One of the questions I get so often is, ‘How to clean a Moroccan rug.’ Here at Baba Souk, we’ve been selling Moroccan rugs for a decade, and I’ve personally owned, I’d say, more than 8 Moroccan rugs myself. I’d love to give you all my best tips and advice.

Cotton Rug or Wool Rug?

First off, you need to know if you’re dealing with a wool rug or a cotton rug. I know that for some of us, this question seems a little obvious, but trust me, it’s not clear for everyone, so let me help you figure it out.

Moroccan Wool Rugs

If your Moroccan rug looks like one of the pictures above, it is, for sure, wool. Wool has a soft hand feel and will keep you warm and cozy. If the fibers are shiny, it is not real wool. It’s probably synthetic, like acrylic or polyester. Real Moroccan rugs are made mostly of wool or cotton. Most ‘Moroccan Style’ rugs you’ll find at big box retailers like Ikea, Target, Wayfair, etc., are not made of real wool. They are usually synthetic imitations and are manufactured, not handmade.

Moroccan Cotton Rugs

Cotton rugs have an entirely different aspect. They are made with small cotton swatches that are knotted to the weft of the rug. The handfeel is super fun, but it’s not soft. It feels like t-shirt fabric because it is! Moroccan cotton rugs are made of fabric scraps from clothing factories. So cool, right?

Lexique:

– Beni Ourain rugs are wool rugs
– Azilal rugs are wool rugs
– Vintage Moroccan rugs are wool rugs
– Boucherouite rugs are cotton rugs,
-Kilim rugs: Cotton or Agave Silk, cactus silk*
*Watch out for Cactus silk; it is beautiful but can’t be washed. The color will run off with water contact. We no longer carry agave or cactus silk rugs because of that. We do carry some Cactus silk pillows.

Now that you know if your rug is cotton or wool, you will need to consult our Rug Care Instruction page where we give you all our best tips to care for your rug. Be careful to refer to the right section because care instructions are different for wool rugs and cotton rugs.

Moroccan Rugs Professional Cleaners

If ever you’re in the Montreal area and you’d like to have your Moroccan rug cleaned, please reach out to us, and we’ll be happy to connect you with our local professional rug cleaners.

Your Moroccan Rug Needs Repair?

Contact us, and we’ll connect you with our local artisan, and we’ll do our best to repair your Moroccan rug and give it a second life. We’ve saved hundreds of rugs already! Don’t forget that Moroccan rugs are made to last a lifetime. They are robust, but the best way to keep them in great shape is to invest in cleaning and repairs as soon as they require it.

*A few ideas of the type of repairs we can help you with:

– Tears
– Stains
– Fringes falling off

How Many Times Should I Clean My Moroccan Rug?

I recommend regularly shaking off your rug outside, once every 1-2 weeks depending on traffic, furry friends, and kids 😉 Then, after you shake it off, vacuum it. I recommend either washing your rug yourself or scheduling professional cleaning at least once a year.

You’ll find all my cleaning tips and tricks right here.

If you have any questions regarding your particular rug, I’d be happy to personally assist you. Send me an email and include a picture of your rug, and I’ll try to help you find a solution.