Summarize:

Depending on where the wool rug is placed in your home, cleaning might range from once a year to once every several years. A professional cleaning is recommended, but as shown above, it can be a job you do yourself. To see how dirty your rug is, lift it by a corner and kick the back of it. If dirt comes out, it is dirty and in need of a cleaning. If nothing happens, a cleaning isn’t necessary. Vacuuming is how you keep your rug clean in between the yearly washings. It is essential to keeping dust and dirt from everyday foot traffic at bay.  For the first year of a wool rug’s life, vacuum at least 2-3 times a week. For areas that have high traffic, vacuum once a week. For older rugs and areas that have less traffic, vacuum once every couple of months.  Do not vacuum with vacuums that have a brush or beater bar. Try to limit the type of vacuum to suction-only options. By doing this, you regulate how often areas of the rug get stepped on. Wool rugs should be rotated at a 180-degree angle periodically to counteract foot traffic patterns on the rug. Use shading to reduce sunlight in sunny rooms. Apply UV filters to windows to prevent wool fibers from weakening and the wool from drying out.
Wash and clean your rug as needed. Vacuum your rug regularly. Rotate your rug every six months to a year. Reduce the amount of direct sunlight that your rug sees.