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Rugs 101
Cleaning / Repair
Newsletter
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Showroom
Designer Services
Clearance Specials
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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 - page 2
CRUSHED PILE
To up-right any pile that has been indented or crushed by the legs of heavy
furniture, first moisten the indented area, then brush it against the nap. This will
bring the nap away from the foundation of the rug. Once you have pulled all of the
nap upright, use a soft brush to brush the nap uniform with the nap direction of
the pile. Use a towel to remove any excess moisture, and make sure that the
area is completely dry before use.
ROTATION
To ensure even wear, your rug should be rotated at least once a year. Depending
on the amount of traffic, your rug may need to be rotated more often.
HANGING AND STORING
Before hanging a rug on the wall, you need to be certain that the warp threads can
stand the strain. Never use nails or staples to hang your rugs for long periods of
time. Use a strong holder such as specially designed rug clips, or a rod and
finial set to distribute the weight of your rug evenly. If your rug is going to be
stored for a long period of time, it is best to wrap it in newspaper or shipping
paper with moth balls. Never use airtight plastic bags. Rugs should never be
stored in a humid, damp, warm, or poorly ventilated room.
RUG FIRST AID
Food spills/Pet urine
Of the most common spills, urine presents the most severe problem. It can
cause severe color run in the rug, and the odor can be very hard to remove or
disguise. Urine can also chemically damage the structure of a rug by making the
foundation hard and less supple, and the presence of urine in a rug can help
attract moths. Repeated wettings can cause the foundation of the rug to loose
mechanical strength to the point where the rug cracks and breaks when rolled or
folded.
In case of a food spill or urine on a rug, the problem is much more easily handled
if the spot is treated promptly, before the spill is allowed to dry. Blot up as much
liquid as possible with paper towels or a clean, white cloth. Try to rinse out as
much of the spill as possible.
A smaller rug can be taken outside and rinsed with a hose and cool water (try not
to saturate the whole rug--it will take much longer to dry if you do). With a larger
carpet, the corner or edge can be laid in a plastic dishpan and saturated with cool
water or a bucket or plastic garbage can can be placed under the wet area of the
carpet and cool water poured through the rug (make a hollow in the carpet over
the container before you pour, and don't exceed the capacity of the container
under the rug!). Add about 1 cup of white vinegar per gallon to the rinse
water--vinegar helps prevent colors from running and will help neutralize the urine
odor.
After the rug has been rinsed, blot dry and sponge with rug shampoo or with the
solution given below. Let dry thoroughly (drying a wet area of a larger carpet can
be hastened by arranging the carpet so that air can circulate both top and
bottom--drape the end of the carpet across a lawn chair, or put a sawhorse or
painted bench under the rug in the area of the wet spot).
Pet stool, regurgitation
If a pet regurgitates on a rug, you are faced with removing a complex
mixture of foodstuffs, saliva, and stomach acids. Depending on the foods
involved, this mixture can actually work as a dilute dye to stain the pile a different
hue. If a pet regurgitates or defecates on a rug, clean the area immediately by
picking up as much material as possible with paper towels or with a clean, white
cloth. If necessary, use a tablespoon to scrape up all the foreign material. Blot the
area dry and immediately sponge several times with rug shampoo or with the
cleaning solution listed below. Don't scrub hard--too much manipulation of the
pile can spread the stain. Sponge in the direction of the nap.
Spot Cleaning Solution
1/4 cup white vinegar*
1/2 tsp liquid dishwashing detergent
2 cups tepid water
*Most Oriental rug dyes are acid-fast. By adding a little white vinegar to the wash
water you make the wash water more acidic, and this reinforces the bond
between the dyestuff and the wool in the rug, and so helps prevent the colors
from running.
Finally, sponge the area with cool, clean water to finish. Use absorbent towels or
a firm, non-shedding sponge. Don't use a brush so stiff that it pulls fibers from
the pile. Don't scrub hard at the pile. Sponge in the direction of the nap. Place
some towels under the spot to keep floor or pad from getting wet. Dry thoroughly.
When the nap feels dry, check the back of the rug to be sure the area is
completely dry.
To up-right any pile that has been indented or crushed by the legs of heavy
furniture, first moisten the indented area, then brush it against the nap. This will
bring the nap away from the foundation of the rug. Once you have pulled all of the
nap upright, use a soft brush to brush the nap uniform with the nap direction of
the pile. Use a towel to remove any excess moisture, and make sure that the
area is completely dry before use.
ROTATION
To ensure even wear, your rug should be rotated at least once a year. Depending
on the amount of traffic, your rug may need to be rotated more often.
HANGING AND STORING
Before hanging a rug on the wall, you need to be certain that the warp threads can
stand the strain. Never use nails or staples to hang your rugs for long periods of
time. Use a strong holder such as specially designed rug clips, or a rod and
finial set to distribute the weight of your rug evenly. If your rug is going to be
stored for a long period of time, it is best to wrap it in newspaper or shipping
paper with moth balls. Never use airtight plastic bags. Rugs should never be
stored in a humid, damp, warm, or poorly ventilated room.
RUG FIRST AID
Food spills/Pet urine
Of the most common spills, urine presents the most severe problem. It can
cause severe color run in the rug, and the odor can be very hard to remove or
disguise. Urine can also chemically damage the structure of a rug by making the
foundation hard and less supple, and the presence of urine in a rug can help
attract moths. Repeated wettings can cause the foundation of the rug to loose
mechanical strength to the point where the rug cracks and breaks when rolled or
folded.
In case of a food spill or urine on a rug, the problem is much more easily handled
if the spot is treated promptly, before the spill is allowed to dry. Blot up as much
liquid as possible with paper towels or a clean, white cloth. Try to rinse out as
much of the spill as possible.
A smaller rug can be taken outside and rinsed with a hose and cool water (try not
to saturate the whole rug--it will take much longer to dry if you do). With a larger
carpet, the corner or edge can be laid in a plastic dishpan and saturated with cool
water or a bucket or plastic garbage can can be placed under the wet area of the
carpet and cool water poured through the rug (make a hollow in the carpet over
the container before you pour, and don't exceed the capacity of the container
under the rug!). Add about 1 cup of white vinegar per gallon to the rinse
water--vinegar helps prevent colors from running and will help neutralize the urine
odor.
After the rug has been rinsed, blot dry and sponge with rug shampoo or with the
solution given below. Let dry thoroughly (drying a wet area of a larger carpet can
be hastened by arranging the carpet so that air can circulate both top and
bottom--drape the end of the carpet across a lawn chair, or put a sawhorse or
painted bench under the rug in the area of the wet spot).
Pet stool, regurgitation
If a pet regurgitates on a rug, you are faced with removing a complex
mixture of foodstuffs, saliva, and stomach acids. Depending on the foods
involved, this mixture can actually work as a dilute dye to stain the pile a different
hue. If a pet regurgitates or defecates on a rug, clean the area immediately by
picking up as much material as possible with paper towels or with a clean, white
cloth. If necessary, use a tablespoon to scrape up all the foreign material. Blot the
area dry and immediately sponge several times with rug shampoo or with the
cleaning solution listed below. Don't scrub hard--too much manipulation of the
pile can spread the stain. Sponge in the direction of the nap.
Spot Cleaning Solution
1/4 cup white vinegar*
1/2 tsp liquid dishwashing detergent
2 cups tepid water
*Most Oriental rug dyes are acid-fast. By adding a little white vinegar to the wash
water you make the wash water more acidic, and this reinforces the bond
between the dyestuff and the wool in the rug, and so helps prevent the colors
from running.
Finally, sponge the area with cool, clean water to finish. Use absorbent towels or
a firm, non-shedding sponge. Don't use a brush so stiff that it pulls fibers from
the pile. Don't scrub hard at the pile. Sponge in the direction of the nap. Place
some towels under the spot to keep floor or pad from getting wet. Dry thoroughly.
When the nap feels dry, check the back of the rug to be sure the area is
completely dry.
