How to Clean an Outdoor Rug + Round up

Whenever I share a picture of my patio with my outdoor rugs out, I get a million questions- do you leave it outside all the time? How does it look? What’s the secret to having an outdoor rug and keeping it looking great? So I thought I’d share some tips for how to clean an outdoor rug and maintain it.

Because the thing about an outdoor rug is that it 100% pulls the space together! It makes it feel comfy and intimate like a room. An outdoor rug finishes off a patio or deck, but it can be a bit of work to keep it from getting ruined by the elements. Here are some guidelines for keeping it looking good.

Note, a special thank you goes out to my Instagram readers for sharing their tips with me so I could make this post as informative as possible!

At our house, we keep our rugs outside until a rainstorm is coming and then we bring them inside. Utah doesn’t get much rain so it can be out most of summer. In Florida, the rainy season is in the summer so it’s stored through September.

I think it’s the most work to bring rugs in and out through inclement weather, but keeps them looking the best. On the other hand, it means that the rug is in storage more than it is out since it is annoying to bring it in and out all the time. BUT there are other options!

when can I leave my rug outside?

Rugs are TOTALLLY fine outside when-

they’re able to throughly dry after a rain storm. Leave the rug out once while it rains and see how it dries. If it can’t dry all the way, you need to bring it in or flip it so each side can dry. When a rug gets wet and doesn’t dry is when mildew and algae grows on it- yuck!
the rug is under a covered porch or patio where they won’t get as much moisture. Again, it’s all about keeping the rug dry so that it won’t mildew.
When it’s warm outside and not snowing or icing. For most locations, this means rugs should only be out during the warm months- usually May through September. If/when the temperature gets below freezing temperatures, store the rug in a dry space- a basement or shed work great.
There’s an outdoor rug pad under the rug. These help the rug dry which prevents mold and mildew. An outdoor rug pad will extend the life of a rug and make it feel more luxurious when walking on it since it adds padding. They’re pretty affordable too- around $70 for an 8×10

what rugs are made of make a difference

In my first condo, I had a rug that was made of recycled straws! I loved that it’s Earth friendly and also, it’s plastic and stood up to anything. I could sweep or hose it off and it cleaned up so well. Plus it dried quickly since the moisture couldn’t soak in to any fibers. It wasn’t as soft to the touch, but it cleaned up so well and looked as good as new after heavy use for a few years.

When you buy an outdoor rug, make sure to select one that is made of polypropylene or polyester because those are the materials that will help your rug really last outdoor. Even if a rug says it’s outdoor, read closer and make sure it’s made of polypropylene or polyester.

Why? Polyester is resistant to fading and stains. Plus it holds colors well so you can have a colorful rug (which you know I love).

Polypropylene is also stain resistant. In rug form, polypropylene has a natural-fiber appearance. It can absorb water, but it won’t grow mild or mildew. If the polypropylene is UV-stabilized, the rug won’t fade too much from sunlight either.

This is the rug made of straws! And cute baby Don 💗

how do I clean an outdoor rug?

Yesterday, I pulled my outdoor rug out for the first time this season! It doesn’t have any stains, but was a little musty from being in the shed all winder. So I sprinkled it with baking soda and let it sit for awhile (probably 2 hours) in the sun. Then I brought my shop vac outside and vacuumed the whole rug. The baking soda absorbed all the ordors and it’s good to go!

If you have deeper stains from dirt or mildew, you can still use baking soda for cleaning that out too! Which is great since it’s eco friendly and affordable (plus, it’s probably already in the pantry).

Many rugs will have care instructions on the back, but what I’ve found is that most rugs can be cleaned with the following steps–

Pressure wash the whole rug (or use a hose if you don’t have a pressure washer)
Pour the baking soda to where ever there are stains or dirt marks. Don’t be afraid to use a lot of backing soda!
Scrub the sections where the baking soda was poured on. Make sure to run the brush in the same direction as the fibers go on the rug to avoid damaging it. Any scrub brush will do, but a deck brush will make this job easier.
Finish up by pressure washing the rug once again to rinse off the baking soda.

Note, it’s always a good idea to clean up spills right away by spot cleaning them with a rag, water, and baking soda. Using a leaf blower is a quick way to keep dirt from settling into the base of the rug (which can damage it).

Also, rugs should be cleaned from stains before they’re stored for the winter.

How to I store a rug?

I polled my audience on Instagram and 56% leave their rugs out all the time and 44% put theirs away for rain.

When it is winter and snowing or if you choose to bring a rug in during the rain, make sure to roll the rug up and then store in a dry location.

Don’t ever fold a rug! Why? You can dent the backing and it may never straighten out. Rolling the rug protects the backing and is the best way to keep the rug looking good. I’ve seen rugs get crumpled up in storage and they never look as good again because they won’t lay flat after the back gets dented. Don’t do that!

Next, I thought I’d share my favorite places to buy outdoor rugs.

Here are my very favorite rugs from the above shops in case you’re in the market-

1 Framed Arrows / 2 Ocelot / 3 Rhody Braided / 4 Lavish Solid & Striped / 5 Aqua Mosaic / 6 Limoncello Yellow / 7 Mali Annette Traditional Pink / 8 Silas Pink / 9 Flatwoven Chevonna / 10 Ornate Woven Round Outdoor Rug / 11 Suri / 12 Cali Green/Pink / 13 Luz

Ok! Now I want to hear from you- do you have a rug outside? Is it worth the hassle of maintaining? To me it is since I feel it adds SO much to the look!