859-254-4412
Shop by Size
Shop By Style
Shop By Room
Rugs 101
Cleaning / Repair
Newsletter
Contact Us
Showroom
Designer Services
Clearance Specials
Store Location
Store Hours
Shop By Style
Shop By Room
Rugs 101
Cleaning / Repair
Newsletter
Contact Us
Showroom
Designer Services
Clearance Specials
Store Location
Store Hours
| Rugs 101 - Information Center for Oriental Rugs |
Care and Cleaning
CARE AND CLEANING
An oriental rug is much like any fine work of art. They appreciate with the
passage of time and have been the standard of luxury that has proven countless
times their increased value over the years. It is essential for you to protect your
investment through proper care and cleaning to increase the life and value of
your rug.
Lexington Oriental Rug Co. is committed to excellence in value, selection and
service. We can provide long term for your oriental rug through our Professional
Hand Cleaning and Restoration Service. Call us today and keep your rug
looking beautiful for generations.
The best way to keep a rug clean is to keep it from getting dirty in the first place.
Removing outdoor shoes when entering the house (as people do in most
rug-weaving countries) is a good idea if this accords with your lifestyle. Bare-foot
or sock-foot traffic is much gentler to a rug than a hard outdoor-shoe sole (or
spike heel), and leaving your outdoor shoes at the entrance to the house tracks
in much less dirt.
Have your rug cleaned only when it really needs it. For rugs in some areas this
will mean a yearly cleaning. Rugs in other areas can go several years and more
without needing professional cleaning.
DOES MY RUG NEED CLEANING?
To judge how dirty a rug is, try one of these methods:Pick up a corner of the rug
and while holding it, kick the back of the rug sharply. If a cloud of dirt flies out of
the pile, the rug is dirty and needs cleaning. NOTE: some dust and wool fibers
are normal!Kneel down on the rug and rub the pile vigorously with your hand in a
short arc for 5 to 10 seconds. Look at your fingers and palm: if your hand is dirty,
the rug needs cleaning.With the pile facing UP fold part of the rug back upon
itself so that the pile opens along a line of knots. Look down into the base of the
pile at the foundation of the rug. If the warp and weft look dirty, there is dirt deep
in the pile where a home vacuum cleaner cannot reach it. The rug needs
cleaning.
CAN I CLEAN MY RUG MYSELF?
We do not recommend under any circumstances trying to completely clean your
rug at home. Spot cleaning in the home may be necessary, but total cleaning of
a rug without the help of a professional will likely lead to damage in your rug. Do
not dry clean or steam clean your rug!
WHAT ABOUT SPOT CLEANERS?
Do not use any spot cleaners other than water or club soda with contacting your
rug cleaning professional first. Most spot cleaners available at your local
grocery are made for wall to wall synthetic carpeting. These usually contain
harsh chemicals and bleaching agents that are not for use with wool or natural
fibers.
SWEEPING AND BLOTTING
It is always best to attack spills immediately. The best way to prevent a spill
from turning into a stain is by blotting up as much moisture as possible with
clean towels. Begin at the outer edge of the stain and blot towards the center.
Do not rub the spill. This will allow the spill to sit on top of the pile, and will not
allow the spill to leave a ring where the stain would be. The best way to blot any
kind of solid spill is to take a spoon and scoop it up, making sure not to rub the
stain into the carpet.
VACUUMING
Oriental rugs, like most carpeting should be vacuumed on a regular basis.
Unless your rug is an antique, vacuuming often will not harm the life or value of
your rug. No special vacuum cleaners or equipment are needed despite what a
vacuum salesman will tell you. Do not vacuum the fringe of your rug, it may
become caught in the beater bar and will damage the fringe. Try not to vacuum
against the pile of your rug, as excessive vacuuming against the nap can cause
undue wear.
REMOVING STAINS
Spills of almost any nature may be removed without permanent stain if taken
care of right away. The sooner you clean the spill, the less likely it will become a
stain. Most spills will sit on top of the pile momentarily, allowing you to clean up
before the spill can work into the pile of the carpet. Blot or scrape away any
excess spill or stain immediately. If necessary, dilute the spill with a moderate
amount of water, and then blot the wet area until all of the stain is removed.
Repeat as necessary. Brush or scrape away any excess immediately to
prevent penetration or possible chemical reactions.
An oriental rug is much like any fine work of art. They appreciate with the
passage of time and have been the standard of luxury that has proven countless
times their increased value over the years. It is essential for you to protect your
investment through proper care and cleaning to increase the life and value of
your rug.
Lexington Oriental Rug Co. is committed to excellence in value, selection and
service. We can provide long term for your oriental rug through our Professional
Hand Cleaning and Restoration Service. Call us today and keep your rug
looking beautiful for generations.
The best way to keep a rug clean is to keep it from getting dirty in the first place.
Removing outdoor shoes when entering the house (as people do in most
rug-weaving countries) is a good idea if this accords with your lifestyle. Bare-foot
or sock-foot traffic is much gentler to a rug than a hard outdoor-shoe sole (or
spike heel), and leaving your outdoor shoes at the entrance to the house tracks
in much less dirt.
Have your rug cleaned only when it really needs it. For rugs in some areas this
will mean a yearly cleaning. Rugs in other areas can go several years and more
without needing professional cleaning.
DOES MY RUG NEED CLEANING?
To judge how dirty a rug is, try one of these methods:Pick up a corner of the rug
and while holding it, kick the back of the rug sharply. If a cloud of dirt flies out of
the pile, the rug is dirty and needs cleaning. NOTE: some dust and wool fibers
are normal!Kneel down on the rug and rub the pile vigorously with your hand in a
short arc for 5 to 10 seconds. Look at your fingers and palm: if your hand is dirty,
the rug needs cleaning.With the pile facing UP fold part of the rug back upon
itself so that the pile opens along a line of knots. Look down into the base of the
pile at the foundation of the rug. If the warp and weft look dirty, there is dirt deep
in the pile where a home vacuum cleaner cannot reach it. The rug needs
cleaning.
CAN I CLEAN MY RUG MYSELF?
We do not recommend under any circumstances trying to completely clean your
rug at home. Spot cleaning in the home may be necessary, but total cleaning of
a rug without the help of a professional will likely lead to damage in your rug. Do
not dry clean or steam clean your rug!
WHAT ABOUT SPOT CLEANERS?
Do not use any spot cleaners other than water or club soda with contacting your
rug cleaning professional first. Most spot cleaners available at your local
grocery are made for wall to wall synthetic carpeting. These usually contain
harsh chemicals and bleaching agents that are not for use with wool or natural
fibers.
SWEEPING AND BLOTTING
It is always best to attack spills immediately. The best way to prevent a spill
from turning into a stain is by blotting up as much moisture as possible with
clean towels. Begin at the outer edge of the stain and blot towards the center.
Do not rub the spill. This will allow the spill to sit on top of the pile, and will not
allow the spill to leave a ring where the stain would be. The best way to blot any
kind of solid spill is to take a spoon and scoop it up, making sure not to rub the
stain into the carpet.
VACUUMING
Oriental rugs, like most carpeting should be vacuumed on a regular basis.
Unless your rug is an antique, vacuuming often will not harm the life or value of
your rug. No special vacuum cleaners or equipment are needed despite what a
vacuum salesman will tell you. Do not vacuum the fringe of your rug, it may
become caught in the beater bar and will damage the fringe. Try not to vacuum
against the pile of your rug, as excessive vacuuming against the nap can cause
undue wear.
REMOVING STAINS
Spills of almost any nature may be removed without permanent stain if taken
care of right away. The sooner you clean the spill, the less likely it will become a
stain. Most spills will sit on top of the pile momentarily, allowing you to clean up
before the spill can work into the pile of the carpet. Blot or scrape away any
excess spill or stain immediately. If necessary, dilute the spill with a moderate
amount of water, and then blot the wet area until all of the stain is removed.
Repeat as necessary. Brush or scrape away any excess immediately to
prevent penetration or possible chemical reactions.
