To most of us, Oriental Rugs are a treasured heirloom, the centerpiece of a room, and likely something of value we want to keep looking pristine. Yet we walk on our rugs every day, and may stain or spill something on them. Proper rug care between care will extend the life of your area rugs. Outlined below are five essential tips to help you care for your area rugs between cleanings:
#1-Padding
Make sure to always place a high-quality pad under all rugs. This is a very important part of area rug care between cleanings. The pad will aid in the prevention of premature wear or damage caused by regular traffic. We can recommend and sell you a proper pad for your rug.
#2-Spotting
Proper rug care between cleanings includes addressing any spills (or other stains) as soon as possible with a clean cotton towel or other absorbent material. Absorb or tamp as much of the liquid up as possible moving from the outside of the spill to the center.
Once you are sure no more of the spill can be soaked up, use a gentle, preferably neutral, detergent solution to attempt a spot removal. Do not use any over-the-counter or super market cleaners or spotting agents on your rugs as they can loosen dyes, remove dyes, or, in some cases, severely damage the fiber. If you have any questions, please call us first.
#3-Vacuuming
Vacuuming on a consistent basis will aid in the longevity of your rugs. Wool rugs especially, due to the composition of the outer layer of the wool fiber, trap large amounts of dry particulate matter. This abrasive and damaging matter can be removed by vacuuming. In fact, up to 80% of dry particulate matter can be removed from a rug through regular vacuuming.
Be sure to keep vacuums away from fringes, as, over time, the brush rolls can ‘chew’ up the fringe. Vacuum from side to side (opposite the fringes). This will save the fringes from being pulled up into the vacuum which can damage the fringes and even the vacuum. If you use a vacuum hand tool, you can cover the attachment with an old nylon stocking and vacuum carefully without damaging the fringes.
#4-Rotation of Rugs
An often forgotten, yet important, rug care task is rotating area rugs periodically to balance out sun fading and to keep the traffic pattern distributed to all areas of the rug.
#5-Check for Moths
Moths have been found infesting fibers which have pollen, hair, dead insects and dried animal remains on them. Be sure to check the back and front of your rug, especially if the rug is under furniture.
Need More Information on Rug Care Between Cleanings?
Please call our office at 703-548-0000 if you have any questions about the proper care of rugs between cleanings. Remember that area rugs, especially oriental rugs, should be professionally cleaned at least every 3 to 5 years, more if they are subject to heavy traffic, spills, etc. Want to keep your Oriental Rug looking its best? At J & J Oriental Rug Gallery, we are experts at cleaning, repair, and restoration of rugs to maintain their beauty and value. We hand wash any type of rug, from a rare antique Oriental to a modern product. Whether it’s a rug of silk, wool, or other fibers, care is taken to ensure the colors do not run but remain bright and clean. J & J’s Rug Cleaning’s technicians will deliver the professional results you can trust. Click here for more details.