Caring for your Rug

 

Regular Maintenance and Care Suggestions

 

The first thing we recommend is that you purchase a pad to put underneath your rug.  This will keep your rug from sliding around, which can cause premature wear, and will help retain its original appearance longer.

 

Rotate your Oriental Rugs as often as possible (1-2 years), when you notice the high traffic areas of your rug starting to look dirty, or the nap has lost its original direction or shape. Rotating your rugs will allow them to wear more evenly, maintaining their original appearance and value. Also, rotate your rugs according to the amount of direct sunlight. Over time direct sunlight can fade the dyes of your rugs.

 

Vacuuming is the best way to remove everyday dirt and dust. (Special care should be taken in the fringe area as vacuuming with a beater bar can catch and pull the fringe, causing separation.) How often you should vacuum depends on how much traffic there is over the rug.  In highly traveled areas you may need to vacuum as often as once a day to keep soil from accumulating.

 

 

Vacuum your Oriental rugs regularly, being sure to go back and forth in the same direction over the entire rug (avoiding the fringes). If you are vacuuming with a beater brush, we suggest you set the brush so it just touches the top of the pile and moves easily across the rug. When vacuuming with a carpet tool, ease the suction of the vacuum by adjusting it accordingly. Be sure to periodically vacuum the back of the rug.

 

 

Spot Cleaning

 

Certain stains such as coffee, colas, juices, animal, medicines, milk, foods and certain dyes must be spotted immediately for best results.

 

Never rub a spill.  You will only force the spill deeper into the fibers.  Remove any solid materials from the area, with the exception of latex paint, using a spoon or blunt knife.  Scrape inwards towards the spot whenever possible.  Press a white towel or paper towels gently on the stain until it is absorbed.  Try to remove any residual stain with warm water containing a SMALL amount of carpet shampoo or dish soap and pure white vinegar.

 

Latex paint should be rinsed with large amounts of water, and then gently blotted with white paper towels.

 

 

If you cannot seem to remove a stain, or if you notice that the area you have spot cleaned appears cleaner than the rest of your rug, it may be time to call us (760) 340-4301

 

Restoration & Repair

 

When considering having a rug repaired, evaluate the cost of the repair to the value and your personal attachment to the rug. Only allow a reputable and knowledgeable craftsman/weaver to restore or repair your Oriental Rugs. The most common repairs are re-fringing and over-rounding the sides.

 

Re-fringing

 

We suggest re-fringing, where the weaver will use the selvage or a minimal part of the rug, rather than adding a fringe to the rug.

 

When the entire siding of the rug needs to be repaired, the weaver either over-rounds by hand or by sewing a cord with a matching color to the sides. We would suggest repairing the rug the original way it was made. Make sure that the weaver is able to match the wool color. The colors used in Persian rugs should be easily matched but matching the colors in an old Chinese carpet may prove to be more difficult.

 

Storing

 

If you plan to store your Oriental Rugs, we suggest having them cleaned and wrapped to protect your rug from weather as well as rodents and insects.

 

 

Moths and carpet beetles can destroy an Oriental Rug. Check the edges and area of your rug under furniture for any infestation. Act immediately if you see any bugs or eggs. You will probably need to have your entire house sprayed and all wool rugs cleaned. Check your wool clothes if there is a problem.