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It's like dry cleaning without chemicals, you could say, an intermediate step before you can scrub your rag rugs outdoors again.
If you have snow, this is a good cleaning tip for the season. Here in Vilhelmina we have plenty of snow and we have snow right up to the beginning of May usually and on the fells yes, they used to organize ski competitions on Midsummer's Eve in the old days. Now we usually celebrate National Day on June 6 with the road opening, that is, on June 6 the snowploughs have managed to clear the road over Stekenjokk so that it is passable again. So here there is no rush even if it should be said that this works best with dry cold snow.
It is also a prerequisite that the ground is frozen underneath so that you do not get dirt from the ground into the rug. If you have a little snow, you can lay the rug out on a deck floor and pour snow over it.
Do not use this method for antique, genuine rugs or other very valuable textiles. Such items should be handled by experts. This is a method for your utility rugs.
Do this:
1. Roll up your rugs and take them out to a suitable place. Bring a broom
2. Shake off the rugs well and then place them in the snow. If the rug has an upside and a downside, the upside – the side you walk on – should be facing down towards the snow. Rag rugs can be "run on both sides".
3. Walk over the rug so that you get snow into the rug but make sure not to have anything sharp or dirty underneath. (If you have the opportunity, you can leave the rug in the snow for an hour or two.)
4. Turn the rug and repeat if it is a rag rug.
5. Brush off the snow with a broom. Feel free to work a little with the broom so that it pulls out the snow AND the dirt. Turn and repeat until you are satisfied.
6. Shake off the rug and beat it a couple of times with the broom.
Since most of the snow comes out of the rug when you beat/shake it, it will not be particularly wet when you take it in.
If you have a nice parquet floor, you should still hang it to dry for a while before putting it back. You will notice that the snow you beat/brush off the rug is discolored and that is good proof that the method works.
If nothing unforeseen happens, this cleaning will be enough all the way until spring when it's time to scrub rugs on the jetty again.
A box of clean, nice rugs feels good to bring in again and completely without added chemicals.
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Questions and Answers
Can I use this method for all types of rugs?
No, this method should only be used for utility rugs and not for antique, genuine rugs or other valuable textiles. Such rugs should be handled by experts.
What do I need to keep in mind when cleaning the rug with snow?
Make sure the ground is frozen to avoid dirt from the ground. Place the rug with the upside down towards the snow and walk over it to get the snow into the rug. Brush off the snow with a broom and repeat until you are satisfied with the result.
Does the rug get wet when I use this method?
The rug does not get particularly wet because most of the snow comes out when you beat and shake it. It may still be good to hang the rug to dry for a while before putting it back, especially if you have a nice parquet floor.