How do you clean a rug?

What's it made of? That changes the answer a lot. Wool: vacuum both sides, spot clean with cool water and a small amount of wool safe detergent, blot rather than rub, and don't soak it. Synthetic: you can use a carpet cleaner machine on it, or take it outside and shampoo it, as long as it dries fully flat afterwards. A rug that stays damp underneath starts to smell. Check the label first though, some are dry clean only.