I’m really excited to share today’s post, because I get so many questions on these topics. I think that cleaning rugs and sofas yourself is one of those things that people WAY overcomplicate.
Today, I am sharing my simple methods that I have been using for years along with some tips from my friend Allison, who sells vintage rugs for a living.
I want to start by saying I love to buy things made of natural fibers like wool and leather. Now I know that if you are vegan, this may not always be the way to go for you.
But I choose these materials because they last, they are better for the air quality in our home than conventional synthetic carpet materials, and they are very easy to clean without any harsh chemicals.
You want to know the number one thing I use to clean my rugs and sofas? Water.
I am serious … just water!

I feel lucky that our home gets to be a part of their story and it’s important to me that I keep them in good condition so that when we are done with them they can go on to live in many other homes. They are made to last.
The number one thing I do to reduce wear and tear is not wear shoes indoors (or do it very minimally, because life happens!). I wrote a big post here about how much it can help your stuff last when you don’t wear shoes in the house. It makes a BIG difference over time.
The second thing I do is try my best to keep our rugs vacuumed, even just once a week or a couple times a month is better than nothing.
I never take my rugs to a professional cleaner anymore, because in the past when I did, they came back smelling like cleaning chemicals, but still not clean. So frustrating when you wait weeks for that and pay for it. Now, I clean up any of our messes (remember we have two dogs and a toddler) myself just by simply spot cleaning the rug and letting it air dry.
To spot clean, it depends on what it is. For small stuff like spilled food, I would just use a wet cloth with water. So much of the time the main thing is to just get whatever it is up out of the rugs before foot traffic grinds it in.
For a really bad mess, I use the same thing I use to for laundry stains—Seventh Generation Stain Remover and the follow up with a wet rag.
In the past, a couple times I have fully given my rug a “bath” either in the tub or outside with a hose and then let it air dry outside. But since we have stopped wearing shoes indoors I haven’t needed to do that.
Allison’s advice for caring for vintage rugs is to wash them with water only. For a serious mess, take it into the bathtub and run water through the rug on the spot only. Then let it air dry.
Never clean with chemicals. She says in all her years of working with vintage rugs she’s never had to get rid of a vintage rug because it couldn’t be cleaned. But synthetic rugs hold onto odors and always end up in the trash.
We also shared our top tips for how to uncurl a new rug here.
xx – Elsie
I just bought my first big vintage turkish rug inspired by you guys! I’m so excited and it will .make my home feel more cozy and rich with character.
Thanks for sharing these great tips!
Great post. I agree, and it seems like there’s other blogs out there (https://www.cleanlivingmarin.com/the-perfect-time-to-clean-rugs/) that agree as well. Winter is a perfect time to clean rugs. Thanks for giving me some inspiration. I really loved what you had to say about placing vintage rugs in your home and how this ends up being a continuation of someone else’s story. Thanks, Emma!
I can absolutely vouch for those Article sofas. I coveted them for *years* here & elsewhere & when the Hubbin gave me the green light to replace our family rooms sofas, I beelined right for them. 😉 We had a MAJOR coffee spill at one point but all it took was a wet (not sopping) sponge & it’s like it never even happened. We have a few scratch marks from where the cat launches himself from the arms at our youngest (it’s a fraught relationship) but he actually avoids them most of the time. Seriously one of the best buys we’ve ever made. <3
I have already try your advices and they are really works! You are always writing interesting articles which I am reading with great pleasure!
Water is our cleaner if choice too. We have an instant-hot water dispenser at our kitchen sink, and that takes care of just about anything.
I have the same Article sofa and LOVE it – I also find that things clean up pretty easily with marker and even the occasion unnoticed pen streak (ahem, toddler) kind of fades over time. My only question – have you moisturized your leather couches at all? Before we replaced our windows we had a scorching hot, very sunny living room for a summer – our couch needs some love, but I don’t want the leather to turn a totally different color…
I have the same sofa but I live in Phoenix, where it’s too dry not to moisturize the leather. I use coconut oil every few months and my sofa still looks new.
I have the same leather Article sofa in my home and I’ve been trying to figure out how to go about cleaning the blue from my denim jeans that is rubbing off a little on the seat. I’m excited to try your water/cloth method!
Water alone doesn’t work always, therefore for some difficult to remove stains on vintage rugs I use a solution of mainly water with a little white vinegar and it works out alright.
Great tips! Thank you!
Years ago, I worked in a Danish/ European furniture store. We suggested plain Dove soap to all our customers for cleaning leather because it adds some moisture back into the leather. We have a leather sofa, similar leather to yours, that is 20 years old and it will crack and get dry in some spots if you don’t moisturize it somehow. Kinda gross but it gets darker in spots from skin oils too.
The water doesn’t dry out the leather? I have a white leather sofa that is so expensive to keep clean with all the creams, so if I could just use water that would be great!
I’ve been caring for my sofas this way for a few years and they’re doing great. 🙂
I’m from rural Scotland. In my family (and extended family) we wouldnt even think of using paper towels to clean with. I mean, you can really scrub or wipe with them and what a waste! I thought paper towels some people had in their kitchens was to use as paper napkins (serviettes). Sometimes we just get told we need things by marketing agencies (adverts, magazines articles, product placements) but in reality we don’t. Don’t get me started on alcohol hand gel and wet wipes… (PS I’m a doctor, and alcohol hand gel in hospital is beneficial in some circumstances but mainly, just wash your hands!)
Pleasant to read. Creative.
I want to banish paper towels from my life too! How do you keep them from smelling after a few days? Even after washing!!
How do we keep what from smelling? The reusable cloths?
For reusable clothes and washcloths and towels, I add about 1/2 cup of vinegar into the washer and dry on high. This helps to keep that ‘musty’ smell away longer. Also, you can do an empty load in your washer with just vinegar and bleach to freshen it up and keep all of your laundry smelling better and getting cleaner.
Whoops, yes, the cloths!! The cloths I buy always get musty really quickly and I cannot figure out why!! I see the vinegar wash, below, so I’ll try that out. 🙂
Your vintage rugs are so beautiful, Elsie! And this is coming from someone who doesn’t even normally like rugs and carpets!! 🙂 ❤️
Charmaine Ng | Architecture & Lifestyle Blog
http://charmainenyw.com