Always dust or brush woven rugs in the direction of the pile. Stroking against the pile can cause softer wools to break. [3] X Research source
If your carpet is rectangular, the pile direction will be going lengthwise. Regular traffic across a rug can change the pile direction in certain places. Rotate your rugs regularly so the pile stays uniform across the whole rug.
For best results, use a canister vacuum without a beater bar or a similar vacuum that only uses suction.
Alternatively, you and a friend can flip the shag rug upside down and shake it vigorously to shake off dirt and dust. Shag rugs are abnormally heavy, however, so this will be difficult for you to do alone.
