How to Clean Hemp & Jute Rugs
By Ryan Shoun | Founder, Ochoco Rugs Perth | 14 Years Industry Experience
Updated July 2026
Cleaning a hemp or jute rug comes down to a few simple habits: vacuum regularly with suction only, blot spills immediately rather than rubbing them, and always dry the rug properly if it gets wet. Get those right, and both materials are genuinely easy to maintain, whether the rug lives indoors or in a covered outdoor space.
This guide covers day-to-day care, what to avoid, and how to handle moisture properly, since that's the one area where hemp and jute genuinely need a bit more attention than some other materials. For a broader overview of both materials, explore our Hemp & Jute Rug Guides.
Why Moisture Needs a Bit More Care With Hemp and Jute
Hemp and jute are naturally absorbent plant fibres, more so than materials like wool or polypropylene, which means they can handle getting wet, but they need to dry out properly afterward. Left damp for too long without good airflow, both fibres can be prone to staining or mould over time.
That's not a reason to avoid moisture altogether, hemp and jute genuinely hold up well outdoors when this one habit is followed. For the full picture on outdoor use, see our Can Hemp and Jute Rugs Be Used Outside? guide.
Day-to-Day Care
A few simple habits, vacuuming, dust removal, and rotation, make the biggest difference to how a hemp or jute rug looks over time.
Vacuum With Suction Only
Vacuum regularly, using a suction-only setting rather than a rotating brush head. Brush rollers can pull at the woven fibres and gradually roughen the surface texture, so suction alone is the safer, more consistent choice. Regular vacuuming also helps manage the light shedding that's normal with both materials, particularly when a rug is newer. For more detail on what to expect, see our Do Hemp and Jute Rugs Shed? guide. (coming soon)
Beat Out Deep Dust and Sand
We regularly hang our own hemp rugs over a rail and gently beat the back with a broom handle to loosen dust and sand that's settled deep into the weave. It's a simple, low-moisture technique that works genuinely well, particularly for rugs that sit outdoors or in an entryway where fine debris builds up over time.
Rotate the Rug Periodically
Rotating the rug occasionally helps spread wear evenly, particularly in spots that see consistent sunlight or foot traffic. For more on how these habits affect long-term wear, see our Are Hemp & Jute Rugs Durable? guide.
Spot Cleaning Spills
Blot spills immediately with a dry cloth, working gently rather than rubbing, since rubbing pushes moisture deeper into the fibres and can spread the mark further. If more cleaning is needed, use a lightly damp cloth rather than soaking the area, the goal is controlled surface cleaning, not saturation.
Whatever moisture is used, drying properly afterward matters more than almost anything else. Lingering dampness, not the spill itself, is usually what leads to staining or odour issues down the track. If pets or children are part of the household, our Are Hemp and Jute Rugs Good with Pets and Children? guide is worth a look too.
Hosing Down an Outdoor Hemp or Jute Rug
For rugs kept outdoors, particularly at an entrance, a hose is often the easiest way to deal with a bigger mess. Cats leave surprises at our own front and back entrances more often than we'd like, and a hose handles it perfectly well. The important part is what happens next, the rug needs to be hung out somewhere in the sun to dry properly, rather than left flat on the ground, before it goes back down.
What to Avoid
A few cleaning habits do more harm than good, no matter how well-intentioned.
No Steam Cleaning
Steam cleaning is a genuine no-go for hemp and jute. It introduces both heat and moisture deep into the fibres at once, which can weaken the structure and cause shrinkage or distortion. Stick to the low-moisture methods covered above instead.
No Aggressive Scrubbing
Scrubbing hard, especially with a stiff brush, loosens the woven fibres and accelerates wear far faster than normal use ever would. A gentler approach, blotting rather than scrubbing, protects the rug far better than trying to force a stain out.
No Harsh Chemicals
Strong cleaning agents can bleach, discolour, or dry out natural fibres. Mild, gentle products are always the safer choice.
Do Hemp and Jute Rugs Need Professional Cleaning?
Not usually. In our experience, hemp and jute rugs rarely need anything beyond the day-to-day care covered above, regular vacuuming, prompt spot cleaning, and proper drying are typically all it takes to keep them looking good for years. If you're ever dealing with a genuinely stubborn stain, a specialist experienced with natural fibres is worth seeking out, but it's not something most owners will need.
Final Thoughts
Hemp and jute are genuinely easy to live with once you understand the one thing that matters most, moisture needs to dry out properly, whether that's from a spill, a hose-down, or general outdoor exposure. Vacuum regularly, blot rather than scrub, and dry things out properly, and both materials hold up well for years.
If you'd like to learn more about either material, explore our Hemp & Jute Rug Guides. If you're ready to browse available options, explore our Hemp and Jute Rugs collection.
Ryan Shoun is the founder of Ochoco Rugs Perth, with 7 years specialising in rugs and a further 7 years in home furniture and homewares. He personally sources and imports Ochoco's Afghan Kilim and Hand-Knotted Wool collections, and every product on the Ochoco website is individually selected by him. Read Ryan's full bio