How to clean area rugs?

I have large wool area rugs on my wood floors and use a tarp under them when I shampoo them with a rug shampooer. I then use a fan to help them dry faster. I think the key is to extract as much water as possible to allow them to dry faster. It's not a fun job and in one room, I have to shampoo half the rug, then when it dries, move furniture, then do the other half.

Unless you soak the rugs, the cleaning solution never reaches the floor underneath. The trick is to vacuum and empty the bag at least three times before you shampoo. Then shampoo and use box fans or overhead fans to dry quickly. Then vacuum again. I clean mine on top of my wood floors. It's like being in a wind tunnel in my house when I do, but the rugs dry quickly and look good. Then every 3 years send them out to be professionally cleaned. Good luck.

Why not? I use a carpet shampooer all the time to shampoo my large rugs and it has never hurt my hardwood floors. When you use up the water each time, just run the machine to suck up any excess water. I also have rugs on pine floors upstairs and I do them with no damage.

Could you dry it over the shower rod and use a fan...or is it too heavy for that?