Keep it Clean
A Guide To Caring For Your Oriental Rug.

Keeping your Oriental rug clean is the key to assuring its preservation. Just as your household furniture collects dirt and dust, so to does your rug. If left unattended, this dirt can dislodge from the fibers and end up being ground into your rugs foundation. This can cause considerable damage. Keeping your rug clean and dirt-free can help prolong its life.

Every month you should roll your Oriental rug and sweep the underlying area. Next, remove surface dirt, grime and particles from your rug with a high-quality hand broom. It is never recommended that you use an electric vacuum cleaner for monthly maintenance because of the damage such machines can cause to the intricate weave of the carpet. If you must use a vacuum, make sure that it is a low-powered, non-rotary cleaner. If you decide to use a vacuum cleaner on your rug, under no circumstance should you vacuum the rug's delicate fringes. If you own an old, antique or silk Oriental rug, a vacuum cleaner should never be used.

How To Know When Your Rug Needs Cleaning:

While it may be easy to tell when you need to clean a lighter colored rug, it is often more difficult to tell with a darker, or highly patterned rug.

Use your hands to feel the pile of your rug. Your rug should be soft and velvety to the touch. If, instead, it is somewhat matted or rough, this is an indication that the rug may be ready for a cleaning. Likewise, another test that can be administered is to fold the corner of your rug, cup your palm and slide it beneath the corner and simply tap against the surface. If any debris appears in your hand, it is time to have your rug cleaned.

What Not To Do:

If you intend to preserve the quality and longevity of your Oriental rug, the following methods should never be attempted.

1. Washing Machine: Detergent, temperature, and vigorous spinning will break down the wool making it stiff and dull. Machine washing can also cause delicately dyed colors to bleed. With finer rugs, this method often results in complete ruination.

2. Dry-cleaning: Although they often advertise their ability to clean rugs, this does not include Oriental Rugs. Terrible results ranging from warp and weft damage, wool deterioration, color bleeding and beyond can result from the harsh cleaning solutions that many Dry-cleaners employ. In addition, many Dry-cleaners do not offer a guarantee.

3. Soaking: Water damage is one of the most harmful things that you can do to an Oriental rug's foundation. It is never a good idea to hose-off or completely immerse your rug in water. If not properly dried, the resulting moisture can end in rot. Color bleeding and warp and weft damage may result from this method.

4. High-powered, Rotary-brush Vacuum Cleaner: Although you may use these machines on your regular household carpeting, they should never be used on Oriental rugs. The powered circular motion that propels the coarse bristles can twist and break fine knots and fibers and destroy the pile of your Oriental rug.

Expert Advice:

When it comes to Oriental rugs, especially if they are antiques, silk or part silk, or damaged in any way, only experienced hands can assure successful cleaning. The slightest error can result in costly, or even irreparable damage. Protect the investment value, beauty and condition of your rug with professional hand cleaning at Woven Treasures. The money spent is well worth the security that our experts bring.