In order to prevent a shag rug from becoming too dirty, place it in an area with less foot traffic, take your shoes off before walking on it, and don't eat near it. It also helps to keep the area under and around your rug clean.

Covering your rugs with Scotchgard Rug & Carpet Protector once every six months can heavily aid the prevention process. Scotchgard allows stains to come out easier and can obstruct stains from forming in the first place, but make sure you carefully follow the instructions when applying it.

Taking your rug outside and whacking it can get rid of dirt, debris, and allergy-causing dust. You can buy a plastic rug beater for under $20, or invest a little more for one made out of rattan that can also be hung as a decoration for under $35.

Instead of vacuuming a shag rug on the carpeted side, flip the rug over and vacuum on the bottom to avoid damage to the strands. For a deeper clean, you can use a crevice tool and go hand-by-hand or try using a leaf blower to get the dirt out.

Rugs made of synthetic fibers like polypropylene, acrylic, and polyester can be steam cleaned with carpet-cleaning machines, whereas natural fibers like wool, cotton, and silk require washing. If you plan to steam clean your shag rug, remove the debris first and let it air-dry outdoors once finished.