How To Clean Your Indoor/Outdoor Rug

An indoor outdoor rug is a rug made completely from synthetic fibers. This type of rug is made to last in wet, outdoor conditions and since it's completely synthetic, it's easy to clean and naturally resists mold. The synthetic fibers are easy to clean with only a neutral detergent and water and will look good for a long time even in harsh conditions.\

Vacuum
To keep your indoor outdoor rug looking its best all the time, regular vacuuming is necessary. Vacuum the rug often to keep dirt from settling deep beneath the fibers and giving mold something to grow on. Because indoor outdoor rugs are completely synthetic, mold can't grow on them. Sometimes mold will be present on this type of rug, but only because it's feeding on the soil and moisture that's trapped inside the rug.

Spot Clean
For a fresh spill, remove any excess that's on top of the rug then blot the area repeatedly with a soft, dry cloth to wick the moisture out of the rug. Don't rub the spot because this can rub the spilled liquid deeper into the fibers. When this happens to some materials like olefin, you may think you've removed the spill entirely but over time it will reappear because it's wicking up the fibers from the base of the rub. Blot until all the liquid is removed. If necessary, use a mild detergent, water and a soft brush to remove any residue, and then blot until almost dry. If you can take the rug outside, you can clean it gently in this way and then use a hose to thoroughly rinse. Allow it dry thoroughly outdoors.

Prevent Stains from Problem Spills
For wine or a tomato-based spill like ketchup or tomato sauce, you'll need to change the way you blot to prevent stains. Gently remove any excess with things like ketchup, taking care not to push more of it into the rug. Then use a white cloth dampened with club soda to blot the stain. You can use any color, but the white cloth makes it easier to see when you're no longer pulling color from the rug and have probably gotten all of it out. The club soda neutralizes the acid in the spill and makes it less likely to leave a stain.

To Clean a Large Outdoor Rug
For an indoor outdoor rug that you have mounted on your porch or some other semi-exposed area, you can use any neutral detergent at the ratio about half an ounce to 1 gallon of water. You'll also want a soft brush for spot cleaning, or a large push broom to clean the entire surface of the rug. Use this mixture on any spots that need to be cleaned and work it in gently with a soft brush. If you're using it over the entire surface, a push broom is ideal for gently scrubbing the rug. Use a hose to rinse the rug and then use the push broom to push the excess water away.