Guide · Carpets, sofas and upholstery ·
How to Clean Rug Fringes
Rug fringes are the part of a rug that gets dirtiest and comes apart most easily: they hold dust and mud from the floor, get caught in the vacuum cleaner, tangle and yellow over time. Fringes are often a continuation of the rug's warp threads, so anything done to the fringe also affects the rug itself. This guide explains how to vacuum and comb rug fringes, how to wash them by hand and what to watch out for with yellowed fringes. For the whole rug, see the guide how to use carpet shampoo.
First, get to know the fringe
- Warp fringe: on most rugs the fringe is the warp threads coming out of the weave; pulling on it damages the edge of the rug.
- Sewn-on fringe: on some machine-made rugs the fringe is a strip sewn on afterwards.
- Yarn type: fringes are usually cotton, sometimes wool or synthetic; the rug's pile may be made of a different yarn.
- Valuable rugs: leave fringe cleaning on hand-woven, antique and valuable rugs to a rug cleaner.
How to clean rug fringes: vacuuming and combing
- Do not vacuum the fringes directly; they get sucked into the vacuum cleaner, tangle and break.
- Run the vacuum cleaner from the middle of the rug towards the fringe, lifting it off before it passes over the fringe, or vacuum the fringe gently with the brush nozzle in the direction of the fringe.
- Gently comb tangled fringes with a wide-toothed comb, from the rug towards the ends, a small section at a time.
- Combing the fringes regularly and straightening them parallel to the rug reduces tangling and breakage.
How to wash rug fringes
- Lay several layers of towel or plastic under the fringe, up to the edge of the rug, so that water does not reach the rug's pile.
- Add TETİK hand-wash detergent to lukewarm water in a bowl and dissolve the detergent completely; you can also use TETİK Binbir Stain Remover, which is suitable for rugs.
- Test first on a hidden part of the fringe; check for colour bleeding or any change in the yarn.
- Brush the fringes gently with a soft brush or sponge, from the rug towards the ends; do not let the soapy water run onto the edge of the rug.
- Rinse several times with a sponge dampened with clean water; detergent left in the fringes attracts dirt.
- Press the water out of the fringes with a towel, comb them straight and leave the rug to dry flat in a well-ventilated place.
How to whiten rug fringes
Yellowing of fringes is usually caused by built-up dust and dirt, old detergent residue or dye migrating from the rug's coloured yarns. Regular vacuuming, combing and the washing method above help the fringes look brighter. Do not use bleach on fringes: bleach splashes onto or wicks into the rug's wool and coloured yarns, causes permanent fading and weakens the cotton fibres. For yellowing and dirt that cleaning does not lift, take the rug to a rug cleaning company. For the safe use of bleach, see the guide How to use bleach.
On the causes of yellowing in washed, white and wool rugs: carpet turn yellow.
How to clean tassels
First shake out the tassels on cushions, throws and decorative rugs and open them up with a wide-toothed comb. Wipe the tassel gently with a sponge dampened with hand-wash detergent fully dissolved in lukewarm water, rinse with a clean damp sponge and dry on a flat surface after combing. Do not rub the tassels or twist them to wring them out; the threads open up and fall apart. Test coloured tassels on a hidden spot first.
How to clean silk rug fringes
- Dry cleaning first: Silk fringes are only combed with a soft brush or a wide-toothed comb from the rug outwards; even the brush head of a vacuum cleaner can fluff silk, so it is used on low suction without touching the fringe.
- Water and detergent kept to a minimum: Silk can lose its sheen and shape on contact with water; if washing is needed, only cold water and a delicates detergent whose label names silk are applied with a well-wrung sponge, without rubbing. It is tried first on a hidden end.
- No bleach or stain remover: Bleach, bleaching agents and general stain removers are not used on silk fringes; instead of lifting the yellowing they weaken the fibres and lighten the colour.
- Drying: A dampened silk fringe is dried by pressing with a towel, combed and left to dry flat in the shade; sun and radiators stiffen and yellow silk.
- Valuable and hand-woven rugs: On silk rugs and wool rugs with silk fringes the washing is left to a rug cleaning company; at home only dusting and combing are done.
- Silk-look synthetic fringes: Viscose and synthetic fringes look like silk but tolerate water better; after checking the label and consulting the rug dealer, the cotton fringe method can be applied carefully.
Small machine-washable rugs
Bath rugs, doormats and small cotton rugs can be machine washed if the label allows it. To stop the fringes tangling, put the rug in a large laundry bag or an old duvet cover, choose the delicate programme at the temperature on the label and keep the spin speed low. After washing, comb the fringes while still damp and dry the rug flat. For bath mats and doormats, see the guides how to wash a bath mat and how to wash a kilim rug.
What not to do
- Vacuuming the fringes directly.
- Using bleach on the fringes.
- Wetting the rug's pile and edge while washing the fringes.
- Rubbing the fringes, twisting them to wring them out or scrubbing them with a stiff brush.
- Pulling broken or loose fringes; for broken fringes, consult a rug repairer.
- Mixing different cleaning products (can cleaning products be mixed).
For hotels and rug cleaning businesses
In hotel lobbies, corridors and offices the edges of fringed rugs are cleaned often; vacuuming the fringes without sucking them in and periodically combing and washing them extends the life of the rugs. TETİK hand-wash detergent is sold in 20 kg packs. For rug and floor cleaning products you can see the guides Hotel cleaning supplies list and Supplies for a cleaning company, and for bulk purchases you can request a quote.
