How to Steam Clean a Viscose Rug (Spoiler: You Probably Shouldn’t)
Viscose rugs are tempting—they have that beautiful soft sheen, luxurious look and almost silk-like feel, without the hefty price tag of silk. But before you steam clean a rug made from viscose, you’ll want to know a few not-so-nice truths. Spoiler: this fibre isn’t built for heavy wear or wet cleaning. Viscose rugs are becoming more and more popular but they do have very specific care requirements you should be aware of.
Viscose has a beautiful soft sheen, however it is also a very weak fibre which does not stand up well to foot traffic (pardon the pun!). It is this inherent weakness that makes Viscose a poor choice for floor coverings as well as being very difficult to clean.
What is Viscose?
Viscose is a plant based cellulose only fibre. This means the original plant material used to make viscose, goes through a chemical process to remove everything except cellulose. This chemical process often uses highly toxic chemicals such as Carbon Disulfide to separate the cellulose from the rest of the plant material. The toxic waste created by this process is difficult to dispose of and therefore the manufacture of rayon/viscose was banned in the USA and Europe many years ago. Thailand and India are now the main producers of viscose.
The cellulose is then spun to form a fibre which can be used to make fabric as well as carpet and rugs. The fibres are either woven or glued onto a backing material. Viscose is an incredibly soft fibre and looks and feels a lot like silk. However viscose is also, an extremely weak fibre and very fragile. In fact it has much more in common with paper than it does with traditional fibres used to make floor coverings.
A rose by any other name…..
Viscose is sold under many different names and trademarks, depending on the manufacturing process and the intended use. Some of the more common names for viscose are;
- Art Silk
- Bamboo Silk
- Rayon
- Viscose Rayon
- Acetate rayon
- Fake Silk
- Faux Silk
- Banana Silk
- Tencel
- Lyocel
- Manmade Silk
In spite of their “eco friendly” sounding names and the fact they come from plants, none of these fibres are sustainable or environmentally friendly. The water waste in the manufacturing process and toxic waste created are extremely harmful to the environment. Also these fibres are not long lasting and you cannot usually steam clean a rug made of viscose, so they often end up in landfill.
Why Viscose is not a suitable fibre for rugs or carpet
Why Viscose Makes a Poor Rug Fibre;
Matting & crushing: When wet, the nap (pile) of a viscose rug won’t always spring back neatly—it often dries unevenly and stays flattened.
Weak strength: Viscose doesn’t handle stress well. It can be bent only around 70 times before breaking, whereas wool and silk are far more resilient. Getting it wet cuts its strength by about half.
Shedding & fibre pull: Just walking or vacuuming (especially with strong suction or power heads/beater bars) can pull fibres and cause damage.
Colour issues: Viscose doesn’t hold dye well. Moisture often causes colour bleeding. Also, oxidisation can lead to yellow or brown hues if fibres stay wet too long.
So how do you steam clean a rug made of viscose?
The short answer is – you don’t! Once you steam clean viscose, it will never look as good as it did beforehand. Viscose sheds, breaks, distorts, yellows, fades and wears away in a very short amount of time. Silk is strong and can last for decades, whereas viscose is more of a “disposable fibre” and is not made to last. Viscose is like paper, you can’t wet it, clean it, repair it and replacement is often the only option.
A small spill on a viscose rug can ruin it permanently and even the most experienced rug specialist cannot always restore viscose. To steam clean a rug made of viscose is asking for trouble! We suggest contacting an experienced specialist rug washing facility for advice on cleaning your viscose rug.
How to Care for a Viscose Rug If You Have One
If you already own a viscose rug and want to enjoy it (carefully), here are some tips:
- Protect it immediately: Use a fabric protection treatment (professionally applied is best) right away. Do light coats over time so things dry properly between applications.
- Dry vacuuming only: Use gentle suction, no beater bars or power heads. Be very gentle—even vacuuming rough can pull fibres.
- Dealing with spills:
- If it’s water, blot immediately with a clean white cotton towel. Lay a towel over the area, weight it down, and leave it for 24 hours.
- If it’s a coloured liquid, use a mix of two parts water to one part white vinegar. Lightly dampen with a sponge, blot (don’t rub), then follow up with the towel-and-weight trick.
- Avoid spot removers and harsh chemicals: They can do more harm than good.
A final word of advice
Viscose rugs look gorgeous and feel amazing, but they’re fragile. If you’re in the market for something you’ll walk on daily and clean, viscose may not be the best choice. Always check labels carefully—sometimes rugs are marketed under names like “art silk,” “bamboo silk,” or “faux silk,” which are all often just viscose. And if you’re ever in doubt, talk to a professional rug cleaner before attempting steam or wet cleaning. Once the damage is done, there’s often no way back.
We do not offer any cleaning services for viscose rugs, the risk of damaging the fibres is just too great. However we can steam clean many other types of rugs. We can come to you and steam clean rugs in your home to save on pick up/delivery charges. Contact us for advice or a quote.
Special Mention: The Rug Chick
I would also like to give a special mention to Lisa Wagner AKA The Rug Chick. I went to one of Lisa’s workshops when she was in Melbourne a few years ago. Her vast knowledge of rugs and what to look out for has been invaluable to my business. Much of the information in this article has been sourced from Lisa’s Blog Please follow the link to find out more about viscose rugs.
