The Routine
Three habits cover almost everything a wool rug will ever need.
Week to Week
Vacuum once a week with suction only: a brushless head, or the beater bar switched off. The bar is built to agitate synthetic carpet; on wool it pulls fibers loose. A few times a year, flip the rug and vacuum the back, where grit settles against the foundation.
When Something Spills
Blot at once with a clean white cloth, working from the edge of the spill toward the center. Cold water handles most of it; a drop of mild dish soap in cold water handles the rest. Hot water sets stains in wool, harsh cleaners strip its lanolin, and soaking reaches the foundation. Blot, air dry fully, and skip the hair dryer.
Season to Season
Where the shape and layout allow, rotate the rug once or twice a year so wear and sunlight even out. When a spill outlasts spot cleaning, or every two to three years in a busy room, send it to a rug specialist, who will hand wash it rather than run the hot-water extraction used on wall-to-wall carpet.
By Technique
Each construction asks for one or two habits of its own.
Hand-Tufted
Hand-tufted rugs shed in their first months: loose fibers from tufting work free of the pile. It is the wool settling in, not coming apart, and it tapers off within three to six months. Suction-only vacuuming clears the loose fiber before it reaches your furniture. If a long end stands above the pile, clip it level with scissors; pulling it disturbs the tufts around it.
Hand-Knotted & Shag
Hand-knotted rugs, the shags included, carry their wool on the strongest foundation in rug-making: each tuft tied to the warp by hand. The care goes to the pile above. Vacuum with suction so the strands lift instead of tangling, and fluff the deep sections by hand now and then to keep them from matting where feet land most.
Hand-Loomed & Flatweave
Hand-loomed and flatwoven rugs have no pile to guard, which makes them the easiest keepers. Vacuum both sides a few times a season, keep a pad underneath so the weave stays planted, and rotate on the same clock as the rest.
Frequently Asked Questions
Help Center →How often should I clean my wool rug?
A weekly suction-only vacuum covers routine care. Beyond that, a deep clean by a rug specialist every two to three years, or whenever a spill outlasts spot cleaning, keeps the wool at its best.
How do I remove a tough stain?
Blot immediately with a clean white cloth, from the edge of the stain toward the center. For what cold water alone won't lift, add a drop of mild dish soap to cold water and blot again, testing a hidden corner first. If it persists, stop and call a rug specialist; scrubbing sets it deeper.
Can I clean my Jubi rug myself?
Spot cleaning, yes. Deep cleaning belongs with a specialist in handwoven wool; the hot-water extraction used on synthetic carpet damages wool pile.
Will my rug shed?
New wool rugs shed for their first three to six months as loose fibers from production work free. Regular suction-only vacuuming clears them; the shedding tapers on its own and is never a defect.
How do I prevent fading in sunlight?
Direct sun fades any natural fiber over time. Where the shape and layout allow, rotate the rug every six to twelve months so exposure evens out; for pieces made for one specific placement, shade the room during peak hours instead.
What should I do if my rug gets wet?
Blot up as much water as you can with dry towels, then let the rug air dry fully, lifting a corner for airflow underneath. No hair dryers or heaters; heat is harder on wool than the water was.
Do I need a rug pad?
On hard floors we recommend one: a felt-and-rubber pad keeps the rug planted and cushions it against the floor's abrasion. Over carpet, a thin rubber mesh pad stops creeping.
Can I use my rug in high-traffic areas?
Yes. Wool is the classic high-traffic fiber: it springs back underfoot and hides soil between cleanings. Hallways and living rooms are where these rugs do their best work; add a pad and rotate on schedule.
Are Jubi rugs hypoallergenic?
New Zealand wool is naturally hypoallergenic and resistant to dust mites, which makes it one of the better fibers for allergy-conscious homes.
Are Jubi rugs safe for pets and children?
Yes. Wool is a natural, non-toxic fiber, forgiving of spills and playtime, and the construction stands up to daily family use.
Can Jubi rugs be used outdoors?
Our wool rugs are made for indoors. If you have a covered outdoor space in mind, write to us and we'll talk through what will hold up there.
How should I store a rug?
Clean and fully dry it first, roll it rather than folding (folding creases wool pile permanently), wrap it in breathable cotton rather than plastic, and store it cool and dry with cedar nearby to keep moths away.
Unsure About a Spill?
Send the studio a photo of what happened and we'll tell you what to do next.
Wool rugs require less maintenance than most owners expect. Natural lanolin in the fiber repels liquid and surface soil, the pile recovers from compression, and the material is inherently more resilient than it looks. This guide covers everything you need to care for a Jubi rug over its lifetime.
Routine Care: Vacuuming
How to vacuum a wool rug: Use suction only: a brushless head, or a vacuum with the rotating beater bar turned off. The beater bar is designed to agitate synthetic carpet pile and will damage wool pile over time, pulling fibers loose and accelerating shedding.
How often to vacuum: Once a week in normal use is sufficient for most rooms. High-traffic areas may benefit from more frequent vacuuming.
Vacuum both sides periodically: Vacuuming the back of the rug a few times per year dislodges grit and debris that works down through the pile and can abrade the foundation of the rug over time. Flip the rug, vacuum the back, then return it to its position.
How to Clean a Wool Rug at Home
How to spot clean a wool rug: Blot immediately, never rub. Rubbing spreads the spill and pushes it deeper into the pile; blotting lifts it. Use a clean white cloth and work from the outside of the spill toward the center to prevent spreading. Cold water is sufficient for most spills. For more stubborn stains, the standard approach is a small amount of mild dish soap in cold water, applied with a cloth: blot, don't scrub.
What to avoid: Hot water sets stains in wool fiber. Harsh chemical cleaners, bleach, and enzymatic cleaners designed for synthetic carpets can strip the natural lanolin from wool and damage the fiber. Avoid soaking the rug; excess moisture can reach the foundation and cause issues if the rug doesn't dry thoroughly.
Drying after spot cleaning: Blot as much moisture as possible, then allow to air dry fully before replacing furniture or walking on the area. If possible, lift the corner of the rug to allow air circulation underneath. Do not use a hair dryer or apply heat to speed drying.
Shedding: What to Expect
Is shedding normal? Yes, new wool rugs shed in the first months of use. This is normal and expected, not a defect. When a rug is first used, loose fibers that didn't bind fully into the pile during production work free at the surface. This shedding diminishes significantly over the first three to six months and typically stops altogether after that.
How to manage shedding: Regular vacuuming (without the beater bar) is the most effective way to manage shedding during the initial period. The loose fibers will work free with use regardless; vacuuming removes them before they become visible on furniture and clothing. Do not be alarmed by the amount of fiber in the vacuum canister during the first few months; this is the loose fiber working out of the pile, not damage to the rug.
Why premium wool sheds less: New Zealand wool's long staple length means individual fibers bind into the weave with more surface area than shorter-staple alternatives. This produces a pile that sheds less during the initial period and maintains its structure better over long-term use. Read more about the fiber at why New Zealand wool.
Rug Pads
A rug pad is strongly recommended under any area rug on a hard floor surface. A pad prevents slipping, which is a safety concern on smooth floors. It also cushions the rug from the abrasion of the hard floor surface underneath, which extends the rug's life over time. For most hard floor applications, a felt and rubber combination pad provides both grip and cushioning. On carpet, a thinner rubber mesh pad prevents the area rug from creeping.
Rotation
Where the rug's shape and layout allow, rotating it 180 degrees every six to twelve months evens out the wear pattern and sun exposure across the surface. Areas near windows receive more UV light than shaded areas, which can cause differential fading over time in any wool rug. For pieces made in a shape or size for one specific placement, shading the room during peak sun hours does the same work.
Professional Cleaning
Professional cleaning by a rug specialist, not a carpet cleaning service, is recommended every two to three years for rugs in regular use, or when a spill or soiling goes beyond what spot cleaning can address. A specialist who handles handwoven wool rugs will use methods appropriate to the construction and material: typically hand washing and controlled drying rather than the hot-water extraction methods used on synthetic wall-to-wall carpet. Confirm that any professional cleaner has specific experience with handwoven wool rugs before proceeding.
Storage
If storing a wool rug for an extended period: clean it thoroughly before storage, allow it to dry completely, roll it (do not fold; folding creates permanent creases in wool pile), wrap it in breathable material such as cotton muslin rather than plastic, and store it in a cool, dry location. Cedar blocks or sachets near the stored rug deter moths, which can damage wool fiber in storage.