How to Hand Clean an Area Rug

Shampoo Your Area Rug

1). Remove any stains you may have on the carpet. (See Resources for stain removal tips). This spot cleaning should be done, as needed, between cleanings to help keep your rug looking good.
2). Hang the area rug from a raised structure such as a deck rail or wooden fence. Use a rug beater, available from most carpet stores, to "beat" the dirt and dust from the rug. Turn the rug over and do the same for the other side of the rug.
3). Transfer the area rug to a flat surface where you can wash it, such as a garage floor, driveway or deck.
4). Wet the rug using cool water. Test a small area of the rug with a small amount of your carpet shampoo to test for color-fastness. (See Resources for an eHow on making "green" carpet shampoo from household products.)
5). Spread the carpet shampoo onto the rug using a stiff brush, scrubbing in the direction of the rug's pile.
6). Use the garden hose to rinse the rug off with cool water. Squeegee excess water off the rug and then hang it out to dry.

1). Fill your bath with warm water and add some carpet shampoo. Vacuum both sides of your area rug thoroughly, and then loosely roll it up. Or, use a rug beater to remove the dust. Place the rug into the bath water.
2). Step onto the rug with bare feet and stomp all over it for a few minutes to help work the soapy water into its fibers.
3). Drain away the soapy water and replace it with fresh soap and water. Step onto the rug and stomp all over it again for a few minutes.
4). Repeat these steps as necessary until no more dirt is coming off the rug. Hang the area rug out to air dry.