Tips

CLEANING TIPS

A quality Oriental rug is a valuable investment. In general handmade Oriental and Persian rugs and carpets are hardy and resistant to wear, stains and aging when properly cared for and maintained. Certainly the better quality of material and workmanship that is used in making a rug, the easier it is to maintain it. And using good judgment is the best way to safely care for, maintain and enjoy your valuable rugs for now and future generations...

Always have your area rugs taken out of the home and cleaned by a professional company that specializes in Oriental rug cleaning. Note: If the cleaning company does not know what type of rug you have or the fiber content, they probably know very little about cleaning are rugs.

Rugs used in heavily trafficked areas, such as an entry hall, may need to be cleaned every year. Because some rugs are thick, waiting too long between cleanings makes the deeply embedded soil impossible to remove completely. Moths can be found in rooms that are seldom used in dark spaces under furniture and they are more likely to attack wool rugs that are dirty.

Vacuum Rugs Regularly. 80 percent of soil in rugs is dry particulate matter. This matter acts as sandpaper and wears out the rug.Again, beware of any rug seller who

tells you that the rug you have just bought from them should not be cleaned. What this really means is that their rug will not withstand cleaning due to condition, foundation "painting", or other hidden defects.

Spills and Accidents should be addressed immediately. But, DO NOT USE over-the-counter spotters found in drug, grocery, and home improvement stores. These spotters are too aggressive and can leave irreversibly discolored areas. Instead, use cold water or club soda as an emergency measure until a professional can clean the rug. As well if you have spilled red wine on the rugs, use white wine on the spill to reverse the red wine color, blot with a white towel, rinse with water and place a folded white towel on the spot with a heavy item on top of the towel and walk away. As the rug is drying the moisture will capillary into the towel. Please do not hesitate to call us for advice, we can walk you through the emergency until we can clean the rug.

Rug padding provides a protective layer between your rug and the floor. A pad helps minimize slippage, increases the life of the rug, makes the rug feel thicker and more luxurious and absorbs noise.

when we say:	use:	this way:
dishwashing liquid	non-chlorine dye-free dishwashing liquid.	1/2 tsp in 1/2 cup cool water rapidly mixed to suds; use suds and and least liquid; leave for 5 minutes; rinse several times with cool water.
detergent	non-chlorine laundry enzyme detergent.	1/2 tsp in 1/2 cup cool water rapidly mixed to suds; use suds and and least liquid; leave for 5 minutes; rinse several times with cool water.
oil remover	paint, oil and remover such as Goof Off.	8 minutes; apply alcohol and blot.
alcohol	70% rubbing alcohol.	blot immediately.
water rinse		room temperature water; blot.
nail polish remover	dye-free.	1 minute; blot.
rust remover	available at hardware stores.	1 minute; blot.
Hydrogen peroxide 3%	Available at drug stores.	2 minutes; water rinse; blot dry.
ammonia	household solution.	2 tablespoons per cup;1 minute; blot.
vinegar	white, 5% solution.	1/3 added to 2/3 water; 1 minute; blot.

Tips

Attend to accidents promptly.
Blot or scoop area with an absorbent [white] cotton towel, paper towel or spoon and remove as much as possible.
Test a small inconspicuous area first.
Use cool water; warm water when directed; never hot water.
Use the least amount of liquid, don’t saturate; place a towel on reverse side.
Blot, don’t rub back and forth; no brushing or scrubbing.
Work from outside edges of spot inward to the center.
Use recommended solutions in moderation.

How do I prevent and minimize damage?

Oriental carpets need quality padding

Place a quality pad under your Oriental carpet.
Proper padding helps avoid unnecessary wear by minimizing movement and wrinkling.
Your carpet will be safer to walk on and will last longer.

Be aware of humidity

Protect your carpet’s foundation [especially cotton] from moisture. Humidity causes degradation to carpet fibers.
Avoid liquid spills, leaks and water from potted plants.
Use a [white] towel and blot the moist area.
Pay attention to the back of the carpet and aerate to dry fully to avoid damage.

Keep the dust off

Minimize the accumulation and settlement of dust, dirt, sand or grit.
These components can reduce the life of a carpet because they act like sandpaper to wear down the fibers.

Vacuuming oriental carpets

Vacuum without a rotating beater brush attachment.
Vacuum areas that are covered under furniture. These areas accumulate dust.
Take care not to fray fringes by vacuuming them lightly.
Aerate and vacuum the back of the carpet once in a while.
Avoid vacuuming too often. Where and how the carpet is used will determine how often to vacuum a carpet.

Insect damage

Certain insects such as moth, silver fish and carpet beetles like to feed on wool and cotton fibers in carpets.
Some of the factors promoting infestations are dirt, dust and humidity in the carpet fibers. Also darkness and the absence of usage can cause concern.

Storage

It seems that carpets are damaged by insects more often when stored than when used.
If you are planning to store your carpets for a longer period of time [over six months] we recommend you have them professionally cleaned, treated and properly wrapped.

What to do when accidents happen

Pet Accidents

Animal urine and solid deposits can damage a carpet by bleaching the dyed fibers as well as cause the breakdown of wool, cotton or silk pile and foundation of carpet.

Clean-up should be done as soon as possible.
Remove solids and use an absorbent cotton or paper towel to soak up liquids.
Absorb as much as you can on the front and back.
Spray water to dilute urine and blot with dry towel and repeat.
Repeatedly, Pets tend to use the same area. Consider professional cleaning, if this is the case.

Spills, Stains and Spots

Blot area with an absorbent [white] towel and remove as much of the spill as possible.
If attempting to remove spots and stains, you should test a small inconspicuous area first.
Clean stains and spots with mild soap suds and cold water and blot with a dry towel.
If you feel confident and have experience you may consider instructions from other sources for removing stains.
Our best advice is to always use good judgment.