Oriental Rug Care

Oriental Rug Care Related Information:

An authentic Oriental rug, which is hand woven and the genuine thing, can be quite an investment. And as with all other investments, you need to take care of your oriental rug as well. With the proper handling and care of your oriental rug, it can last you for years. Here are some tips on Oriental rug care.

The location where you place your oriental rug can be very important for its durability. Using an oriental rug to decorate your walls instead of on the floor can go a long way in maintaining your oriental rug.

Try and avoid walking on the rug with shoes that have been used outdoors. If you can walk barefoot on the rug or even with socks only, then the life of your oriental rug can be increased enormously.

Rotate your rug at least once a year. This will ensure even use of the rug and increase its life.

Vacuum your oriental rug regularly to remove the dirt from the fibers and also to make them softer. Do not vacuum the tasseled fringes. Avoid using the power brush attachment with your vacuum cleaner while cleaning an oriental rug. Such attachments can cause damage to the pile of the rug. Instead, you should use only the regular nozzle to vacuum your oriental rug. Remember to vacuum the back of the rug as well as the front.

If you want to store your oriental rug away for some time, then you first need to clean it thoroughly and then treat it with some insecticide. Using mothballs is not recommended, as the smell can be very difficult to get rid of. Then roll the rug carefully and cover it with plastic. Make sure that your oriental rug is absolutely dry before you store it away, else you may find a mildewed rug when you bring it out of storage. Lastly, keep it in a place that is dry, does not get too much direct sunlight, and is not a haven fro pests and rodents.

Use a good quality pad under your rug. This will protect your oriental rug from getting infected by insects and also keep the dirt out.

Water can weaken your rug fibers and damage it permanently. So be sure to soak up any water spills on your oriental rug immediately. Dry the area thoroughly so that it does not catch mildew or begin to rot.

To remove any general stain on your oriental rug, blot the stain from the outer edge and work your way towards the center of the stain. Never rub an Oriental rug but only use blotting to soak up the stain. Most stains can be removed from an oriental rug by using water, vinegar, ammonia, or regular home detergent.

If liquid wax has fallen on your oriental rug and dried up, do not scratch it out. First put a blotter on the wax and then place a very hot iron on top of the blotter. The heat from the iron will help the wax to melt and this melted wax will be absorbed by the blotter. If all the wax is not removed in one go, repeat the procedure till all the wax has been absorbed. Take care not to keep the iron in one place for too long. Keep moving the iron over the entire blotter.

Glue can be removed quite easily from an oriental rug by soaking the stain with a cloth dipped in alcohol or vinegar.

Ink spots can be removed by spraying some hairspray on to the stains. Let the spray dry and then brush it away gently with a mix of plain water and vinegar.