How to clean the tatami mat?

Tatami mat, tatami rug carpet Vacuum.

Daily care of tatami requires only vacuuming. However, please note that vacuuming may cause damage, such as loosening or grass falling out. 

Tatami is made of a plant fiber called “Igusa”, which has an uneven surface. Dust tends to get stuck in the gaps between the fibers, known as the grain of tatami, so it is important to vacuum along with the flow of the fibers. 

You don’t have to exert a lot of force to clean the tatami.

Wipe with a dry cotton cloth

After removing debris from the tatami with a vacuum cleaner, try wiping it dry. Wipe along the direction of the tatami pattern.

If the stains are noticeable, apply vinegar diluted three times with water and wipe gently with a tightly wrung cloth. Do not forget to wipe dry at the finish.

Please note that wiping with a wet cotton cloth may cause the tatami mat to lose its luster or darken.

Clean the Tatami mat/rug carpet with citric acid!

If you want to clean the tatami mats especially carefully, it is recommended to use citric acid for cleaning.

If you have small children or pets in your family, you don’t want to use detergent when cleaning, right?

Citric acid is an ingredient contained in foods such as pickled plums, so even such people can use it with confidence.

・ It’s very easy to use

Put about 1 teaspoon of citric acid in about half a bucket of water to make citric acid water, soak a cloth in this citric acid water, squeeze it firmly, and wipe it.

At this time as well, be sure to wipe along the grain of the tatami mat, just as you would during daily cleaning.

Also, since tatami mats/rug carpets are vulnerable to moisture, use a cloth that has been squeezed tightly to improve ventilation even after wiping, and to prevent moisture from accumulating by drying the tatami mats/rug carpets in the shade. Please be careful!

◎ How to dry tatami mat/rug carpet

Drying tatami mats/rug carpets is also important. If possible, dry the tatami mats twice a year in spring and autumn on a sunny day.

In the case of rug carpet, it is convenient to carry so try to dry it frequently.

* Be careful not to expose it to direct sunlight.

For general tatami mats

First lift the tatami mat in the center using a tool with a sharp tip and then remove it.

Mark where the removed tatami mats were, so that you can put them back to the original position later.

When drying, be careful not to expose it to direct sunlight on the surface (Tatami Rush).

Turn the backside to the sunlight, beat out the dust well, and then dry it for about 4 to 5 hours.

* If there is no place to hang the tatami mats, you can simply lift the tatami mats from the floor and blow the wind.

-Lightweight tatami mats and Tatami rug carpets may be used on both sides.

In that case, do not expose it to direct sunlight, but dry it in the shade.