Thank heavens for runner rugs. They look incredible and they capture a great deal of the dust and dirt from outside before it gets tracked through the entire house, making them a must-have investment for the hallway.

This does, of course, mean that the rug itself is going to need some looking after, but cleaning a runner rug doesn’t have to be a chore. In fact, most runner rugs are specially made to be durable and stain-resistant so they can do their jobs properly. That said, here are some top tips for keeping your runner rug clean, bright and looking great all year-round, courtesy of our expert carpet care team.

1. Vacuum Regularly

When doing your regular house clean it can be easy to forget the hallway and entryways, but giving your runner rug a weekly vacuum can help prevent a lot of tricky cleaning tasks in the long run. A regular run-over with a powerful vacuum will help prevent dust and dirt buildups which, if left unchecked, can cause stubborn stains to develop within the pile. Make sure you’re vacuuming against the pile direction to help get even deeply-ingrained dirt and dust out from any hiding places. Vacuuming your runner rug twice a week is best, but even once a week will help keep cleaning needs to a minimum.

2. Baking Soda Odor Refreshers

For busy households and those with pets, runner rugs can develop unpleasant odors over time. When our clothes get smelly, we simply put them in the washer to remove the smell, but it’s not as simple as that with a runner rug. As most hall rug runners are rubber-backed or gel-backed and made with non-machine-washable fabrics, machine-washing isn’t an option. Instead, you can use this simple technique for drawing household odors out of your runner:

Take a tub of baking soda and sprinkle an even layer over your rug runner. Leave it on for 30 minutes (make sure your pets don’t snaffle it up!) and then vacuum it up. Baking soda will not harm your carpet and has excellent absorption qualities that will soak up and neutralise odors from the fibers in your runner. Vacuuming will remove the powder, taking the odors with it along with any pet dander and hair that can also cause unwanted smells.

3. Spot-Clean Stains

Stains are almost impossible to avoid in the lifespan of a runner rug. Whether it be dirt from shoes, pets or spilt drinks and foods, knowing how to clean a runner rug in these situations can extend the life of your rug. As wet-cleaning the entire runner is almost always out of the question with these carpets, spot cleaning is the next best thing for removing unsightly stains. Besides, spot cleaning is quicker and easier than a full clean.

Depending on the substance you’re trying to remove, you can use a variety of different cleaning solutions and ingredients to get stains out of most carpet types. You should always check the care labels and instructions that come with your runner rug before cleaning with any substance, though a mild carpet stain remover solution will suffice in most instances.

We have created an entire hub of carpet care advice articles for spot-cleaning all sorts of stains from paint and makeup to oil, red wine, wax and gum. Remember that extra care and caution should be taken with delicate wool runners, which mustn’t ever be cleaned with any products containing bleach.

Always use a clean, white cloth for stain blotting to avoid any color transfer during cleaning. You can also sprinkle a little more baking soda on top of stains after blotting to help draw out any remaining moisture and staining before vacuuming to finish the job. If your stain is proving incredibly stubborn, our advice would be to seek help from a professional carpet cleaning service.

Now you know how to clean a runner rug and prevent it from getting too clogged up with dust and dirt, you can enjoy your runners for years and years to come. Got any tried and tested tips for cleaning runner rugs? Join in the conversation on our social media channels and share the knowledge.

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