If you are thinking about buying a leather area rug you may be wondering about any special cleaning requirements these rugs have. In many ways it depends on the type of rug you have purchased how you will care for it. Some are tougher than others but, for the most part, these rugs are relatively problem free as long as you look after them well. Here are some tips on how you might go about cleaning a couple of different types of leather rugs.

Cleaning Patchwork Leather Rugs

Rugs made up of pieces of leather are generally the toughest kind and will be very durable. They can even be buffed back to a shine with shoe polish and treated much like a leather handbag. You should only ever give them a gentle vacuuming however to remove surface dust and use the upholstery tool which is more gentle on your rug than the usual tool you use to clean carpets.

Cleaning Shag Rugs Made of Leather

Leather shag rugs are a slightly different kettle of fish. They are made of strips of leather which are firmly knotted to a backing material. The main problem with these is that dirt and dust gets lodged between the strips of leather and can cause your rug to wear and to look grubby if not properly cleaned. The easiest way to clean this type of rug is to pick it up and give it a good shake although this can be a bit difficult with a very large rug and you might need assistance. Failing this, use your vacuum cleaner as above but it will probably not be as effective at removing grit and grime.

Dealing with Spills and Stains

If you spill anything on your rug, mop it up immediately and dab at the stain with a soft cloth wrung out in warm water with perhaps a little mild detergent added if necessary. If you are not able to remove the stain like this then consult a specialist carpet cleaning company who should be able to resolve the problem.