Snow-cleaning your rugs is an old homemaker’s tip.

In this post, we describe how you can use snow to clean your everyday rugs during the winter. By following a few simple steps, you can freshen up the rugs without using chemicals, a method that works well with cold, dry snow. We also provide tips on how to carry out this cleaning most effectively and what to avoid.

 

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You could call it dry cleaning without the chemicals—a stopgap before you can scrub your rag rugs with soap outdoors again.

 

If you have snow, this is a great cleaning tip for the season. Here in Vilhelmina, we have enough snow to spare, and normally it stays until the beginning of May. Up in the mountains, ski races used to be held on Midsummer Eve in the old days. Nowadays, we usually celebrate Sweden’s National Day on June 6 by opening the road—in other words, by June 6, the snowplow crews have managed to clear the road over Stekenjokk so it is passable again. So there is no rush here, although it should be said that this works best with dry, cold snow.

 

It is also essential that the ground underneath is frozen, so that dirt from the ground does not get into the rug. If you have only a little snow, you can lay the rug on a patio floor and shovel snow over it.

 

Do not use this method for antiques, genuine rugs, or other very valuable textiles. These should be handled by experts. This method is for your everyday rugs. 

 

Do this:

1. Roll up your rugs and take them outside to a suitable location. Bring a broom.

2. Shake the rugs well, then place them in the snow. If the rug has a top and a bottom, the top side—the side you walk on—should face down toward the snow. Rag rugs can be “used on both sides.”

3. Walk across the rug so that snow gets into it, but make sure there is nothing sharp or dirty underneath. (If possible, you can leave the rug lying in the snow for an hour or two.)

 

4. Turn the rug over and repeat if it is a rag rug.

5. Brush off the snow with a broom. Work the broom a little so that it removes both the snow AND the dirt. Turn it over 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 or shake it, it will not be particularly wet when you bring it inside.

 

If you have a fine parquet floor, you should still hang the rug up to dry for a while before putting it back. You will notice that the snow you beat or brush off the rug is discolored, which is a good indication that the method works.

Unless something unexpected happens, this cleaning will last all the way until spring, when it is time to scrub rugs on the jetty again. It feels good to bring a box of clean, lovely rugs back inside—and without any added chemicals, too.

 

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Frequently Asked Questions

 

1. Can I use this method for all types of rugs?
No, this method should only be used for utility rugs, not antique, genuine rugs or other valuable textiles. Such rugs should be handled by experts.

2. What do I need to consider when cleaning the rug with snow?
Make sure the ground is frozen to avoid dirt from the ground. Place the rug with the top side down on the snow and walk over it to work the snow into the rug. Brush off the snow with a broom and repeat until you are satisfied with the result.

3. Does the rug get wet when I use this method?
The rug will not become particularly wet, since most of the snow comes out when you beat and shake it. It may still be a good idea to hang the rug up to dry for a while before putting it back, especially if you have a fine parquet floor.

 

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