January 10, 2010

How to clean your Oriental rug

Special care must be given to Oriental rugs to ensure that they are long-lasting and maintain their quality. Oriental rugs are more of an investment rather than just another possession and distinct cleaning instructions must be followed to protect one’s investment.

One of the best ways to have your Oriental rug last longer is not letting it get tore and keep the wear down. This won’t be an easy task but there are a few ways to help you out. Simply turn the rug over every so often will help to cut down the wear nicely. With the flipping of the rug once in a while it will even out the wear of the rug.

Another way to protect Oriental rugs is to clean the piece properly. When one walks on a soiled carpet, its lifespan is reduced. Sand and dirt that is embedded will deteriorate the carpet. It is recommended that carpets should be cleaned every four or five years. A test can be performed to determine if it is time for a cleaning. Take a white cloth that has been dampened and rub the pile briskly. If there is an extreme amount of dirt that appears on the white cloth, it is time for a cleaning.

Professional cleaners should undertake the following cleaning procedures. The first step is to loosen as much dirt and dust as possible. A common tool of the cleaning professional is a giant tumbler made specifically for this task. Before placing the rug in the tumbler, the rug will be examined for any weak areas. Sewing gauze may be placed on those areas to protect them. A test for color fastness will have to be conducted before exposing the rug to water. If the dyes are steady, the piece is laid out flat and completely wetted. Chlorine can damage so some experts filter the water. Then the rug is scrubbed by brushes attached to poles. Machines cannot do the scrubbing because the wool pile would be destroyed.

They will be very careful when exposing your oriental rugs to any harsh cleaners. They usually use unformulated detergents and may even add a few conditioning agents if the wool is a big dry. Denatured white vinegar may also be used to stabilize the dyes so they won’t bleed out during the cleaning. The rug will be thoroughly rinsed and then you’ll need to let it dry. The last step is softening and improving the texture of the rugs.

If you have taken the rug out to be cleaned all you need to do is a bit of touch up on the rug. This can be done with sponging in water this will refresh the rug or add water to the denatured vinegar. Don’t ever bleach the fringe and you shouldn’t try the old shake or beating the rug. If you use a vacuum you will have to be careful to not catch on the fringe. Instead try a broom to sweep the dirt from the rug. This will help the Oriental rug stay cleaner for a longer time.

The beauty of Oriental rugs is legendary. They are an investment worth maintaining. Professional cleaning should be done every four to five years by a trusted expert. Cleaning maintenance can be performed in between professional cleanings by using special care.

Now that you have all the facts about area rug maintenance, it’s time to get your own flokati rugs. We suggest you start looking at www.HouseOfAreaRugs.com.

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Filed under Home Improvement by Jennifer Lukas

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