This summer was unusually WET for West Texas, and I mortified to discover my porch rug looking pretty green and mildew-y.  Instead of throwing it away, I decided to try to clean it instead.  It was successful, so I thought I would document it here for future reference.  See the sad state it was in?  Green and gross!  Yuck.

img_5960-smThe supplies needed:

  • one bottle of Lysol concentrate (I knew it would kill 99.9% of germs, but I wasn’t sure if it would discolor the rug – luckily it didn’t!)
  • a scrubbing brush
  • a bucket
  • water hose with spray nozzle
  • a open area with plenty of draining and sunlight (I used the street in front of my house, but a driveway would have been more ideal for drainage purposes)img_5962-smFollow package directions for diluting the Lysol in a bucket (and add a splash more for good measure).  Then pour over the rug and let it sit for about 5 minutes.  Repeat the process again, this time working in quarters of the rug to make sure you get the entire area.

img_5963-smUse the scrubbing brush to work in small sections and brush away the mildew and stains.

img_5966-smOnce you have the entire rug scrubbed down, use the water hose to rinse it off.  At this point, I used the brush to help push away excess water to the edges of the rug.  As you rinse, you might also notice trouble spots that need additional attention.

img_5969-smWhen you’re done, let the sunshine do its job to aid in the drying process!  Or you can sling it over a fence or railing to make the excess water run off faster.

Ta-da!!  Looks like a brand new rug!  Clean and ready for all of my Fall weather porch sitting.

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