Hello!

I’ve got a shag pile mat that keeps getting dirty and smelly. I’m getting ready to chuck it out but it’s just over 12 mths old. It was over $400 too!


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  • Can you afford to get it professionally shampooed? Or do it yourself shampoo?


  • Oh, meant to say, maybe call a good, local carpet cleaner – they do rugs and lounge suites, curtains too


  • Take it outside and beat the crap out of it! I hang mine over the clothes line… Then when back inside, flip it and spray/shake a carpet deodoriser on it as per pack instructions..


  • Professional clean really it should be cleaned every 6months max to keep in tip top shape.


  • I’ve seen ads for the Rug Dr. My neighbour uses a gerni on their rug and sprays it while it’s on their driveway. It would weigh a tonne afterwards!


  • I have the same problem! I turned it over and used carpet cleaning powder and a broom to get it into the fibres and then steam cleaned the top and plenty of vacuuming. I’m almost over it too!


  • Have you tried getting it professionally cleaned?


  • yea get it washed professionally if it is too big for you to deal with


  • Hope you have had some success in cleaning the rug(if you went with that option?) Would love to know if you tried again to clean it or found a new home for it?


  • I used to put all mats on the kids trampoline and use hose and wool wash and fines them and let them dry there. Before I had a trampoline I used to hang them on the fence and wash the same way, I had to go next door to get to the other side. It worked well either way. I guess you could lay them on a large plastic sheet on the ground.


  • I had to change from shag pile to flat pile rugs due to a similar problem. However; the cost was far less. I was able to re home the shag pile rugs to someone with a quieter household. The cleaning tips below are worth trying and advice from a specialist may also be beneficial. Good Luck!


  • I love these mats! Please don’t throw it away – they are so cosy and soft! I believe it can be saved! First of all try to determine why it gets so dirty. Maybe you place it in a high traffic area? Some types of carpets thrive better in low traffic areas. I believe this will work better in your bedroom once its cleaned and it won’t get that dirty anymore.

    Your best options are:
    1. Call professional carpet cleaners. Sounds trivial, but it is the best.
    2. Shampoo the carpet outside. Get your hubby to help you shampoo the carpet in your backyard (vacuum clean -> good beating -> shampooing-> rinsing-> drying-> vacuum cleaning again). After this whole tiring procedure sprinkle the carpet with baking soda. Baking soda absorbs the excess moisture that builds up in the carpet fibers and this prevents the smelly bacteria and dust mites to reproduce. This should help the stink.
    3. Prevention – as I said changing the carpet’s location is a good way to prevent it from getting dirty and smelly all the time. Or limit the access of kids/pets/hubby who make the carpet smelly :)

    Hit me with a city I might be able to recommend you good cleaners if you don’t think you can handle the shampoing procedure. :)


  • You have the option to have a professional company come and take your beautiful Rug and Wash it and deliver it all nice and clean. They have the machinery to do this. See http://www.rugwashspecialist.com.au/


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