Is it possible to keep outdoor rugs clean? How can I keep my outdoor rug nice looking? These are questions that outdoor rugs companies anticipate – and because of this, the best companies know they need to make an outdoor rug that can both be durable enough to stay outside but also easy enough to handle to be kept clean.

Take a look at the following tips for keeping your outdoor rugs clean. File it away and use what applies as necessary!

1. Consider Using Bamboo Rugs

Rugs made primarily from bamboo, such as those outdoor rugs from the Anji Mountain Rug Company, are some of the easiest outdoor rugs to clean. Usually cleaning a rug like this involves first shaking it, and then, if dirt and whatnot are still present, taking a damp cloth and applying it to the finish, rubbing it until the dirt is gone. If dirt is still present, apply a cleaning solution to the cloth, but be sure to use a test area first. It’s possible a strong cleaning solution could effect the tone or clarity of the colors naturally present in an outdoor bamboo rug.

2. Use Outdoor Rugs Seasonally Only

In some climates, this is perhaps an obvious statement, but in other places where the climate is mild or winters are not too severe, consider just packing up the rug and placing it indoors for the season. While weather such as strong snows or constant spring rains should not present a problem for an outdoor rug – they are, after all, designed to be outdoors, this does not mean they are going to NOT get dirty or perhaps permanently altered from such conditions. The same is even true of great weather – direct sunlight on an outdoor rug can dull the colors of the rug, over time.

Since few people are going to be enjoying the outdoors all season long, the patio or whatever rugged area they intend to enjoy outside does not need to have the rug present all year long.

3. Add It To Your Cleaning Chores

Just because it’s outside doesn’t mean it should get left out of the cleaning chores! Integrate cleaning the rug into your other cleaning to increase the lifespan of the rug. This can mean different things to different people. For some, this means simply shaking and wiping down the rug once a week. (This is the easiest way to increase the lifespan and the aesthetic value of the rug. Simply shake the rug clean of external debri and then gently wipe it down with a damp cloth.) For others, it may mean having it professionally washed once a month or every season. For some, a good rule of thumb – if the rug size-wise and material wise permits such a thing – is to simply throw it in the washer once or twice a month and give it a good cleaning.

4. Get Twice As Much For Your Dollar By Using a Reversible Outdoor Rug

This isn’t so much a cleaning tip as a nifty little trick! But when it comes to outdoor rugs, one way to increase the lifespan of the rug is to buy an reversible rug. This means that you can flip it over and have a new rug! This means the rug will have twice the lifespan as a normal rug (unless you chop it in half on purpose or something horrendous happens to it). One way this can relate to keeping the rug clean is to flip the side of the exposed rug over every time you clean it! This trick is one of my favorites.

The great part about keeping an outdoor rug clean is that it’s not as relevant as keeping in door rugs clean. In other words, rare is the person who looks at an outdoor rug and notices any dirt or problems with its cleanliness! It is, afterall, an outdoor rug, right?

Let’s go through some ideas on decoration and how it relates to round outdoor rugs and creating a nice outdoor living space.

First of all, design is all about each component complimenting the other components as a whole. No, not in the sense of the outdoor chair saying to the bamboo mat “Wow, it’s obvious that whoever made you really knew the carbonization process of curing bamboo to rid if of excessive moisture and oils!” While that would be nice (or indicative of someone spiking the spring punch at your party), I mean complimentary in the sense of how each piece fits together with the next to create a nicer whole.

The round shape of an outdoor rug gives us a very neat “canvas” to work with, so to speak, in regards to setting up an outdoor chill space or living room. We want components that work nicely with the round shape as well as the color and even materials used in the furniture and rugs. For instance, having a round bamboo rug as the central component would be a wonderful tie-in to having a bamboo coffee table, bamboo tiki torches, and bamboo sitting furniture i.e. bamboo chairs. At the same time, a red round outdoor rug designed with a soft cloth finish could be complimented nicely with similarly designed furniture with red padding.

Round outdoor rugs also give a person the mental cue of where to follow. This means that an area of the garden that is designed for someone to relax in can be automatically understood by the placement of a rug in this area. Does that make sense?

The actual design on the round rug is certainly something to consider as well in relation to the rest of the set up. For instance, if you’ve got an eastern vibe going on with your garden and garden decor, a nice compliment to this design-wise might be the addition of a rug with an oriential, Asian, or Chinese style of art. These designs are hugely popular and easily available, and this includes rugs designed for the outdoors too. Another example would be to use a rug with flowers of a similar type of those planted in or around your home as a way of “connecting the dots”. The same is true also of round outdoor rugs that consist of a solid color or pattern of solid color – how does this color fit in with the other colors of the area? Does it match them or compliment them nicely? Does it help create the mood you were looking for? It should!

As a side note, I think it’s best to not use round rugs as an outdoor rug for the front door or back door. For one, the circular shape makes it awkward to place the rug right up against the door. In fact, you simply cannot place the rug straight up against the door since the shapes don’t “match”. I think also it creates a strange sort of symetry placing a round rug up against a flat line. For outdoor rugs that are going to be placed against the door, it’s best to go for door mats, although this certainly doesn’t have to mean an ugly little piece of rubber!

Let’s take a look at some of the more common materials used in outdoor rugs that makes them suitable to be outside in various weather conditions.

Bamboo. Bamboo is a fantastic material used in rugs, both indoor rugs and outdoorrugs, as well being used in a nearly endless list of other furniture items, as it makes for a great raw building material. Bamboo is cultivated, harvested, and cured a specific way that tightens the fibers inside at every step of the way to make a highly durable, strong rug. For more about bamboo, see Anji Bamboo Outdoor Rugs.

DuraCord Fabric. DuraCord Fabric is a trademarked fabric that makes up many types of outdoor furniture. DuraCord is a synthetic fiber that is as soft of softer than polyester. It doesn’t collect mildew and it allows for vibrant colors via a specific method of acrylic solution dying. A perk of DuraCord rugs is that they are easy to clean (see Cleaning Outdoor Rugs) and the colors do not fade from bleach cleaning solution. Additionally, they will not absorb water. Can you imagine how helpful that is when designing a rug to stay outside?

Plastic. Plastic is a versatile material and at first it might sound odd to think of a rug being based on plastic, but tiny plastic bits can be used to make a very strong rug that is able to withstand the outdoors. Many plastic outdoor rugs are the type that you’re able to roll up and easily store. Think of the chain type of rug where each piece spans the length of the rug and is connected via small ropes.

Another interesting aspect of using plastic for rugs is that this means you can make entire rugs out of recycled materials. Plastic is one of the most easily recycled materials on the planet, and rug companies have capitalized on this fact to offer products that can be considered both “green”, strong, and durable, as well as easy to clean with just water and some cleaning solution.

Rubber. The term “rubber outdoor rugs” doesn’t carry with it much elegance or suave decor does it? Nevertheless, rubber mats and outdoor rugs are one of the most common – and cheap! – out door rugs out there on the market. Rubber is especially popular for door mats as they clean easily and can stand the wear and tear of having lets of feet wiped on them.

Does this mean all outdoor rugs are made of plastic, rubber, bamboo, or DuraCord rope and fabrics? Absolutely not. These are just some strong materials that are in some rugs and because of their qualities – such as being water resistant – make them suitable as the basis of an outdoor rug. Out of all the types listed here, I’d have to say my favorites are the bamboo rugs and the DuraCord rugs – picking one of these types, you can’t go wrong!

Those are the characteristics that you need to consider, if you want to find outdoor floor covering that exemplifies workmanship of superior quality.

Weather resistant rugs can withstand exposure to fluctuating temperatures. They do not fade when exposed to direct sunlight. They do not exhibit unsightly damage, following a freezing night on a porch or patio. They do not mildew, and they do not support the growth of mold. In other words, they are extremely durable.

Well designed rugs look great in any setting. They can complement the green in plants on a patio, or the leaves of trees that shade an outdoor area. They can go with just about any color that might be used in backyard furniture. Quality rugs come in more than one size; they work well in either airy or confined locations. In other words, they are versatile.

Top quality floor coverings have the feel that a backyard lover would want to find in something that is expected to pad the scampering of bare feet. Quality outdoor textiles, like those used by the Sunbrella Company, do not compromise softness, in order to provide consumers with a longer lasting product.

Sunbrella makes framed rugs, bordered rugs and a choice of solid or striped, braided pieces for the floor. Sunbrella gives consumers an opporunity to select from one half dozen different colors–natural, mocha, wheat, grey, cafe and charcoal.

Consumers who want something more colorful might want to consider the pegboard reversible rug, an item that is now available on the CB2 web site. It is really two rugs in one. In this durable and soft piece, a patented process has been used to interlock acrylc fibers. That process has allowed creation of something that has both bold hues and a markedly pleasant texture.

Choosing the Best Outdoor Rug

While there is no single best type of rug which you can use to for your outdoor space such as the patio, there are some pieces which are more appropriate for the specific type of area that you have. For instance, if you have a patio with raw wooden floors, you might want to spring for a Persian rug or something that is in the line of Mediterranean woven carpets since they are very thick and cozy.

Colors

A very important aspect of home decor is color which you need to choose base on the general feel you want to achieve for the area in question. For dark wooden floors, consider livelier hues such as red, orange, and blue. On the other hand, light colored floor will be better complimented by earth tones such a brown and green.

Cost Comparison

One of the things you need to remember is to set a budget for purchasing a rug for your outdoor area. Certainly, there are thousands of choices you can pick from but the amount of money you can actually afford to spend is undeniably limited.

Before you even think about swiping your credit card, make sure you have scoped the market well and have seen as many options as possible. A good place to look is the internet since you can compare prices as well as quality in a matter of minutes plus you can get some ideas for designs as well.

If the deck or patio is made of wood, noise is created when people walk over them. To lessen this noise outdoor rugs have proved to be helpful. The rugs also absorb any liquid which is spilled over and the paving – thus, your deck gets duly protected from stains due to this. Wooden patios are expensive and deserve adequate protection during parties or other gatherings. Sprucing up the deck or patio with a well-designed rug also has an aesthetic value.

Various materials are found to be used for making these rugs. Bamboo rugs are ecologically-friendly products and impart a natural theme to the décor of a place. These rugs are provided with non-skid latex for additional safety. The all-weather outdoor rugs have caught the imagination of interior decorators due to their versatility and beauty. These durable and attractive accent-pieces are capable of withstanding the abuses from pets, children, and obviously nature. These all-weather rugs are made of Polypropylene (Olefin) which is weather resistant and extremely convenient to clean. Another category of rugs, the hand-made variety are more durable and comfortable than any other kind of rugs. These are also more expensive compared to the other varieties.

There are many reputed brands manufacturing outdoor rugs, like DuraCord, Andros, Trellis, Courtisan, Adelade, Damask, Café Tostado, Casual Elements, etc. To find out which brand is suitable for you, some amount of research (online as well as offline) is required. Longer warranties are offered by certain brands and those might suit you if you are looking for assurance. Certain customized themes or designs might capture your imagination and you might prefer to purchase those rugs too.

Bamboo has a long history, particularly in East Asia, as a source of raw material, building materials, and food for both humans and animals, a fact particularly well known for the Panda bear, as well as something available in any Asian market or restaurant, such as bamboo shoots. Some other interesting things that can be made of or with bamboo include musical instruments such as flutes and drums, medicines, sweets, bamboo jewelry, decorative bamboo stones and ornaments, and lamps.

The bamboo plant itself comes in a variety of types, with over 1,000 species of bamboo trees! Certain bamboo trees can grow up to two feet in a single day!

When it comes to outdoor bamboo rugs, there is one brand that we love more than any other, and it’s known simply as Anji Mountain, taking its name from the Anji Mountains of China. What is significant about this area? The Anji Mountains are known all over the world for their bamboo, and for their ability to harvest high quality long lasting bamboo.

Anji Mountain Bamboo Rugs capitalize on this fact, making some of the best – if not thee best – indoor and outdoor rugs made of bamboo on the planet.

What are the reasons that Anji Bamboo Outdoor Rugs stand out so much in a market full of bamboo products and bamboo rugs? As mentioned, their bamboo is from the Anji Mountains. But it’s not just “from there”. Anji Mountains products are made of bamboo which is not only grown and harvested in the Anji Mountains, but is manufactured, finished, assembled, and then literally packaged and shipped from the Anji mountains, too. This is the real deal!

One reason that this area of China is so well known for its bamboo is that it’s actually the only region in the world where the bamboo goes through what’s known as a “winter freeze”. During this freeze, the fibers of the bamboo grow tighter and thus stronger, resulting in a harder bamboo product of increased strength.

From here, its the policies of Anji Mountain Rugs that makes their products stand out. Their Anji bamboo is grown for 5 or more years before being harvested, allowing the bamboo to grow harder and harder each season.

In order to make the bamboo suitable for manufacturing into a product, it is put through whats known as carbonization. This is a process for removing oils and moisture that may otherwise reside in the bamboo stalks. It also more fully brings out the colors and natural beauty of the plant, while at the same time strengthening the fibers to create the hard, strong bamboo rug that the Anji Mountain Bamboo Company is famous for.

Of course manufacturing machines are used to assist in the mass production of such products, but its nice to know that every bamboo rug they make is hand sanded with the help of humans hands as well as machines, as part of their commitment to making a bamboo rug with a finish that you can rub your hands and finger tips on and only experience a hard and decidedly smooth bamboo finish.

Many rugs these days are made from polypropylene yarns. This means that they can have a pattern woven into the mat, just like regular indoor rugs, while at the same time being weather and mold resistant. They are easy to clean, do not fade in the sunlight or get washed out in the rain. These are all very important qualities for an outdoor rug to have.

Typically, rubber backed rugs are also great to use outdoors. The slip resistant backing makes them ideal to use in situations where there is likely to be water on the ground or on tiles, such as around pool areas or decks.

Some people prefer the more rustic bamboo rug style. While bamboo is a natural substance, it does not always do that well in outdoor areas even if treated. Dampness in the air can cause mold and mildew to grow very quickly on bamboo rugs, and mold is not that easy to clean off bamboo. It is important to balance looks and practicality when you are deciding on what type of rugs to use in your outdoor areas.

Prices range greatly when it comes to outdoor rugs. Some will only cost $30 or $40, whereas others can cost up to several hundred dollars. Pricing depends on the style and pattern of the rug, as well as the size of the rug.

Today, these floor coverings still have durability and they are weather resistant. However, they come in many styles and designs, and match any scenery or patio furniture. For the beach house, maybe a seaside design incorporating sand dollars and conch shells. Into picnicking on the patio with Tiki torches and a hibachi, choose a rug with a Turkish design. Need a rug for the floor of the gazebo, possibly buy one with a southwestern design.

Since most of the materials used are rugged and water resistant, clean up is a snap. Spray them down with a garden hose. If needed, use a soft broom or brush with a biodegradable detergent.

Many rug manufacturers are using recycled materials. Gaiam weaves their rugs using plastic from milk jugs and soda bottles. Home Infatuation manufactures their products using scraps from a rubber flip-flop factory. One producer even uses plastic grocery bags! Homeowners can entertain their guests and boast about their eco-friendly deck covering.

Many retailers sell outdoor rugs including Target, Amazon, IKEA, Loews, and Crate & Barrel. They come in circular and rectangular shapes, and a 6 by 9 rug is priced between 80 and 150 dollars.

Looking to remodel the lanai, cover up that stained concrete with outdoor rugs made from recycled materials. A plethora of designs makes it possible to match the patio furniture, and the decor. After the picnic, cleaning is easy; just hose it down.