Now the sun is shining, I’ve been spending a lot of time making my backyard look beautiful. One of the tasks I had been putting off was freshening up my outdoor rug – until I got some expert advice on how to do it with just one natural cleaning product I already had in my pantry.
They recommended using baking soda, as it’s great at absorbing odors, dirt and cheap to boot. I gave it a go and I couldn’t believe how well it worked.
Here, I share how to clean your outdoor rugs with this natural method and reveal the tips I learned on the way that will bring you the brightest results.
Cleaning an outdoor rug with baking soda
I often clean with baking soda around my home, using it for everything from cleaning cups to cleaning ovens.
However, when cleaning outdoor rugs with it, there are a few key steps worth following to ensure yours scrubs up as well as it can.
Before you start, you will need:
- Baking soda – the Great Value baking soda from Walmart is budget-friendly.
- A scrubbing brush – I used one similar to the Unique Bargains brush from Target.
- A bucket of water or a hose.
1. Shake out the rug
I tried a natural outdoor rug cleaning method using baking soda, skipping harsh chemicals altogether.
Before you apply any baking soda, be sure to shake out your outdoor rug to remove loose dirt, dust, and debris.
Scott Schrader, cleaning expert at CottageCare, says, ‘If you can hang the rug on a clothesline or on a railing, this will help you access the rug.’
I hung mine on my clothes rail, which allowed me to easily brush the dirt off from both sides.
2. Sprinkle on the baking soda
Cover your outdoor rug with baking soda.
After shaking any excess dirt off your backyard rug, it's time to prepare the baking soda.
Taylor Riley, partner at AMR US Commercial Cleaning, adds, ‘I recommend mixing in 10-20 drops of essential oils in the baking soda so you leave behind a nice odor when you’re done.’
If you know you’re going to be hosting outdoors, this is a clever way to add a subtle home fragrance to your backyard area. Not sure what your preferred scent is? The Hanolly essential oil set from Walmart has lots of different ones to try out.
From here, sprinkle on the baking soda. I used a quarter of a cup of soda and worked it in with my scrubbing brush. While doing this, I found the baking soda instantly lifted away lots of the dirt.
Scott says, ‘Make sure to focus the baking soda on any surfaces with stains, or any areas that have a smell to them.’
After this, Scott recommends allowing the baking soda to sit for 15-20 minutes. ‘During this time the baking soda absorbs the moisture and odor, leaving your outdoor rug smelling fresher.’
I like that this Grade one baking soda comes in a neat bag, so you can measure out as much as you need easily. It is free from harsh chemicals and it is one of my top eco-friendly cleaning products.
I recommend choosing a natural scent to freshen up your outdoor space with. This can be sprinkled into baking soda mix and tossed through to give it an uplifting fragrance.
With stiff bristles and non-grip handles, these brushes are ideal for scrubbing outdoor rugs. They can also be stored easily, thanks to the U-style hanger.
3. Remove the baking soda
Once the baking soda has lifted the dirt from the rug (the change in color is a good tell-tale sign it has worked), you can either vacuum or shake out the baking soda. I shook mine out, then used a handheld vacuum (the Black+Decker dust buster from Amazon is highly-rated) to get the small pieces out. Just be sure to keep it away from your lawn as it can damage your grass and plants by drawing all the water out of them.
Scott adds, ‘If you want to clean deeper, you can scrub the surface again with a soft scrubbing brush to help get through more collected dirt.’
Despite doing this, I did struggle to get all the debris out of my outdoor rug. My rug is made from woven plastic, which made it difficult to remove the truly-bedded in dirt. However, it looks so much better than it did.
This Brigii handheld vacuum is one of our favorites at H&G. I have been using it for over a year and love how portable and powerful it is. I even have two – one in my house and one in my car.
4. Leave to dry
Before returning the rug to its normal location, let the rug dry completely. Depending on the size of your rug, the material of your rug, and your location’s weather conditions, this can take anywhere from a few hours to a full 24 hours.
Mine took three hours because it was plastic, but a fabric rug would take longer, as it’s more porous.
After seeing the completed result, I was pleased with how much the baking soda was able to clean, especially since I hadn’t cleaned it for six months prior to this. My white and yellow outdoor rug was left brighter, stain free and the essential oil gave my outdoor rug a gorgeous scent that lasted for over three days, which I found impressive considering it was exposed to the elements.
Meet the experts
Scott is a cleaning expert at CottageCare, which is a leading home cleaning company with over 41 locations nationwide. He's a big believer in using eco-friendly cleaning solutions like baking soda.
Taylor is a partner at AMR US Commercial Cleaning. He has hands-on experience in both residential and commercial cleaning indoors and outdoors.
Once you’ve given your backyard rug a clean, you might be looking for other ways to give your garden a glow up for the warmer months.
One of the best ways to do this is with outdoor furniture, as this will make your space chic and functional.
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