Handmade rugs can last for centuries in good condition, give remarkably long service, and age beautifully with proper care. Following recommendations will help you in taking good care of your fine rugs & carpets.
Moths
Moths are best controlled by frequent moving, handling and regular exposure to light and air. If rugs must be stored, regular inspection at intervals is essential. A rug in use is rarely in danger from moths. Moth crystal and Cedar wood balls are good repellants of moths.
Dampness
Water is a rug’s best friend and worst enemy. The water is the best thing to use for carpets cleaning and general stain removal for most wool that are colorfast. But leaving a rug wet is dangerous for any rug. Even the most colorfast rug may bleed colors if left wet. This does not mean that you have to be scared of using rugs in an environment where they may get wet, like the kitchen or the bathroom. Just make sure that you dry them when they get wet. You can air dry them or even use a hair dryer, on cold setting. When drying a rug that is really wet, comb the wet part in the direction of the overall pile of the rug.
Damage
If any mechanical damage is sustained, such as a cut or burn, a competent expert should deal with the damage as soon as possible, because such damage can worsen over time. Any place in the rug that is locally worn or damaged can be re-woven; and even large holes can be restored to make the rug almost as good as new. Look for a local expert that has repair facilities available. The following are a few hints to help you take good care of your rugs.
Rotation
Frequently rotate the rug to equalize the effect of the sun and normal wear. On bright sunny days, use window shades, shutters, or curtains to help reduce the effects of direct sunlight.
Padding
Good quality padding protects the rug, especially on hard surfaces like tile, stone, linoleum, and hardwood floors, and keeps it from moving or wrinkling. If the rug is going to be used on a hard surface, good quality pads can double the life of the rug. Pads for rugs placed on Wall to Wall carpeting are only necessary to keep the rug from moving or bunching up.
Hanging
Do not use nails or staples at the top of a heavy rug to hang for long periods of time. Use a strong poster holder, or proper clamps, to distribute the weight of the rug evenly. The best way is to have a strong fabric sewn on the back with a metal rod running through the fabric and then hanging the metal rod on the wall. This makes the rug look beautiful on the wall without any hanging mechanism showing and also distributes the weight of the rug evenly. Join online chatting groups for rug hanging advice.
Storing
If a rug is to be stored for a long period of time, use a sheet or cloth to wrap it, but do not use an airtight plastic bag. Handmade rugs need to breathe and they will sometimes rot or mildew in a plastic bag. They could also be rolled up and kept in a chest with some moth crystals, which will have to be renewed every few months. Ideally, large rugs should be rolled around poles, the protruding ends of which should rest on blocks or trestles. It is advisable to let rugs lie flat on top of one another for any length of time. DO NOT store rugs in a humid, damp, hot, or poorly ventilated room. This causes mildew, which has a musty odor, discolors fabrics, and weakens them. Never leave a rug wet. Failure to remove all the moisture might result in mildew. DO NOT store a handmade rug in a hot closet. The base of a rug can dry out and become brittle, destroying the strength and durability of the rug.
Crushed Pile
(For pile rugs only). You can keep furniture on the rugs as long as you move it around periodically so that it is not crushing the same spot for a very long period of time. To fix the pile that is indented or crushed by the legs of heavy furniture, brush the depressed area with a soft brush and faintly mist the area with water and follow up by brushing.
Oriental rugs Cleaning/Washing
(For woolen rugs) The beauty and life of handmade rugs depend largely on cleanliness and care. Handmade rugs should be washed regularly every three to five years depending on the use and the amount of traffic they bear. The best method is to get them cleaned when they look soiled.
WARNING
Never clean rugs chemically or by steam. They remove the natural oils and cause the material to become brittle and wear more rapidly. Do not wash handmade rugs in a machine. Do not wring out or squeeze a handmade rug. Do not, unless absolutely necessary, submerge a handmade rug in water. Surface cleaning is usually all that is required. The best way to clean oriental rug is for it to be washed using cold water and a mild detergent. This should be done by a competent cleaning expert and should not be tried at home.
Vacuuming
Never vacuum the rug’s fringes. The continued catching of the fringe in the suction of a vacuum cleaner causes the fringes to break and tear. Always vacuum your rug without the beating brush, you can either turn the brush off, or just use the attachments. Keeping your rugs clean and vacuuming them when necessary is good for them.
Stain Removing
The following method for removing stains is of a general nature and may not apply to all rugs because of the different materials and dyes used. SPILLS. Take care of any kind of spill immediately. Most spills may be removed without permanent stain if taken care of right away. First pick up as much of the spill as possible using a cloth or paper towel. Then dilute the spill with water and blot the wet area until all of the moisture is removed. Repeat this process if any of the spill remains. Once you get the spill out, dry the wet area either with air, letting air under the rug also in the wet area by draping the rug over something. You can even use a hair dryer on cold to dry the rug. While drying, comb the pile in the same direction as the rest of the rug so that it dries in the proper direction.
