An oriental rug is an ideal purchase for your home decor because of their durability and limited cleaning requirements. Unlike man-made synthetic rugs, a benefit of owning a natural handmade rug is that with basic care these rugs will last years. Whether you intend to keep the rug for future generations, or simply want to maintain its current condition, a few easy steps will go a long way in preserving your area rug. Read more on some of the simple tips to increase your oriental rug’s longevity.
Rug Rotation
Rotating your rug every 6-12 months will allow for even wearing of the pile. If you have heavy furniture resting on your rug, rotating it will help prevent indentations.
Regular Care
For daily care, rugs can be vacuumed or swept on both sides. The traditional broom works great with handmade rugs. Be sure to sweep or vacuum in the same direction in which the pile of the rug faces so as not to push the dirt back into the rug. Suction-type vacuums are typically recommended. Although those with a beater-bar can be used on rugs with a tightly spun, dense wool.
For the removal of individual spots and stains, a commercially available rug cleaner is an effective cleaning method. We do not recommend using steam cleaners, as it can take the lanolin out of the wool. Lanolin is the natural oil which sheds the dirt away from the rug and creates a patina or shine to the pile
The Importance of Under-Padding for An Oriental rug
Using under-padding is an important step in preserving the life of the rug. While most people purchase under-padding to prevent slipping, it actually serves several purposes. In fact, under-padding allows the natural fibers in the rug to breathe and protects the rug from decay and damage. Though not readily visible, the actual construction of the under-padding allows for air to circulate through the rug and lifting it off the ground. Hence, this will allow the natural fibers to breathe.
One piece of advice from Rugman.com is to flip the rug over and place it in a high traffic area in the home for up to a week. It’s a natural way to allow any dust or other particles that have settled within the rug to fall out. After a few days, pick up the rug and vacuum underneath as normal. Also, you may be surprised to see the amount of accumulation that has been removed as a result!
Long-Term Care
For long-term maintenance, rugs should be washed every 3-5 years. Allow for more or less frequent washings depending on its condition or if you have pets. A good way to determine if your rug needs to be professionally cleaned is by taking a look at the condition of the carpet fringe. If the fringe is beginning to look dingy and is collecting dirt, it could be time for the rug to be washed.
The ideal choice for washing your rug is to use a reputable professional rug cleaning service. Dry-cleaning is not a good option for cleaning an oriental rug. Because the dry-cleaning process uses chemicals that may harm any wool that is in a rug. Ideally, rugs should be professionally cleaned with a cold-water shampoo. Cold water is typically the best choice for cleaning handmade rugs because it does not break down any cotton in the rug or diminish the luster of the wool.
If you are interested in oriental rugs, browse Rugman’s selection here.
