Our Guide
How To Clean A Moroccan Rug
Our tips for cleaning & caring for your vintage rug
Nouvelle Nomad vintage rugs and textiles are authentic vintage finds mostly aged between 30 - 80 years old, or are crafted from vintage textiles.
Due to their age, the natural dyes and handwoven nature - there are a few important things to note and to be aware of before purchasing a vintage rug to ensure you keep it in great condition for years to come.
In this article:
- Every day care for your Moroccan rug
- Cleaning your vintage Moroccan rug
- Our restoration, wash & repairs process
- Choosing the right rug for your space
- Storing your vintage Moroccan rug
- Carpet underlay & rug pads
- How to stuff a Moroccan floor cushion or pouf
Everyday Care For Your Vintage Moroccan Rug
Rugs can be vacuumed regularly to release dirt and sand from the weave - but use your vacuum on a light setting so as not to pull threads and holes.
Occasionally hanging your rug outside and giving it a shake out in the sunshine and fresh air is great for giving your rug a freshen up. Allowing it some time in the sun naturally kills off any bacteria, smells or moisture that may have built up with every day use.
The natural wool in vintage rugs mean that it may take on smells from kitchens, food and pets over time. Giving them a professional anti-bacterial clean every year or two is advised to refresh the wool and extend the life of your rug.
Cleaning Your Vintage Moroccan Rug
For everyday cleaning we recommend only ever using mild soapy water to spot clean your carpet, tested on a small area first. Chemical cleaners and vintage textiles are definitely not friends - so keep cleaning simple and to the basics.
If your carpet is in need of a deeper clean due to spills, pets or heavy wear, contact a professional rug cleaning service in your area that specialise in cleaning vintage and antique rugs.
Ask for an eco friendly anti-bacterial wash, and an anti-urine treatment if you have pets in the house. This isn't as expensive as you may think and will prolong the life of your rug for years to come.
If you're in Melbourne we recommend the Melbourne Rug Wash
We do not recommend you use a commercial rug dry-cleaning service as the machinery and chemicals used are often too harsh for vintage textiles.
Our Restoration, Wash & Repairs Process
The restoration process for our vintage rugs is a slow and skilful one. Each rug is hand washed and repaired in Morocco before being shipped to their new homes around the world.
First - hand washed with water and mild detergents with a big soapy brush, removing any dirt, stains and smells from it's prior life. Then hung out in the Moroccan sunshine to dry naturally.
Then - any repairs required are done by hand by skilled artisans in traditional methods and with materials to best suit the rug and its origins. This often includes re-tasseling the ends, re-finishing or strengthening borders, patching of holes and tidying of loose threads with yarns and wool that most closely match the colours and textures of the design.
While all care is taken to patch holes and repair worn areas - irregularities in areas, new holes appearing and threads coming loose over time is all part and parcel with owning a vintage rug.
Choosing The Right Rug For Your Space
Good rug care starts with choosing the right rug for your space and it's intended use.
The natural dyes in the older style rugs will fade over time, especially if placed in direct sunlight, and with usual wear and age. So please keep this in mind when choosing it's positioning in your home.
While the natural dyes are mostly colour fast - occasionally the deeper red and black dye colours have been know to bleed or transfer onto other surfaces when wet - so please keep this in mind before placing on carpets or upholstery.
For high foot traffic and lounge areas - the thicker, heavier and tightly knotted style rugs (Beni MGuilds, Beni Ourains and the medium-pile Boujad rugs) are generally more hard wearing and sturdy.
If choosing a mid-century aged piece, keep in mind that the older the vintage textiles are, the more delicate the wool and fibres will be. Best to keep these special pieces for areas with lower foot traffic.
If selecting a rug for under a dining table - choosing a piece with a flatter surface and less pile, which will allow for easier vacuuming and regular cleaning.
Lighter weight flat-woven kilims, low-pile Boujads, and Azilals are great for busy family areas and bedrooms where you may need to be picking up and moving your rug around regularly.
Cotton Boucherouite pieces while not usually machine washable because of their size and weight, may be the most convenient and most cost effective option for family and kids rooms where spills and mess are inevitable.
Storing Your Vintage Moroccan Rug
For storage, roll rather than fold your rug to avoid creasing, wrapped in a breathable cotton wrap or bedsheet. Never store in plastic, as wool sweats and needs to breath. Bacteria can breed in sweaty, warm plastic which can encourage mould in more humid climates.
Carpet moth loves wool rugs. If you're unlucky enough to have found carpet moth in your home, make sure to remove your vintage rug from the area, and take to a professional rug cleaning service to have your rug cleaned and any moth larvae exterminated.
Carpet Underlay & Rug Pads
If you're placing your rug on floor boards or a concrete surface you may want to consider a non slip rug pad for underneath your carpet. (Although not essential)
You can buy these online in standard sizes, or cut to size from any commercial carpet laying shop or rug cleaning centre.
We recommend choosing a rug underlay made from breathable natural fibres like recycled cottons, not rubber or plastic.
Get your rug pad underlay cut to size 5-10cm in from the edges of your rug, so as not to see it at the edges. There's no need to attach the rug to your rug pad, as this can damage your rug and cause a tripping hazard. Just place the rug over the top.
How to Stuff a Floor Cushion or Pouf
The easiest method is to use store bought cushion inserts in a slightly larger size to your cushions. For eco friendly options online we recommend Innergreen. Otherwise Ikea, Spotlight and Kmart all have a wide range of shapes and sizes to choose from.
For a heavier and fuller fill you can also use recycled textiles (clothing, bedlinen, etc) you may have lying around the house to stuff your floor cushion or pouf.
This is our favourite method as it uses textiles that may otherwise go to landfill and gives a thicker, heavier and more upholstered feel to your Moroccan floor cushion, pouf or ottoman.
There's an article with more info on this here Filling your floor cushion
Got more questions about how to clean a vintage Moroccan rug?
Get in contact any time and we'll be happy to offer any advice or assistance.
FAQ - Some quick answers to common questions
Why is my new rug shedding?
Completely normal, especially with handwoven wool — a bit of shedding in the first few weeks is expected as loose fibres settle in. Regular light vacuuming helps it along, and it eases off with normal use.
My rug won't lay flat / has curled edges — what do I do?
Common after shipping, since rugs travel rolled. Unroll it and let it lay flat for a few days, ideally with some weight on the corners, and it'll relax back into shape. A rug pad underneath also helps keep it flat long-term.
What if my rug smells when it arrives?
This is completely normal for natural wool — it can pick up scents during transport or storage. A gentle airing outdoors usually resolves it within a few days.
Will the colours run or fade?
Our rugs are dyed using natural plant and vegetable dyes, so deeper reds and blacks can occasionally bleed or transfer if they get wet — always spot test before cleaning. The soft, faded tones you see are from decades of natural sun exposure, which is part of what makes each piece unique.
How do I clean my vintage Moroccan rug?
Spot clean with mild soapy water only, always testing a small hidden area first. We don't recommend commercial dry cleaning — the machinery and chemicals can be too harsh for vintage wool and natural dyes. For a proper deep clean, always use a specialist vintage rug cleaner.
Can I machine wash my Moroccan rug?
No — please avoid machine washing. The natural dyes and handwoven wool aren't built for it and it can damage the rug permanently. Stick to gentle spot cleaning or a specialist cleaner for anything more.
Why shouldn't I dry clean my rug?
Commercial dry cleaning uses machinery and chemicals that can be too harsh for the natural fibres and dyes, and can damage the handwoven structure over time.
How do I remove a pet stain or spill from my rug?
Blot, don't rub, straight away with a clean cloth, then spot clean gently with mild soapy water, testing an inconspicuous area first. For anything beyond a fresh, small mark, call in a specialist rather than risk it yourself.
Can I use a professional cleaner on my vintage rug?
Yes — for anything beyond a light spot clean, we always recommend a specialist rug cleaning service experienced with vintage, natural-dye wool rugs rather than a general carpet cleaner.
How do I look after my rug day-to-day?
Regular light vacuuming keeps it fresh, and giving it an occasional shake outdoors in the sunshine helps too. Because our rugs are handwoven in natural wool, they can pick up smells from kitchens, food and pets over time — a shake outside usually sorts this out.
How should I store my rug?
Roll it, don't fold it, and store in breathable cotton — never plastic, which traps moisture and can encourage moth damage. If you ever notice signs of an infestation, a professional clean is the best way to treat it properly.
What underlay should I use?
A breathable, natural fibre rug pad rather than rubber or plastic, positioned around 5-10cm in from the edges of the rug.
How do I choose the right rug for a high-traffic space?
Thicker, tightly knotted styles like Beni MGuild, Beni Ourain and medium-pile Boujad hold up best in busy areas. Lighter flat-woven kilims are lovely too, but suit lower-traffic spaces best.
How were my rugs restored before they reached me?
Every rug is hand-washed with mild detergents and dried naturally in the Moroccan sun, then repaired by skilled artisans using traditional methods and matching materials where needed.