A Cowhide rug is a very good looking, durable and easy to maintain option for decorating your house. Cowhide Rugs are easy to maintain because they are usually stain resistant and thus can be easily put in the areas where most of the house sits and where most of the spills happen.
In this article, we will guide you on how to perform routine cleaning then how to clean urine from cowhide rugs and how often to do the cleaning as well as what kind of methods to use to clean so as to avoid damage to cowhide. We will also guide you on how to perform a deep cleaning of a cowhide rug to make them last for a long time and also how to remove stains if they happen.
How to Care for a Cowhide Rug
These are the basics for caring for a cowhide rug
- Cleaning: Cowhide rugs are the easiest variety to maintain rugs. If Cowhide rugs are facing specks of dirt, soil, hair, pollens, dander, and allergens then they can easily be vacuumed, brushed or sometimes shaken to get rid of them.
- Stains: A cowhide rug is easily one of the most naturally stain resistant rugs that you will find. For Simple stains on a Cowhide rug coming from food or drink spills, from mud brought by kids or from pet accidents, you can easily remove them with water. If the stain has set in then you should typically use clarifying shampoo or even baby shampoo which will remove the stain easily. You can even use mild soaps such as liquid castle soap or hand soap that foams for the same purpose if a shampoo is not available.
- Water: Don’t Expose a Cowhide rug to excess water as water can damage the back and it may lose its shape or get stretched out.
- Vacuum: You should always vacuum the cowhide rug with suction only and should take care to never use other attachments in the vacuum like rotating brushes or beater brushes as such attachments can tear the hair out of the backing of a cowhide rug and that will in turn eave out a lot of spots that are bald.
- If you don’t want to use a vacuum on a cowhide rug you can always either brush the rug or take it outside and give the rug a big shake to get rid of all the dirt or soil.
Vacuuming a Cowhide Rug
The best way to maintain a cowhide rug is to vacuum it regularly which will get rid of all the dirt, pollen, soil, dander and allergens that are invisible to the naked eye. Take note of these Important tips while vacuuming the rug
- Use only the suction function of the vacuum on the rug this is really critical and never use other attachments like a rotating brush or beater brush as they will remove hair from your rug leaving a lot of bald patches
- If your vacuum doesn’t contain an option without the brushes then use a nozzle or try using an upholstery attachment to vacuum safely
- The Best way to vacuum a cowhide rug is to move in the direction where you can see hair growth.
How to Deep Clean a Cowhide Rug: Steam Cleaning
The best way to deep clean a cowhide rug is to do steam cleaning. Steam cleaning is a wonderful way to refresh a cowhide as well as to remove a lot of hidden bacteria and odors. Using a clothing and upholstery steamer for this purpose will ensure that your cowhide rug is deep cleaned. This is the process for steam cleaning
- Before doing steam cleaning first vacuum your rug to remove all the smaller debris
- Use an upholstery steamer and move it in the direction where you can see hair growth.
- While doing steam cleaning take care of water and ensure that you don’t end up saturating the backing of the rug with moisture as that can make your rug back stretch and loose shape
How to Clean by Removing Stains on a Cowhide Rug
Try to address the stains as soon as they occur and for most stains just wiping them with water would be sufficient but if it doesn’t work follow the steps below this works well for stuff like dog urine
Step 1: What Do you need
First, collect what you need: Get Some rags or paper towels, and take a cloth with light colors, a spoon or a butter knife, and mild shampoo.
Step 2: Blot the Liquid on the Stain
You should first use paper towels and rags to blot up the liquid which is spread on the stain. If along with liquids you also have solids then pick them up using paper towels and rags and throw them away. If the solids on the stains have dried then use the spoon or butter knife on them to pry them out from your rug.
Step 3: Clean the Stain Area with Water
Now use the cloth with light colors and dip it in water and then use it on the area having the stain and wipe the stain and keep moving in the direction of hair growth and most of the time water is all you need to clean the stain from a cowhide rug. If however, that doesn’t work move to step 4.
Step 4: Use Shampoo on the Stain Area
If even after cleaning the stain with water it is not going out you will have to treat the stain with a small amount of clarifying shampoo or baby shampoo. Firstly apply the shampoo to the damp cloth and then apply it gently while ensuring that you don’t overwater the back. While applying the shampoo ensure that you move in the direction of hair growth after applying the shampoo wipe the area to remove the stain.
Step 5: Remove Leftover Shampoo
After you are successful in removing the stain ensure that you rinse the cloth in clean water and then wipe the leftover shampoo from the cowhide by again moving in the direction of hair growth
How to Clean Grease & Oil Stains on a Cowhide Rug
Step 1: What Do you need
First, collect what you need: Get paper towels, and take cornstarch and a vacuum
Step 2: Blot the Grease
If you are trying to address the stains as soon as they occur then there will be oil so first use paper towels to blot all the oil.
Step 3: Use Cornstarch
The Area where grease stain is present should be immediately filled with cornstarch and try making a pile of cornstarch in the style of an ant hill. You will have to let cornstarch stay overnight on top of the stain on your rug that will absorb all the oil and grease.
Step 4: Use Vaccum
In the morning vacuum the cornstarch out of the rug and the stain should be gone however if the stain persists then you will have to repeat the process until it goes.
Call a cowhide cleaning service if the step above doesn’t work
How to clean dog urine from cowhide rug
You can clean dog urine from cowhide rugs in the following ways so that the odor also goes
- Vinegar: Blot the stain dry using paper towels or rags and then apply 0.5 oz vinegar and 9.5 oz water and then wipe it. Vinegar is used to primarily take away the odor and also balance the PH.
- Pet Odor neutralizer: Instead of Vinegar you can also use an over the counter Pet Odor neutralizer or Pet Urine remover
- Shampoo: You can use a mild baby shampoo to clean the cowhide rug as described above by using sponge or rags to clean the spot and rinse it until stain goes
- Fabric softener: if you don’t have any of the options above you can use fabric softener also just ensure that it is mild.
Can you hose down a cowhide rug?
No cowhide rugs can be damaged by excess water and its back can be stretched out of shape so please avoid hosing down a cowhide rug.
Can you wash a cowhide rug in the washing machine?
No, you should not wash a cowhide rug in the washing machine as it will remove the hair and also cause damage to the back suede as the rugs are sensitive to too much water.
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