The Most Amazing Cleaning Life Hack You've NEVER Seen Before! Green, Non-Toxic Way to Deep Clean Rugs of Toxins

I'm going out on a limb by saying that you've never seen this cleaning hack before, because usually that kind of language is clickbait and usually the actual tip is the same-old-same-old... but in this case, I think it's completely justified!  When I came across this cleaning hack, casually mentioned in a paragraph of housekeeping tips with none of the fanfare or fuss it deserved, it was brand-new to me.  I couldn't believe it was true until I gave it a try, and then, I couldn't believe how well it worked!  

Read on, friend, your house is about to be cleaner!

Alrighty, you know those entry mats that most of us have in front of the outside doors?  Yours might look something like this, minus the adorable dog.  Awww hi Cutie Pie...

If you're like me, you totally clean these entry mats, and on a regular basis too.  You either vacuum them, or shake them out.  

I'm in the vacuuming group, though I will sometimes give them a shake or two as well.

Furthermore, if you're like me, you assume your mats are clean after said vacuuming / shaking.  They LOOK clean.  They probably even FEEL clean.  But there is actually an insidious layer of dust and dirt, filled with all the toxins of normal household dust combined with all kinds of delightful pesticides, fertilizers, and germs tracked in from outdoors, still lurking more deeply within that rug.

Don't freak out!!  We're about to totally destroy this dust trap, in what will probably be the most satisfying and easy cleaning trick you've ever learned.

Here's what you do.  

Deep Cleaning Your Entry Mats in 5 Easy Steps:

1)  Flip your mat over.
2)  Vacuum the BACK of the rug.  This might involve standing on the sides of your rug while you vacuum, which can feel a little like you're doing some weird dance with a machine... but you can handle it. 

Illustration, in case you're confused already:  

Sorry that one is blurry!  It's an action shot... and yes, that's my magically expanding foot.  I could have cropped it out, but I kind of thought it was funny to leave it.  ;P  

3)  Now gently lift / remove your mat.  This is what you're likely to see.

Do you SEE all that dirt?  All that grey on the floor is PILES of DIRT.  You'll be able to see it better if we compare it to how the clean floor looks usually, so check this out:

Holy moly, right??

4)  Vacuum up the newly evicted dirt.

5)  Do it again.  I'm not even joking, I did it a second time and MORE DIRT CAME OUT.  And, the especially awesomely disgusting part is that this wasn't even our most-used door mat.  I did that one first, and unfortunately didn't think to take photos until after I was finished... 'cuz that one was even worse!

I was curious as to whether this cleaning trick would result in much less dirt going forward, since of course I hadn't ever deep-cleaned my mats like this before I took these photos... but fast-forward a couple of weeks and a really good rainstorm later, and it was pretty much the same results once more. Ugh!

I think this cleaning hack is uniquely satisfying because 1) it's SO easy, only requiring a few minutes added on to your usual vacuuming routine, and 2) it is SO clearly effective!  You've already achieved your usual level of clean, and suddenly can tangibly reach an even higher one.  *Pats housekeeping-goddess-self on back*

Given that household dust can contain a truly terrifying number of toxins, and that my dogs love lounging on my entry mats, I am kind of obsessed with this cleaning hack!  Yay for lifehacks that actually WORK!  

(Unlike these.... don't waste your time on these! ;P)

One tiny caveat -- I'm not sure how this would work on a rug without a rubber backing, since it would be really hard to keep your vacuum from trying to "eat" the rug.  Personally, I just toss that type of "rag rug" into the washing machine periodically, and that works great too.  If you do try this hack on that style mat though, let me know how it goes!

Your turn!  I need more genius lifehacks, whether cleaning-related or organization or what have you... what light bulb moments have you had lately??

Here are some of the places you might see this post partying! 

Like what you're reading? Subscribe via email, and I'll keep the good stuff coming! 

Subscribe to receive updates via email!