy glued to the backing, so it won’t fall out – the hides are super durable!

2. DEEP VACUUMING
In order to remove even the smallest particles and dirt left, you need to deeply vacuum the rug using the appropriate extension of the vacuum cleaner.

3. PRE-SPAYING
It is a must to spray the rug with a cleaning solution before steam cleaning. You can use a soda based natural cleaning solution with a PH closest to 7 (you can check the tag on the bottle). This could be a cup of baking soda mixed with your fav essential oil.

3. POWER STEAM CLEANING
Steam cleaning (Hot Water Extraction) is a popular yet effective way for giving your rug the occasional deep clean and restoring its fresh presence and look closest to the day you bought it. Having said that it is important to strictly follow the guidelines of the carpet machine in order to avoid overwatering it and potentially shrinking it. Use the steam cleaner in the direction of the hair making sure not to get the fibres too saturated. Afterwards simply allow the rug to air dry after.

4. REMOVING GREASE STAINS
Grease stains on your rug? Have no fear! Start by gently scraping away the excess grease with a brush or small spatula, or anything with hard bristles. Then apply a small amount of eucalyptus oil on top of the stain and carefully rub it away with a dry clean cloth. If you can’t get the stain out, contact a professional rug cleaning service and they will get it out.

5. REMOVING FOOD/PROTEIN/BODY STAINS FROM YOUR COWHIDE RUG
If we talk about fresh stain, the first thing you do is getting a white dry cloth and blotting the stain gently. No brushing or rubbing, just removing all excess stain and preparing the fibre for the treatment. If the Food stains have built up with time they can still be easily removed from your cowhide rug by using a brush or butter knife by carefully and gently scraping in the same direction as the rug fibres. If the stain is too stubborn, getting a damp washcloth with a small amount of non-alkaline soap or water mixed with white organic vinegar will do the job and make the stain disappear. Similar to the grease stains, rub the area with the rug and dry it with a towel or dry washcloth.

As you might have noticed, cleaning and maintaining your cowhide rugs is easy-peasy. Especially compared to the more complex natural fibres like jute or seagrass. It’s also got a high resistance to dye bleeding in comparison with Persian rugs. As Aussies love saying: Apply common sense. Simple logical cleaning methods will keep your cowhide rug looking as clean and fresh as the day it was shipped to your home!

Author Profile

Mark Wisken

Mark is a managing director at Optima Cleaners, but copywriting has been one of his passions for many years. When he's not hunched over his keyboard, you'll find Mark exploring quaint bookstores for inspiration or sipping espresso at his favorite local café, always on the hunt for the next big idea to ignite a brand's success. With a pen in one hand and a coffee cup in the other, Mark continues to captivate audiences and breathe life into every brand he touches.

Latest entries

• CleaningApril 24, 2022The Many Benefits of a Clean Oven: How to Keep Your Appliance in Tip-Top Shape
• CleaningMarch 23, 2022Sleeping on a Clean Mattress: The Difference it Makes
• Carpet CleaningJanuary 23, 2022How to Keep Carpets Clean with Kids and Pets
• CleaningJanuary 15, 2022How to keep your oven clean