How to clean an oriental rug at home

BY LAURA, RUG EXPERT AT NAIN TRADING | PUBLISHED: 2026-06-25 | 7 MIN READ

Most things can be cleaned at home when they get dirty. With high-quality rugs, however, attempting to clean them yourself can cause irreparable damage.

By following a few important guidelines, you can safely clean your treasured rug at home. Here you’ll find useful tips on how to clean a Persian rug at home, as well as other oriental rugs.

If your own cleaning efforts are unsuccessful, you can have your rug professionally cleaned or even repaired by us.

How can you assess how dirty your rug is?

Simple stains and small patches of dirt can be cleaned at home without difficulty, provided you know how. Our tips below explain what to do.

Heavy soiling, such as large wine stains, or cleaning the entire rug should be left to a professional. The colours in an authentic hand-knotted oriental rug are often sensitive to cleaning. Restoring their original vibrancy with a thorough wash requires specialist expertise and cleaning products.

This is particularly important for high-quality rugs dyed with plant-based dyes. Incorrect cleaning can cause an oriental rug to lose its colour and irreparably damage its valuable wool or silk.

Essential care tips at a glance:

What to do:

Clean gently and carefully:
If liquid is spilt, never rub it! Instead, dab gently with a clean, absorbent cloth and lukewarm water. This protects the colours and fibres.
Choose the right cleaning product:
Use only mild, pH-neutral cleaning products without harsh chemicals.
Tip: Always test on an inconspicuous area first to check that the colours do not run.
Damp, not soaking wet:
An oriental rug should never be soaked through. Instead, dampen it lightly and, ideally, clean it with a soft brush in the direction of the pile. Then carefully remove all residue.
Dry gently:
Drying equipment, hairdryers and direct sunlight can damage the rug. The best method is to let it air-dry naturally, ideally with air circulating on both sides.
Leave stubborn stains to the professionals:
Red wine, oil, ink and wax stains need specialist attention. Leave this type of cleaning to trained professionals, such as the specialist team at Nain Trading.

What to avoid:

Too much water:
If the rug becomes soaked, it loses its protective lanolin layer. This can make the wool brittle and reduce its elasticity.
Avoid heat sources:
Heat sources such as fan heaters or radiant heaters put stress on the rug’s structure and can cause irreparable damage. Patience is the best approach to drying.
Avoid DIY attempts on difficult stains:
Extensive soiling and stains caused by grease or ink should only be treated by professionals. Well-intentioned attempts to tackle them yourself often cause further damage.

Removing stains from oriental rugs – gently and effectively

Small accidents can happen in an instant: a wine glass tips over, your dog leaves muddy paw prints or a splash of sauce lands on the rug. Don’t panic – with the right approach, many spills and marks can be dealt with without risking damage to the rug.

Although oriental rugs are durable, they still need careful handling. These tried-and-tested methods can help you remove common stains safely and gently.

Red wine, fruit juice & coffee

Act immediately: Blot fresh stains straight away with kitchen paper or a cotton cloth.
Use a household remedy: A splash of vinegar in sparkling mineral water may help loosen pigments. Apply gently and dab – never rub.
Aftercare: Wipe gently with clean, lukewarm water and blot dry.

Grease & Oil

Absorb the grease: Gently blot with kitchen paper. Then sprinkle baking powder or baby powder over the spot and leave for a few hours.
Remove the residue: Vacuum carefully, then gently wipe with a soft cloth.

Ink & ballpoint pen stains

Apply alcohol precisely: Moisten a cotton bud with isopropyl alcohol and gently dab the stain. Use a fresh cloth regularly to avoid smearing the colour.
Note: Test on an inconspicuous area first.

Pet urine

Absorb the liquid: Blot promptly with an absorbent cloth.
Neutralise odours: Clean with lukewarm water and a splash of vinegar or lemon juice.
Rinse with clean water: Wipe with fresh water and blot dry.

Proper cleaning starts with the right cleaning product

There are many cleaning products on the market, and they often promise more than they deliver. To remove dirt from your oriental rug without damaging its colours, make sure you use a pH-neutral cleaning product. Otherwise, the product may cause the colours to fade. It should also be free from chemical surfactants, as these can damage the rug’s fibres. Use a soft brush or cloth to apply the product, and vacuum the rug first to remove loose dirt.

Before you start cleaning, test the product on an inconspicuous area of the rug to check that it does not affect the colour. Apply a small amount, leave it to work briefly, then use a damp brush to brush it out in the direction of the fibres. If the colour fades, choose a more neutral cleaning product or dilute the existing one with water. Repeat the test until you are sure the colours remain unaffected.

The main wash: less is more – especially when it comes to water

Now for the cleaning itself. Remember: the rug should only be lightly dampened, never soaked.

Too much water could wash out the natural oils that keep the rug supple and help it repel dirt. Without these oils, the rug may look dull and lose its sheen.

Apply the cleaning product you tested earlier to the dampened rug, working in the direction of the pile. Once the product has soaked in, brush it out in the same direction, making sure to remove it completely. Keep rinsing the brush with fresh water.

Once all the remaining foam has been removed, rinse the rug thoroughly with plenty of water. Then use the back of a scrubbing brush to push as much moisture as possible out of the rug.

Natural wool Berber rug being vacuumed in a living room

Kazak rug in an entrance hall with traditional medallion patterns

After cleaning: re-oiling and drying your oriental rug

Once all soiled areas have been cleaned and excess water removed, apply a lanolin treatment to the rug while it is still slightly damp.

This step is particularly important for replacing the natural oils lost during cleaning and restoring the rug’s natural sheen and resilience. Lanolin or wool grease solutions are especially suitable for this.

After applying the treatment, the rug must be dried thoroughly. Supports that allow air to circulate on both sides, such as a stair railing or an old slatted bed base, are suitable for this.

Make sure air can circulate freely around the entire rug so that the front and back dry evenly. Briefly soaking the rug in water is generally harmless, provided it is not left wet for too long.

Tip: Our gentle, effective stain remover for home use

For small everyday spills, we recommend our Nain Trading stain remover, which is available exclusively to order alongside a rug.

This cleaner uses natural active ingredients and contains no solvents or synthetic chemicals. It is odourless, gentle on fibres and suitable for almost all natural and synthetic fibre rugs, whether hand-knotted or machine-made (except sisal rugs).

It is easy to use: spray the stain, leave it to dry, then vacuum up the crystals that form. The liquid encapsulates the dirt and dries into small crystals that are easy to remove, giving you a reliable, safe and quick solution for everyday stains.

Contents: 250 ml | Only available with a rug purchase

Nain Trading stain remover spray, 250 ml

Enjoy your oriental rug for years with the right cleaning

Hand-knotted oriental rugs can be part of your home for many years. Their durability makes them well suited to almost any living space. Yet even the most beautiful rug will collect dirt over time.

Regular cleaning is essential to preserve your rug’s lustre and vibrant colours.

For minor soiling, you can follow the tips above and clean the rug yourself, using our stain remover, which you can order alongside your rug.