How to clean a Berber rug: care, stains and washing

In short: a wool Berber rug is easy to look after. Vacuum once a week without a rotating brush, treat stains straight away by blotting with cold water and mild soap, turn the rug every six months and have it professionally cleaned every one to two years. Avoid at all costs: the washing machine, hot water, bleach and rubbing.

Everyday care

• Vacuum weekly, in the direction of the pile, with a nozzle without a rotating brush or with the brush raised. A spinning brush pulls out fibres and wears thick rugs such as Mrirt rugs.
• Shake small rugs outdoors now and then, or beat them gently from the back to loosen packed-in dust.
• Turn the rug half a turn every six months so wear and light are spread evenly.
• Avoid prolonged direct sunlight, which can lighten colours over time.
• Air it: wool likes fresh air. Once or twice a year, leave it outside in the shade for a few hours on a dry day.

Stains: act fast, blot, never rub

Wool naturally contains lanolin, which slows liquids from soaking in. If you act quickly, most stains come out well.

1. Absorb immediately with a white cloth or paper towel, blotting, not rubbing.
2. Dampen with cold water, if needed with a little neutral soap or wool detergent.
3. Blot from the outside of the stain towards the centre so it does not spread.
4. Rinse with clean water by blotting, then soak up as much moisture as possible.
5. Let it dry flat, in the air, away from radiators.

A few special cases:

• Red wine, coffee, tea: absorb as quickly as possible, then cold water and mild soap. Never use hot water, which sets the colour.
• Mud: let it dry completely, then brush gently and vacuum.
• Candle wax: let it harden, if needed with an ice cube in a bag, then lift it off carefully.
• Old or large stains: call a professional wool-rug cleaner rather than trying product after product.

Always test a product on a hidden corner first, especially on coloured rugs.

Washing a Berber rug: by hand or by a professional?

A Berber rug never goes in the washing machine: hot water and spinning felt the wool and distort the rug. For a deep clean, the safest choice is a specialist in wool or oriental rugs, every one to two years depending on use.

A small rug can be washed by hand: cold water, a gentle wool shampoo, light brushing in the direction of the pile, and thorough rinsing until the water runs clear. Drying is the key step: flat, in the shade, well ventilated and completely – a thick rug that stays damp inside can start to smell musty.

Shedding, smell, fringes: common questions

• The rug sheds: normal during the first weeks. These are short fibres left from knotting. With regular vacuuming it drops off clearly.
• A wool smell: a new natural-wool rug may smell of wool. Air it; the smell fades within days or weeks.
• Fringes: do not vacuum the fringes head-on, they get caught in the vacuum. Comb them with your fingers or a wide comb. On a handmade rug they are the warp threads – do not cut them.
• Furniture marks: wool recovers on its own over time. A little steam from a distance and gentle finger brushing help.

Storing a Berber rug

Clean the rug before storing it and make sure it is completely dry. Roll it (pile inwards) rather than folding it, and wrap it in breathable fabric rather than plastic. Keep it somewhere dry and check it from time to time: wool can attract moths, which dislike light and movement.

What about white rugs?

A white natural-wool rug is less delicate than you might think: lanolin protects the fibre and dust vacuums out easily. Ideally keep it out of the busiest walkways, such as the entrance, and take your shoes off on the rug.

The Polaire Mrirt rug, creamy white and very thick, shows this well: gentle vacuuming is all it needs day to day.

The plain white Mont Blanc Beni Ourain rug is just as easy to care for with simple, regular habits.

To learn what makes good rug wool, read our guide authentic Berber rugs.