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Oriental
Rug Care
Here are a few basic hints to
increase the life of your oriental rug. With careful treatment,
Oriental Rug can survive for centuries. Following these simple
guidelines to preserve the quality of your Oriental Rug
investment.
Rotating
frequently your rugs to equalize the
damaging effects af the sun. because continual direct exposure to
sunlight will damage a rug over time, use window shades, shutters,
or heavy curtains to safeguard your investment.
Protect your rugs from
Fumes and
Dampness from furnaces, stoves, chimneys and auto exhaust can
mix with humidity in the atmosphere to form an acid that fades
and deteriorates the appearance of wool. Over time, dampness
will rot the threads and destroy the fibers of a rug. Keep
them in a dry environment.
Wear and tear
If a rug is cut or torn, have a competent person repair the
damage as soon as possible. Holes can expand very quickly and
ruin an otherwise repairable carpet. With ordinary use, the
selvage edges tend to fray as they are not as compressed as
the rug pile. Worn edges can easily be redarned. Fringes can
be replaced. Worn or damaged areas in the middle of a rug can
be re-knotted. Even large holes can be restored. (Although
this kind of work work is rather expensive. ) To repair a
less-valuable rug, a patch from a similar rug can be woven
into the damaged area. Sometimes a serviceable small rug can
be made from the undamaged portions of a large carpet.
Moths can cause extensive damage to Oriental rugs, however,
a carpet in normal use is rarely in danger from moths.
Frequent rotation and regular exposure to light and air
usually keeps moths at bay. Not only do moths eat the pile,
but they can also eat the knots on the back of a rug. Moths
are especially attracted to areas under furniture that remain
relatively undisturbed. Eliminate these pests and safeguard
against their return by spraying the front and back of a
carpet every six months with moth spray.
Padding
an Oriental rug the life can be doubled with the use of
good-quality padding. Padding protects the rug, especially in
heavily-trafficked areas. The best padding is made of hair or
fiber with a rubberized surface to prevent moving and
wrinkling. Avoid synthetic pad that takes on the appearance of
rubber as it turns to an abrasive powder after several years.
Cleaning The beauty and life of Oriental rugs are vitally dependent
on their cleanliness. Lack of maintenance will contribute to
loss in the potential investment.
Sweeping the rug with a broom at least once a week removes
loose soil and brings out it's natural sheen
Beating is one of the best methods for cleaning a rug. It
should be beaten several times on each side, always in dry
weather.
Vacuuming Try to use a low suction level and a new bag. Never vacuum
against the nap, as this presses dirt back into the rug. (Run
your hand across the pile from fringe to fringe to determine
the direction of the nap.) Do not vacuum the fringes. The
suction of a powerful vacuum cleaner can tear the fringe.
Washing Oriental rugs should be washed every three to five years,
depending on their use and the amount of traffic they endure.
Using steam-cleaning or chemicals on an Oriental rug removes
the natural oils from the wool. The pile becomes brittle, and
the carpet wears out sooner. Do not, unless absolutely
necessary, submerge an Oriental rug in water. Surface cleaning
is usually all that is required.
Crushed pile
Revive carpet pile that has been crushed by heavy furniture by
brushing the indented area with a soft brush. Moisten with a spray
bottle, and brush again
Hanging
Do not use nails or staples to hang a large and heavy rug for long
periods of time. Before hanging a carpet on the wall, be certain
that the warp threads can stand the strain. Use a strong poster
holder to distribute the weight
of the rug evenly across.
Storage If a rug must be stored, it must be inspected regularly. To
store a rug, wrap it in fabric. An Oriental rug needs to
breathe. It can rot or mildew in plastic. A rug can be rolled
up and stored in a chest with some paradichlorobenzene
crystals, which make the wool inedible to moths. Renew the
mothproofing every few months. Large carpets should be rolled
around poles with the protruding ends resting on blocks or
trestles. DO NOT lay carpets flat on top of one another for
any length of time. A rug stored in a damp or humid area will
mildew, which discolors and weakens the fibers. A hot or poorly
ventilated storage area will dry out the base of the rug,
making it brittle, destroying strength and durability. If you
act immediately, you can prevent virtually any spill from
becoming a stain.
By following the about mentioned hints your carpet will give you many
years of enjoyment.
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