THE CARE AND PROTECTION OF YOUR ORIENTAL RUG

Oriental rugs date back over 2,500 years with the discovery of the “Pazyrk Rug” found in a Siberian burial site.  From Nomads to Kings, people have taken advantage of their warmth and prized their long lasting beauty.  Today, they grace homes and offices with their elegance and go with any decor.

Generally, Oriental rugs will increase in value with age and proper care.  Often it is a purchase for a lifetime, and when properly maintained, for generations!  The information here offers easy, basic steps for the care & protection of an oriental rug.

The Wonders of Wool:  Oriental rugs are generally made of wool and are extremely durable and consistently out performs other materials.  Unlike other fibers, wool is much more resilient, cleans better and stays clean longer.

Cleaning: Your trusted professional oriental rug dealer or cleaner will ensure a skilled cleaning that brings out the richness of color and softness of the wool.  Depending on the amount of traffic, a professional washing is recommended every one to three years for cleaning of your oriental rug.

Rotation:  To ensure even wear, your rug should be rotated once a year.  Depending on the traffic, the rotation may vary from six months to two years.

Vacuuming:  Oriental rugs, like most carpeting, should be vacuumed on a regular basis to remove dirt and restore life to the fibers.  Be sure not to vacuum the fringe.

Padding:  A quality pad used under your rug helps protect it from dirt, wear and slippage.

Restoration:  Just about any problem has a solution with a professional restoration.  Old and antique rugs sometimes need to be rewoven where worn and restored to life.  Consult your professional in these manners.

Spot and spill procedures:  Make sure you safely and immediately clean up spots and spills before they set.

With a spill, first soak up the excess liquid by blotting with a clean absorbent material (paper towel or cloth).  Do not brush or rub the stain as this will spread it and could also distort the rug’s pile.

Clean off solids with the dull side of a knife or with a spoon.

You can spot-clean with a mild detergent and white vinegar water solution.  Work inward from the edge of the soiled area.  Do not over-wet.

Rinse area thoroughly with small amounts of cool water mixed with a little white vinegar.  Avoid wetting the rug’s backing.  Blot dry by placing paper towel on treated area weighted down with a flat heavy object until most of the moisture has been absorbed.

Finally, remove paper towel and allow rug to dry.  A fan or cool hair dryer can also be used to hasten the drying process.  For stains that do not come out using these methods, consult a cleaning specialist.

Note:  Before using any cleaning agent, be sure to first test for colorfastness on a small and inconspicuous portion of the carpet.  When in doubt, always ask a professional.

Removing Wax:  Put a blotter or brown paper bag over the spot.  Put a hot iron over the blotter.  Wait a few minutes until the wax is absorbed into the blotter.  Move the iron constantly and do not let it stay in one place.  Repeat if necessary.

Removing Ink:  Saturate the spot with hairspray.  Allow it to dry.  Brush lightly with a solution of water and vinegar.

Removing Glue:  Saturate the spot with a cloth soaked in vinegar or alcohol.

Removing Chewing Gum:  Press ice cubes against the spot.  Wait until it becomes brittle and breaks off.  Use spot remover to vanish last traces of the spot.