Maintaining Your Oriental Rug

Taking care of your high-quality Oriental rug is an important step in protecting it. Taking good care of it keeps the value of the rug preserved as well as increasing the value of the rug as time goes by. Whether you keep it in the family as a priceless heirloom, or choose to sell it one day, knowing how to take care of your Oriental rug will help maintain its value. Below are some easy things to do that will keep your rug in excellent shape for generations ahead.

Spot Cleaning – When something gets spilled on your Oriental rug, cleaning that spot right away is the best (and easiest) idea. You don’t necessarily have to perform a deep cleaning on the entire rug with every spill. Keeping a bit of mild dish detergent and some vinegar on hand is great for minor accidents. Use a clean cloth dipped in the mixture of vinegar and detergent to dab the spill off on the rug as soon as you notice it.

Pet Accidents – Even highly trained pets are prone to have accidents. Using a simple solution with vinegar is the best way to clean up a pet accident. Mix together 8 parts of water with1 part of white vinegar and 1 small squirt of dishwashing detergent. An alternative mixture is simply made by using 1 cup of water mixed with 1 teaspoon of ammonia. Use pet odor removal products with extreme caution since they can potentially bleach your rug.

Sunlight – Keep your Oriental rug out of direct sunlight as much as possible. Over time, the sun can fade out the dye in your rug drastically. If you cannot keep the rug out of direct sunlight, try rotating it as much as possible to keep any fading on the rug consistent all over.

Cleaning Rugs Professionally – It’s a good idea to have your valuable Oriental rugs professionally cleaned at least once a year. Even rugs well maintained throughout the year need a professional cleaning to remove hidden debris and dirt that you cannot see.

Rug Padding – Using a padding under your Oriental rug will help protect and stabilize its shape and reduce the chances of wrinkling. This also makes the rug safer to walk on and adds a layer of comfort.

Maintain Rug Repairs – Like most other valuable items, if you keep repairs up-to-date, along with professional cleanings every year, your rugs will last much longer. Some minor rug repairs include reweaving, minor fringe repairs, and patching. As we all know, accidents do happen. Repairing minor things as they occur will prevent major costly repairs later.

Using the Right Vacuum – The type of vacuum you use on your Oriental rug makes a difference. Never use a spinning head vacuum on an expensive Oriental rug. Use vacuum attachments instead, so you can clean delicately while avoiding damage to the elaborate knotted threads.

Oriental rugs add an atmosphere of beauty, elegance, and artistry to your home that regular rugs cannot match. By following some of the above steps, you can keep your Oriental rug as beautiful as it was the day you first brought it home.