Washing Rugs is a Beloved Finnish Summer Tradition
In many Finnish families, washing rugs is a cherished summer ritual shared across generations. At public rug-washing stations called matonpesupaikka, people gather to scrub their rugs clean with pine soap, surrounded by the peaceful sounds and scents of summer. The busiest time is right now, around midsummer, when the sun is high and tradition runs deep — and the warm summer breeze offers the perfect conditions for drying thick rugs that take time to dry.
In Finnish homes, you won’t find wall-to-wall carpets. Instead, many households have rag rugs (räsymatto in Finnish) – traditional woven rugs made from recycled fabric strips. These colorful, often striped rugs are durable, easy to care for, and perfectly suited to life in Finnish homes. It is precisely these rag rugs that Finns wash at public rug-washing stations.
Rag rugs are made to last and are often passed down from one generation to the next. But the craft of weaving new rag rugs is far from lost – it’s a living tradition. Across Finland, weaving courses are offered in community colleges, where enthusiasts of all ages learn how to use a traditional floor loom to create these beloved, practical pieces of home.
What Is a “Matonpesupaikka”?
In Finnish, matonpesupaikka literally means “rug washing place” (matto = rug, pesu = washing, paikka = place). And true to its name, that’s exactly what it is: a designated public facility for washing rugs. These outdoor washing stations can be found all across Finland – from small villages to bigger towns – and they’re free for everyone to use.
Rug-washing stations are covered by a shelter that protects you from sun and rain, making the process pleasant regardless of weather.
A Summer Chore Turned Social Ritual
For many Finns, washing rugs in summer isn’t just about cleaning – it’s a seasonal ritual. Almost every small town or village has its own matonpesupaikka, often surrounded by peaceful countryside views. Washing rugs becomes a surprisingly relaxing and satisfying way to spend time, especially in good company.
How It Works
The matonpesupaikka usually consists of several large, waist-high metal pools that are filled with cold water. You start by soaking your rugs in the water to loosen the dirt. Then, resting them on a washing platform (a sturdy flat surface placed over the pool), you scrub them section by section using a root brush and pine soap (mäntysuopa in Finnish). Everyone brings their own supplies, including brushes and soap.
Pine soap is a traditional, plant-based soap made from pine oil. It has a fresh, resinous scent that many Finns instantly associate with summer and rug washing. It’s deeply nostalgic and comforting — a sensory connection to slow, sunny days and the satisfaction of a job well done.
The Final Steps: Pressing and Drying
Once clean, the rugs are usually put through a manual roller press (a large hand-cranked wringer) to squeeze out the excess water. This part often requires two people – one to feed the rug through and one to crank the handle. It’s a task best done with a friend, but if you’re on your own, you can of course ask anyone at the rug-washing station for help — and chances are, you’ll end up helping each other out.
Rug-washing stations usually have sturdy racks where you can leave your rugs to drain while you continue washing your other rugs. But since the rugs dry slowly, they shouldn’t be left there for an extended time. Instead, they should be taken home and left to dry properly.
A warm and breezy summer day with clear skies is the best weather for drying rugs — in those ideal conditions, they might be nearly dry within a single day. It’s a good idea to check the weather forecast before soaking your rugs, as rainy or damp weather will slow down the drying process and may leave an unpleasant odor in the fabric instead of that lovely pine soap scent.
Clean Up and Consideration
Before leaving, it’s customary to drain the pools, rinse them, and tidy up the area for the next person. Matonpesupaikka etiquette is important: for example, each person should only use one washing pool at a time, so that more people can wash their rugs simultaneously.
Washing rugs at a matonpesupaikka isn’t just a chore — it’s a form of slow, mindful living. It connects people to tradition, to nature, and to each other. Whether you’re scrubbing in silence or chatting with neighbors, surrounded by the scent of pine soap and the sounds of summer, this humble task becomes something truly special.
Winter Cleaning: Snow Washing Rag Rugs
Rag rugs can also be cleaned in winter, but in a slightly different way: when there’s enough loose snow and frost, you can take the rugs outside into the pristine, white snow and brush them clean. After brushing, you can leave the rugs in the snow for a while and let the frost do its work — it freshens them up wonderfully. If you give them a good beating before bringing them back indoors, they won’t get wet and there’s no need to dry them.
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Sauna Hermanni 
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