So, I had this small area rug, you know, the kind you put by the door or in the hallway. It was getting seriously grubby, looked like it had seen better centuries, not just years. Spot cleaning wasn't cutting it anymore. I looked at it, looked at my washing machine, and thought, "Well, it's not huge, maybe... just maybe?"

Getting Started - The 'Should I?' Moment

First thing, I flipped it over looking for a care label. Found one, but it was so faded I couldn't make out a thing. Typical. So, it was basically a gamble. I figured, what's the worst that could happen? It falls apart? It was pretty cheap anyway. Before chucking it in, I took it outside and gave it a really good shake to get rid of loose dirt, dust bunnies, you name it. There was this one dark spot, looked like coffee maybe, so I dabbed a bit of laundry pre-treater on it, just in case.

Into the Machine It Goes

Okay, wrestling it into the drum was the next challenge. My machine isn't massive, so it was a bit of a squeeze. I tried to arrange it so it wasn't just one big lump, hoping it would balance out. Fingers crossed.

• I set the machine to a cold water wash. Definitely didn't want hot water shrinking it or making colors run.
• Chose the gentle cycle, or delicates, whatever your machine calls it. Slowest spin speed possible too.
• Used just a small amount of my regular liquid detergent. Didn't want loads of suds trapped in there.

Then I hit start and walked away, trying not to listen too closely to the thumping sounds during the spin cycle. It definitely sounded a bit uneven at times.

The Long Wait - Drying Time

When the cycle finished, I opened the door with some trepidation. Pulled it out. Wow, it was heavy with water! Way heavier than you'd think. It looked cleaner, though, which was a good sign. I checked the edges and the backing – seemed intact, no obvious fraying or disintegration. Success, maybe?

Now, drying. Putting it in the dryer felt like a really bad idea. Heat just seemed like it would destroy the backing or shrink the whole thing. So, I opted for air drying. I laid out a couple of plastic garden chairs outside (it was a decent day, thankfully) and draped the rug over them, making sure air could get underneath. It took ages. Like, two full days. I went out and flipped it over a few times to help it dry evenly.

The Verdict?

Finally, it was dry. Brought it back inside. It definitely looked much, much cleaner. The colors seemed a bit brighter, and that coffee spot was gone. It felt a little stiffer than before, maybe slightly less plush? But overall, it worked out okay for this particular rug.

Would I recommend it? Honestly, it's risky. If your rug has a clear 'do not wash' label, definitely don't try it. If it's wool, silk, or has a delicate backing, forget it. But for a cheap, synthetic, smallish rug where you've got nothing to lose? It might work. Just use cold water, gentle cycle, and be prepared for a very long air-drying time. And maybe have a backup plan if it doesn't survive the ordeal!