Can You Vacuum a Shag Rug?

Aye, aye, sir. It’s very much possible to vacuum a Shag rug. But while doing so try using a moderate suction-powered vacuum with softer bristles. Certainly, you need to go in a systematic approach.

Can You Vacuum a Shag Rug?

Shag rugs give your place a bold look. But despite this look, it’s not so easy to clean a shag rug. Yet, you can clean your shag rug with a vacuum. But before that let’s talk more about shag rugs.

What is a Shag Rag?

A shag rug is a high pile carpet with long, thick stands of fiber. These long strands of fiber create a cozy feel to your feet. It’s like a cushion on the floor.

But there’s a downside to having such a luxurious item on your floor. You have to invest a ton of energy & maintenance to clean these types of carpets. One of those options is vacuuming the rug. They need to be cleaned with the best vacuum for high pile carpet so that the soft fibers don’t get damaged.

Choosing the Right Vacuum

Vacuums have a variety of options when it comes to cleaning. But not all vacuums are created to do a particular task. In such instances, we can say that about cleaning a shag rug.

Suppose you have a vacuum with powerful suction. We know that a better suction means it will suck all the debris in. But the downside to this is that it will also tear the soft fabric of the rug.

On the contrary, if you choose a vacuum with a low suction, it won’t harm the fabric. But it will get less debris out of the depth of the rug.

That’s why you need the perfect combination of suction power & brush choice. A vacuum with medium suction power & a soft brush will do the trick.

How to Vacuum a Shag Rug

After you have chosen the right vacuum, you need to follow the following steps.

Adjusting the height of the Vacuum

Most motors have motorized rollers on the underside. The long fibers can entangle with the motor. The same goes for wheels. You also need to turn off the beater bars.

You don’t want these fibers getting entangled with your machine. In this scenario, you may need to invest in such a machine where the height is adjustable.

Using Upholstery Attachment

To dig deep into the depth of the shag rug, you need to use the Upholstery Attachment. Most vacuums these days come with such attachments. It will keep the fiber safe from the beating bars.

These attachments help the head reach into the hardest of places. If your vacuum doesn’t have such an attachment, you might consider purchasing one.

Vacuuming the Flipped Over Side

Usually, the dirt succumbs in the high traffic area of the shag rug. To loosen the pile of dirt, you can reverse vacuum. You need to flip the whole shag rug.

Then vacuum the bottom with the beater bars activated. This will loosen the first from the core of the rug. After that give the whole rug another vacuum.

How to Prevent Dirt and Spills on Shaggy Rugs

The vacuuming process of a shag rug can become overwhelming to many. But it may not come to this conclusion for you if you are careful in maintaining some general rules. Preventing the dirt & spills is the best solution so that you don’t have to go through this hassle less.

• Keep it in such a place where there is less in & out.
• If it’s at your home you can make rules to not spill anything near the rug.
• Keep shoes away from the rug.
• The floor next to the rug should remain clean all time.

FAQ

Q: Is it possible to clean a shag rug if I spill anything?

Ans: Yes, it is possible. If the stain is ink or drinks, then you need to use cleaning to treat it. After that rinse it with a sprinkle of salt & carbonated water. Don’t use hot water as it will set into the fabric.

Q: What type of cleaner to use on a shag rug?

Ans: For the instance of the shag rug, there are particular products to clean it. Carpet shampooers can extend the freshness of your rug & make it look new.

Conclusion

Sure, it might seem as we are over exaggerating. But cleaning your shag rug every week is important to extend the lifeline of the rug. If you own a big shag rug, you can call in a professional cleaning service too.