Can you wash a carpet in a washing machine?

The question of whether to wash a rug in a washing machine worries many housewives. It seems like there's nothing unusual about this procedure, and washing it is similar to cleaning shoes or a blanket in a drum. But this is far from the case: rugs require a complete rinse of the backing and pile, a thorough scrubbing, and a minimal spin cycle. Specialized industrial-grade washing machines are capable of handling this task, while household machines are less effective.

But things aren't so cut and dry, and with the right approach, you can achieve an acceptable outcome. We'll explain below how to do this and whether it's worth it.

Is it worth washing in the washing machine?

Before cramming a mat into the drum, it's best to consider whether the effort is worth it. This means weighing the pros and cons of this cleaning method. The advantages—automation of the process and time savings—are debatable, as they are more than outweighed by the disadvantages.

1. Initial treatment is necessary. The item should be thoroughly vacuumed, shaken out, and, if there are stubborn stains, treated with a stain remover and soaked.
2. Inefficiency. Household washing machines are not capable of perfectly removing lint.
3. Damage to the machine. Sand and small stones in the carpet can damage the drum, while wool and hair can clog the drain and debris filter. There is a high risk of exceeding the permissible loading weight and imbalance due to the inflexibility of the web.
4. Damage to the product. Frequent washing of rubber mats can seriously damage their backing.

Machine washable fabric and PVC carpeting is permitted, subject to certain conditions, including comprehensive pre-treatment and the machine's weight rating. Pay particular attention to the first point, which we'll discuss in more detail below.

Primary carpet treatment

A washing machine is no substitute for hand washing with beating and thorough scrubbing with a stiff brush. A washing machine can only rinse, wash, and dry the fabric, so it's recommended to perform a pre-treatment before loading it into the drum. This is done as follows:

• all dust, small stones, wool and sand are removed using a vacuum cleaner;
• the mat is soaked in warm water for several hours;
• if there is a stubborn stain, you will have to treat the contaminated area with a suitable stain remover;
• A special vibration machine designed to “knock out” dust microparticles would be useful;
• To remove unpleasant odors from pets, it is necessary to use special preparations.

This concludes the preparation for machine washing. Now, choose the appropriate detergent for the fiber type and select the optimal washing mode. More on that below.

Washing synthetic rugs

Not all rugs can be loaded into the drum too frequently; some can be washed without detergent, while others don't tolerate spinning. Therefore, before starting a cycle and filling the dispenser, it's important to determine the type of rug you have.

PVC is the first carpet type that's machine washable, but only without the use of detergent. The optimal frequency of washing is once a month, but some excess of the established “limit” is allowed. Do not wring or tumble dry: it is better to hang the mat on the bar after the cycle is complete and change sides every five hours.

Important! Another way to dry your rug is to cover it with a dry towel of a suitable size and roll it into a roll.

Microfiber products also require a special approach:

• do not wash with other laundry;
• Do not add softening conditioners, stain removers, or bleaches to the dispenser;
• add an additional rinse mode.

As for the washing process itself, for synthetic materials, select a hand or delicate cycle. Instead of fabric softener, add a few drops of essential oil. The temperature should be set between 40 and 60 degrees Celsius. Exceeding the maximum temperature can damage the fiber structure.

Caring for rubber carpets

Rubber mats in the washing machine should also be handled with care. First, select a delicate or hand wash cycle. Second, limit the water temperature to 40 degrees Celsius. Third, remember to wash them regularly, which should be no more than once a month.

If the specified limit is exceeded, the product will be irreversibly damaged, deformed and fall apart. If an emergency wash is required, it is better to wash the stain by hand. Moreover, the instructions on how to wash a rubberized carpet yourself are extremely simple.

1. Prepare a soap solution.
2. We dip a clothes brush with soft bristles into it.
3. Carefully treat contaminated areas.
4. Leave it for a few minutes to let the dirt come off.
5. Rinse the product under strong water pressure.

Machine washing is not a necessary step when cleaning bath mats. In fact, pre-treating the item by soaking it slows down the process, and the risk of clogging the machine is extremely high. Therefore, instead of rushing to load the rug into the drum, try to refresh it yourself.

   

Readers' comments