How do you clean a sisal rug?

It is inevitable that unexpected drinks, food, mud, or even vomit will end up on your new rug. That is why it is important to quickly and in the right way to respond to remove the dirt. Below you will find some steps to get your sisal carpet clean again.

There already exists 1 golden rule: respond immediately when something is spilled on your sisal rug! This prevents the liquid from penetrating the fibers of the rug, which would cause a stain. Don't panic, most stains can be removed quickly and easily!

Step 1: Dab with a wet cloth

Take first a cloth and make this wet with lukewarm water. Add a drop of strongly diluted shampoo if desired. Dep careful with your cloth over the sisal rug to remove the stain. Under no circumstances should you ever rub. This causes the stain to spread and push deeper into the fibers of the carpet. Continue for 1 minute dab until the stain is completely gone.

Step 2: Lukewarm water with vinegar

Have you removed most of it by dabbing? Now use lukewarm water and make one of them a splash of cleaning vinegar again. Once again, you need to be careful with your dosages. Do not make your cloth soaking wet but make it damp and dab again over the stain until it is completely gone.

 

Avoid at all times strong chemical products or bleaches, because they can discolor your rug. The stain might be gone, but in its place, you get a light spot that permanently damages your carpet.

 

Step 3: Let it dry for a moment

Finally, dab away the remaining moisture with a dry cloth and let your Wool rug dry for a while. For a comprehensive overview of how to remove which type of stain from your carpet, you can go to the stain guide. 

Remove old stains

Have you missed a stain or only noticed it later? Don't panic, try first to follow the above-mentioned steps. If the stain has penetrated too deeply into the fiber, you can always lightly scrape off the top layer of the rug. Then you take the vacuum cleaner to remove the loose particles.

 

Is a sisal rug stain-resistant?

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Frequently asked questions about this topic

Can I wet-clean a sisal rug?

No, sisal is a natural fiber that is not water-resistant and reacts strongly to moisture.
When sisal gets wet, the fibers swell and contract unevenly as they dry. That causes rings, discoloration, or deformation that cannot be restored.

When cleaning, always work with as little moisture as possible. Use at most a lightly damp cloth and treat only the surface, without making the rug wet.

What is the safest way to remove stains from a sisal rug?

Act quickly and carefully.
Blot the stain immediately with a lightly damp, clean cloth so the dirt is absorbed before it penetrates the fiber. If necessary, you can use a very strongly diluted, mild shampoo that contains no bleach, acids, or solvents.

Never rub, as this pushes the dirt deeper into the fiber and damages the texture. Patience and repetition are more effective on sisal than force.

May I use vinegar on a sisal rug?

Yes, but only in exceptional cases and with great caution.
Use vinegar only strongly diluted in lukewarm water and only to neutralize odors or light residual marks. The rug must never become wet and the treatment should be limited to a small area.

Always test first in an inconspicuous spot. Pure vinegar or too high a concentration can damage the fibers and cause color differences.

What should I absolutely avoid with a sisal rug?

Avoid anything that drives moisture deep into the fiber or treats the structure aggressively.
Steam cleaners, carpet cleaners with water injection, bleaches and strong chemical products will irrevocably damage sisal.

Also, intensive scrubbing or prolonged wet dabbing can leave permanent marks. Sisal requires a dry, controlled approach where prevention is more important than intensive cleaning.

How do I treat old stains in a sisal rug?

Always start with the same gentle approach as for a fresh stain: dab carefully with minimal moisture.
If the stain remains visible, you can very gently loosen the top fiber layer with a soft brush or your fingernail and then vacuum to remove loose particles.

Always proceed with caution. When in doubt, professional advice is safer than further experimenting, to avoid structural damage.

Can a sisal rug be professionally cleaned?

Yes, but only by specialists experienced in natural fibers.
Professional cleaning of sisal is done using dry or controlled cleaning methods, never by wet systems. Always explicitly ask about their approach and experience with sisal.

Incorrect treatment can cause more damage than no cleaning.