How to Clean a Cowhide Rug in 5 Easy Steps

How to Clean a Cowhide Rug

1. Shake Out the Rug

   Begin your cowhide rug cleaning with an arm workout. Move any furniture off of the cowhide rug and take it outside. Once you are outdoors, give the rug a good shake. This will loosen any stuck dirt or debris, letting it fall onto the ground or bringing it to the surface enough to be vacuumed later.

2. Vacuum Your Rug

   Bring the rug back inside and lay it down flat. Then, secure the brush attachment to your vacuum cleaner and move it along the rug's surface, going toward the hair. This will remove any surface-level dirt, dust, and hair.
   

   Warning

   It's important to use your brush attachment and vacuum in the direction of the hair on the rug. Using the actual vacuum or running it against the grain of the hair can damage the rug's surface.

3. Steam Clean Your Rug

   Time to bring out another household helper: the steam cleaner! Working with the direction of the hair, slowly steam your cowhide rug with a clothing or upholstery steamer, taking care not to soak it. You don't need to use any soap or detergent alongside the steam cleaner at this point.

   Don't have a steam cleaner? Don't fret. Instead, sprinkle a generous amount of baking soda on your rug, let it sit for 20 minutes, then vacuum it up with a brush or upholstery attachment.

4. Spot Clean Your Rug

   Now that your cowhide rug has been refreshed and deodorized, it's time to move on to spot cleaning. Look for dirty spots or stains that are still on the rug. Once they've been identified, grab gentle detergent or shampoo (baby shampoo, for example) and a few damp, clean cloths.

   Begin by wiping the stained area in the direction of the hair with a damp cloth. Because of cowhide's stain-resistant abilities, this may be all you need to do to clean away a stain. But if a stain or spill is particularly stubborn, get the detergent or shampoo involved. Apply a small amount of the cleaning agent to another damp cloth and gently blot and rub at the stained area until the stain disappears. Rinse it away with another clean damp cloth.

5. Get Rid of Grease Stains

   Have a few grease stains? Begin by removing any solid remains with a butter knife. Next, you've got two options, depending on the supplies you have at home.

   Either apply a small mound of cornstarch to the grease stain and let it sit overnight before vacuuming it away, allowing it to soak up grease and oil, or dab the stain with a small amount of eucalyptus oil and wipe it with a clean and damp cloth.

How to Keep Your Cowhide Rug Clean Longer

If cared for properly, your cowhide rug can last a long time. Here are two things to keep it clean longer. First, clean away any stains as soon as you notice them. This can be done by simply soaking up excess liquid and then wiping it with a damp cloth. Second, rotate your rug frequently to ensure all parts of the cowhide rug receive equal wear rather than only one or two corners.