A patio or driveway outside with good drainage is a great place to start. Make sure the rug can lay flat on the ground. Outdoor cleaning is the only place to clean your rug. Pressure Washer – Almost any pressure washer will work, the important selection is the type of tip you use.
How to Clean Mildew & Mold off an Outdoor Rug. Go straight to your kitchen cupboard for the white vinegar, and pour it full-strength onto the mildewy or moldy rug. Let it sit for about an hour. Then, add about a cup of vinegar to a bucket of warm water, and use a scrub or deck brush to brush the carpet clean.
If your outdoor rug gets wet, it will most likely mildew and create unhealthy conditions which could potentially cause a mold to grow. Your outdoor rug can also be ruined by mildew which would then call for a replacement.
Indoor Outdoor rugs can be cleaned with a hose on both sides. Use a mild soap for more soiled rugs. It's best to rinse the rug on a sloped surface, like your driveway, so the water can drain away. Indoor Outdoor rugs can also be cleaned using any of the normal rug cleaning services.
Mix 2 tablespoons of liquid chlorine bleach with a quart of water. Apply the bleach mixture to the moldy areas of the outdoor rug with a sponge or mop. Let the bleach soak in for about 15 minutes. Rinse the rug with a garden hose to remove the bleach.
Washing your Polypropylene Rug
Polypropylene rugs are relatively low maintenance, but if the need arises it can be washed fairly easily. To wash a polypropylene rug, take it outside on a nice day and wet it down with the garden hose. Then take a few drops of mild dish soap and use a scrub brush to clean the accent rug.
When washing a rug, use a small amount of soap and run on the gentle cycle. If possible, do an extra spin cycle as well. Then put the rug in the dryer and tumble dry on low until it's dry. However, you should never put a soak wet rug directly into the dryer.
The biggest culprit, algae formation!
Wet and humid conditions can cause algae to spread fast in an outdoor carpet. The disgusting green slime can deteriorate an outdoor rug if not taken care of.
While outdoor rugs are made to withstand the elements, they are not 100% impervious to the whims of Mother Nature. Leaves and dirt can cause stains, and rain and snow can lead to mildew and mold growth within their fibers.
Outdoor rugs are designed to be outside all year round and can withstand sun, rain, sleet, and snow. So, forgetting to store your outdoor rug this year doesn't necessarily mean you need to ask Santa for a new one next year.
Dry The Rug In Sunlight To Prevent Mold
They are easy to clean and resists mold. To ensure that your area rug stays free of mold growth after washing, hang it over a porch railing in the sunlight. If you don't have a railing, lay the rug out in the sun to dry and flip it over to make sure both sides dry thoroughly.
Placing just any outdoor carpet on your wood deck might cause wood rot, which is costly to repair. Therefore, you must avoid certain rug materials. The wrong choice would lead to staining, scratching, and discoloration, or fading.
They add a cozy touch to patios, decks and porches
Outdoor rugs instantly warm up any area needing a little color or texture. And they do it without taking up extra space. From the front door to your backyard patio, consider where your home could benefit from cozy decor.
Step 5: Wait for it to dry.
Large, industrial fans are excellent for this task as it can blow a large volume of air. Depending on how large the rug is, the process can take up to three days.
Let it air-dry outside on a laundry drying rack. This may take 24 hours or more. If you cannot leave the rug outside for a long time, move it to your garage, basement, or laundry room to continue air-drying.
With an area rug, special equipment needs to be used to clean the rug and that cannot be done in the home. Carpet cleaning equipment is not made to clean the foundation of an area rug but the surface fibers that are found on regular carpet.
To clean a polypropylene rug at home, start by adding cold water and mild liquid detergent. Scrub off your stained area with a natural bristle brush. Rinse the rug in cold water and then dry it by air-drying or using an electric fan to speed up drying time.
The polypropylene can be cleaned as recommended by Health Canada: a hot wash with detergent. It can be washed with the mask or separately. It should not be tumble dried: it should be removed from the mask and hung or laid flat to dry before reinserting. Do not iron it: it is plastic and will melt.
Spread your polypropylene rug on a raised flat surface or a tall fence and leave it under the sun to dry for a day. You can also take the faster route of using a drying machine if you have access to one.
Baking soda is effective in drying wet carpet because it removes moisture. Sprinkling it over the carpet and allowing it to sit for a minimum of 30 minutes will deodorize and dry up your carpet. Vacuum the carpet afterward to freshen it up.