Going green isn’t just trendy anymore. Incorporating environmentally friendly accent pieces into homes has become a way of life across the globe. Natural fiber rugs like jute have become highly sought after. With stylish earthy tones, jute rugs make a great addition to mudrooms, foyers, screened porches, family rooms and more. While jute rugs don’t sport a soft, cozy feel, the natural fiber delivers an affordable price tag, fashion-forward designs and looks especially smart when paired with wood furniture.
Since jute is actually a vegetable fiber, it was originally used to craft burlap sacks. Over time, artisans began to see jute’s appeal and the natural fiber began to be utilized to create curtains, furniture coverings and of course, area rugs. One of the benefits of jute is that it’s totally biodegradable. Overall a jute rug is low maintenance, but let’s face it stuff happens in every home and when it does here are the steps to take to make sure your jute rug stays looking sharp.
Regular Maintenance
As with any rug, regular maintenance helps keep it looking good. Before a jute rug hits the floor, remember to purchase an accompanying rug pad. Rug pads actually work to prolong the life of any area rug including jute. Bi-weekly vacuuming will prevent dirt and debris from building up.
Remember, jute rugs don’t like water so avoid putting them in moisture-prone places like kitchens and bathrooms. Humidity is also not kind to jute rugs and can make them more vulnerable to the ill effects of mold and mildew. When vacuuming a jute rug, don’t use the beater bar. Stick to a gentler attachment instead.
Solid Spills
Spills should always be addressed as quickly as possible with any rug, but a quick cleanup is especially important with jute rugs. Jute tends to hold odors so the faster the spill is dealt with the better.
With a solid spill, use a dull butter knife or nail file to scrap up the debris. Then, take a clean, white cloth or paper towel and blot at the area of the spill. Don’t rub at the spill since this will make the stain spread. Keep blotting until the cloth or paper towel comes away from the spot clean. Never pour water, carpet shampoo or use a steam cleaner on a jute rug.
Wet Spills
Like solid spills, attack wet spills fast by using the blotting method. Blotting with a clean, white cloth or paper towel works to soak up the spill. Don’t rub. Rubbing at any stain on a rug only pushes it deeper into the fiber.
For wet spills involving wine or tomato sauce, add a small amount of club soda to the blotting process and continue until the towel or cloth comes away clean. Then, allow the spot to air dry. A small amount of water and a mild detergent can be used if a wet or dry stain does not come out completely. If you must try this method, dry the spot with a hairdryer.
Pet Accidents
Jute rugs may not be the best for homes with pets, especially those that have yet to be house-trained. The reason is jute rugs tend to hold odors. So, if a dog or a cat has an accident or coughs up a hairball, the odor can become problematic especially if the accidents are frequent.
Addressing a pet accident as soon as it’s detected is critical and can help to prolong the life of your jute rug. Start by blotting up as much of the urine as possible with a white cloth or paper towel. Remember not to rub. Then, mix a quarter cup of white vinegar and a quarter cup of water. Using a very small amount of the mixture, gently dab at the stain. Next, alternate between dabbing the vinegar/water mixture and a dry, clean towel. This can help to neutralize the odor and get rid of the stain. Air dry or use a hair dryer to dry the spot.
Spit Up and Worse
If you have kids and pets, you know that there are worse things that can end up on your area rug or carpet. When stomach bugs roll through the house, children don’t always make it to the bathroom and the same can be said of a sick pup or kitty.
Address vomit, spit up and poop on a jute rug the same way you would a wet or dry spill depending on the consistency. Allowing the jute rug to air dry outside may also help to rid the natural fiber of any unsightly odor as will the above-mentioned vinegar/water spot cleaning mixture.
