How to Clean a Flokati Rug: The Complete Flokati Rug Care Guide

A flokati rug is one of the softest things you can put on a floor: deep, fluffy natural wool that your feet sink into. The good news is that learning how to clean a flokati rug is simple. Most of the care is shaking, gentle vacuuming and quick action on spills. The main thing is knowing what not to do, because the wrong vacuum or too much water can do more harm than a year of everyday use.

This guide covers the full flokati rug care routine: from the day your rug arrives to cleaning, shedding, moths and storage.

Quick answer: how to clean a flokati rug

• Shake it outdoors regularly. This is the single best thing you can do.
• Vacuum with suction only. Never use a rotating brush (beater bar).
• Blot spills straight away with a dry cloth. Don't rub.
• Never soak it, machine wash it or steam clean it.
• Leave deep cleaning to a professional wool rug cleaner.
• Let it dry fully before it goes back on the floor.

Know your flokati rug first

Our flokati rugs are made from 100% natural sheep's wool and inspired by traditional Greek flokati craftsmanship. They come in three pile densities:

• 1100 GSM with a 6 cm pile
• 1400 GSM with an 8 cm pile
• 2000 GSM with a 10 cm pile

GSM is grams of wool per square metre. The higher the number, the more wool and the deeper the pile.

That long, loose pile is what makes flokati special. It is also why flokati rug care is different from caring for a flat rug. Most everyday dirt in a flokati is dry dust and crumbs sitting loosely in the pile, so it comes out by shaking rather than scrubbing. Want to know more about where these rugs come from? Read What Is a Flokati Rug?

When your flokati rug arrives

Your rug travels packed tightly, so it may look flat or creased when you first unroll it. That's normal.

1. Lay it flat in the room where it will live.
2. Give it a good shake, outdoors if you can.
3. Run your hands through the wool to loosen the pile.
4. Give it a few days. Within about a week of normal use it settles into its full, fluffy shape.

Everyday flokati rug care

Shake it out

Shaking is the heart of flokati care. It removes dust, lifts the pile and keeps the wool looking full.

• Small rugs: take the rug outside, hold it by one short end and shake firmly.
• Larger rugs: ask a second person to help, one at each end. Or hang the rug over a sturdy railing or washing line and shake it from the corners.
• How often: every week or two in busy rooms, and less often in quiet bedrooms.

The heavier your rug, the more it benefits from shaking. A 2000 GSM rug holds more dust deep in the pile than a lighter one.

How to vacuum a flokati rug

Vacuuming is fine, as long as you do it the right way.

• Turn off the rotating brush, or use a vacuum without one. A spinning brush grabs long wool strands and pulls them out.
• Use the hose with a wide upholstery or floor nozzle, on suction only.
• Hover, don't press. Hold the nozzle just above the wool and move slowly. Pressing down flattens the pile.
• Skip robot vacuums on flokati. Their brush rolls tangle in long pile, and they often get stuck.
• Vacuum the underside now and then, and the floor underneath the rug.

Air it out

Wool loves fresh air. A few hours outdoors on a dry day, in the shade, freshens the rug and lifts stale smells. Keep it out of strong direct sun for long periods, because it can change the tone of natural wool over time.

How to clean spills and stains on a flokati rug

Speed matters most. The sooner you act, the easier the clean-up.

1. Scoop up anything solid with a spoon or blunt knife.
2. Blot with a clean, dry, white cloth. Press, lift, repeat. Never rub, because rubbing pushes the spill deeper and tangles the wool.
3. If a mark remains, lightly dampen a cloth with cold water and a tiny drop of mild, wool-safe detergent. Dab the spot, working from the outside in.
4. Blot again with a dry cloth until no more moisture comes up.
5. Let it dry completely, ideally flat with good airflow and no heat. Don't walk on it while it's damp.
6. Fluff the spot with your fingers once it's dry.

Avoid: hot water, bleach, fabric softener, strong stain removers, and "bio" or enzyme cleaners. Enzymes that break down protein can also break down wool, which is itself a protein fibre.

Pet accidents: blot quickly and dab with cold water as above. If the liquid has soaked through the rug, call a professional wool rug cleaner.

Removing smells

Airing the rug outdoors is the best way to freshen it. Skip sprinkling baking soda or carpet powders into a deep flokati pile. Fine powder is hard to get back out of long wool, and strong cleaning products don't suit natural wool.

How to wash a flokati rug: deep cleaning

You may read online that a flokati rug can go in the washing machine. Please don't do this with our rugs. Machine washing, soaking, tumble drying, steam cleaning and carpet shampoo machines can all damage the wool and change the rug's shape.

For a deep clean, use a professional wool rug cleaner. When you book, ask:

• Do they clean natural wool rugs regularly?
• Do they use wool-safe products and gentle handling?
• Do they dry rugs flat, without high heat?

How often depends on use. For most homes, a professional clean every year or two is plenty, as long as you shake and vacuum in between.

Winter tip: the Nordic snow clean

In Scandinavia and around the Baltic, wool rugs have long been freshened in fresh snow. It's gentle, chemical-free and surprisingly effective.

1. Wait for a cold, dry day with fresh, powdery snow. Wet, sticky snow doesn't work.
2. Shake the rug, then leave it outside for a while so it gets as cold as the air. A warm rug melts the snow.
3. Lay the rug pile-side down on clean snow and pat the back gently with a broom or your hands.
4. Turn it over, sprinkle snow over the pile and brush it off lightly.
5. Shake very well. Snow hides deep in a long pile.
6. Let it hang outside a little longer, then indoors until it is completely dry before putting it back on the floor.

How to fluff a flokati rug

Over time, busy paths and furniture legs flatten the pile.

• Shake it: this is the quickest way to bring the wool back up.
• Use your hands: run your fingers through flat patches.
• Use a wide-tooth comb or soft pet brush very gently on stubborn spots. A few loose fibres in the brush is normal.
• Rotate the rug every few months so wear spreads evenly.
• Furniture dents: move the piece, then work the wool back up with your fingers.

Flokati rug shedding: what's normal?

Yes, a new flokati rug sheds a little. Loose fibres work their way out during the first few weeks, and shedding becomes much lighter after that. Regular shaking and gentle vacuuming speed this up.

Never pull a loose strand. If a single tuft sticks up above the rest, snip it with scissors level with the pile.

Protecting your rug from moths

Wool moth larvae feed on natural fibres. They like dark, quiet, dusty places, such as under a sofa that never moves.

• Vacuum regularly, including the underside and the area under furniture.
• Clean up food and drink spills quickly.
• Move or shake the rug now and then. Moths dislike being disturbed.
• Cedar or lavender may help keep moths away, but they won't fix an existing problem.
• Warning signs: thin patches, small holes, fine sandy grains, or small silky tubes in the pile. If you spot these, shake and vacuum the rug thoroughly and contact a professional rug cleaner.

How to store a flokati rug

1. Clean the rug and make sure it is completely dry.
2. Roll it loosely. Never fold it.
3. Wrap it in a breathable cotton cover, not plastic, which traps moisture.
4. Store it somewhere cool and dry, off the floor.
5. Check it every few months.

When you unroll it again, shake it and give it a few days to fluff back up.

Flokati rug care at a glance