How to clean a fluffy rug

1. Gently Wash. Hand washing is always the safest bet—you can throw your faux rug in the bathtub with cold water and a bit of detergent and slosh it around. Or if you’d prefer, most faux rugs are fine to go in the washing machine; run a cold and delicate cycle with the least spin or agitation possible.

Mix equal parts water and white vinegar. Dip a clean microfiber cloth into the vinegar-water mixture and gently dab the stained area. Do not rub vigorously—that will just push the stain further into the rug fibers. Let it dry.

A helpful strategy for restoring fluff to your shaggy rug is to place an ice cube on to those areas that have been pressed down by furniture or for other reasons. To do this place the ice cube onto those dented areas and let it melt completely over time.

Carpets made of wool, silk and other natural fibers can be rather delicate, and don’t take too well to excessive exposure to very acidic products. Using vinegar on these types of carpet can permanently damage the fibers and ruin your carpet.

Begin by sprinkling a generous amount of baking soda on the matted carpet. Work the powder in with a stiff brush being careful not to rub too hard. Be sure to fully saturate the carpet and work in multiple directions. Let the baking soda sit on the carpet over night and vacuum it up the next day.

Use your fingers or a fork to lift the carpet fibers straight up again. Alternatively, you can rub an ice cube over the flat spots and then fluff with your fingers. If you have a larger high-traffic area, add a runner rug over the area to protect the carpet underneath from flattening.

Wet a white lint-free cloth, wringing out excess moisture. Plug in a clothes iron and select a medium heat setting. Place the cloth atop the matted area, then iron the cloth gently to fluff up the matted carpet fibers. Move the cloth as needed to iron additional areas.