Cleaning area rugs and upholstered furniture: what to do at home and what to send out

Updated November 10, 2026 · KeystoneProGuide editorial team

Can you clean area rugs and upholstery yourself?

Small washable rugs, yes, and routine vacuuming of both rugs and furniture is a homeowner's job. Larger rugs can be shaken and beaten outside, except in older homes with flaking lead paint. Imported, heirloom and valuable pieces, and anything soaked by flood water, are the cases where the sources point to a professional or a specialist, or to the curb.

How do you care for a rug at home?

The Carpet and Rug Institute, the carpet makers' trade association, says rugs deserve the same care as wall-to-wall carpet and sometimes special attention. Its basic rug care:

Small, machine-washable rugs. Check the label. Shake the rug outside, wash at the recommended temperature in warm water with a mild detergent, and tumble dry on the lowest heat setting.
Larger rugs you can lift. Shake outside, hang over a clothesline and beat, then vacuum indoors.
Dry-clean-only rugs. Roll the rug up and take it to a dry cleaner, but call first, because many do not handle rugs.
Fringed rugs. Use gentle suction, vacuum from the center out toward the fringe so the strands do not catch in the beater bar, and lift the edge to vacuum under the fringe.
Wool. The institute recommends a suction-only vacuum for wool.

The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America favors washable throw rugs over wall-to-wall carpet for people with pet allergies, and says to wash them weekly in hot water.

When should you not shake or beat a rug?

In a home built before 1978 where paint is chipping or flaking. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's lead guidance says not to shake or beat carpets and rugs, to use only a HEPA vacuum where paint dust or debris is visible, and to wet scrub or use steam-cleaning methods on stains. Where it differs from the institute's general advice to beat larger rugs, follow the EPA.

Which rugs need a professional?

The institute says to clean Oriental, Turkish and Persian rugs according to the maker's specifications or to use a professional cleaning service, to be gentle with fringe, and to hire professionals for heirloom-type rugs. The EPA's mold guidance suggests consulting a specialist for any item that is expensive or of sentimental value, and lists carpet and rug cleaning specialists among them; it says to ask for and check references and look for specialists affiliated with professional organizations. The cleaning industry's own carpet standard, the IICRC's S100, includes area rugs among the subjects it covers.

How do you care for upholstered furniture?

Mostly by vacuuming. The EPA says dust mites live in upholstered furniture as well as carpets and beds, and its asthma guidance says to vacuum carpets and furniture every week, use a HEPA vacuum on fabric-covered furniture, and keep pets off the furniture. The American Lung Association goes further for people allergic to dust mites and suggests removing upholstered furniture or choosing furniture with smooth surfaces. The allergy foundation says to steam clean any fabric furniture or curtains you cannot wash.

For spills on upholstery, the institute's carpet spot method is the closest authoritative guidance: blot with a white cloth, test any product on a hidden area first, use a small amount, and rinse it out. The EPA's Safer Choice program has a separate product category for upholstery cleaners.

What happens to rugs and upholstery after a flood?

Many have to go. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says to throw away anything you cannot clean or dry quickly after a flood, and names rugs and upholstered furniture along with carpeting and padding. The American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, answering a question about mold after flooding, says a couch really cannot be cleaned and should be thrown out.

The other sources set out what can be saved:

Upholstered furniture wet with clean water. The EPA's water damage table says to remove the water with an extraction vacuum and speed drying with dehumidifiers, fans or heaters, warns that it may be difficult to dry completely within 48 hours, and suggests a furniture restoration professional for a valuable piece.
Valuable area rugs. NC State Extension says they should be cleaned by a professional with extensive cleaning and a biocide, and that a rug that cannot be restored to a sanitary condition must be discarded.
Washable throw rugs. It says they can usually be cleaned in a washing machine with hot water, but warns that flood water can contaminate a private well, so do not wash anything until you know your water is safe.
Drapes. The EPA's table says to follow the maker's laundering or cleaning instructions.

What does rug and upholstery cleaning cost?

The cost surveys price both as extras or separate jobs:

Area rugs: $2 to $8 a square foot, according to Angi.
Upholstery: $50 to $400 an item (Angi) or $40 to $400 an item depending on size (HomeGuide).

Ask whether a rug is cleaned in your home or taken away, and get the price per rug or per square foot in writing. The cost guide covers the rest of a typical bill, spots and stains covers spot cleaning in more detail, and carpet and allergies covers what the allergy bodies advise. Local companies are on the carpet cleaning directory page.

Sources

Cleaning and Maintenance, The Carpet and Rug Institute
Frequently Asked Questions, The Carpet and Rug Institute
A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture and Your Home, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Mold Remediation in Schools and Commercial Buildings Guide: Chapter 4, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Water-Damaged Carpets and Rugs, NC State Extension
Guidelines for Cleaning Safely After a Disaster, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Home Environment Control, American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology
Reduce the Risk of Lead Exposure at Home, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Asthma Triggers: Gain Control, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Dust Mites, American Lung Association
Allergic to Your Pet? Learn About Dog and Cat Allergies, Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America
ANSI/IICRC S100 Standard for Professional Cleaning of Textile Floor Coverings, Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification
Search Products that Meet the Safer Choice Standard, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
How Much Does Carpet Cleaning Cost? [2026 Data], Angi
How Much Does Carpet Cleaning Cost? (2026 Prices), HomeGuide