Rug maintenance

As The Dude famously declared of his prized rug in the film The Big Lebowski, “It really brings the room together.” The same can be said of your outdoor rug and your outdoor space. But you’re likely not cleaning your outdoor rug as often as you clean your indoor ones.
Outdoor rugs are often the catch basins for backyard get-togethers, absorbing dollops of tomato sauce, coffee spills, burger juice and anything else we eat or drink outside. And that’s in addition to the caked-on mixture of dust, dirt, mud and anything else Mother Nature decides to throw at it.
Fortunately, outdoor rugs are made to withstand these harsh treatments. But they should still be cleaned. Here’s how to do it.
Get the debris off

Grab your rug and give it a good shake. You’ll be surprised at how much stuff flies off your rug. This is often easier with a partner. One person stands on each side of the rug and shakes it until it’s debris-free.
If your rug is too large to manage alone, drape it over a railing, banister or even a step ladder. Now, hit the rug with a stick, tennis racket or something else.
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Vacuum the outdoor rug

All that shaking and beating will leave a fine layer of dust on the rug. Grab a vacuum and clean off both sides. Ideally, you should do this every couple of weeks. When dirt and debris get on your rug, it will take a while before you notice it. The rug traps it until rain or moisture brings the grime to the surface.
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