Is your favorite oriental rug in dire need of a wash?
Oriental rugs are perfect for adding décor or a touch of art to any room. Like all pieces of furniture, they have to get cleaned now and then. However, you can’t simply throw your oriental rug into the washing machine.
A little mistake can ruin your rug forever. If you want to keep your oriental rug in tip-top shape, you have come to the right place. Here’s everything you need to know about cleaning an oriental rug.
1. Do: Sweep Your Rug First
It is always safe to broom and vacuum your oriental rug. But steaming, spot cleaning, and deep cleaning are things that require a little more research.
Vacuum and maintain the carpet as much as you can. This helps keep your rug’s fresh scent and appearance for a longer period. It would be best to vacuum your oriental rug at least once a week.
Sweeping or vacuuming once a week should remove current debris and dirt. Additionally, vacuuming keeps the wool threads in your rug from getting tangled.
Oriental carpets made of silk or antiques shouldn’t get vacuumed as often. This is because this can harm them and lower their worth.
Before you do other cleaning techniques, look at the rug’s label. Instructions for the safest method of cleaning your oriental rug are on the label.
Rugs made of cotton and wool are more durable and simpler to maintain. If you have a silk rug, think about having it cleaned by a professional. Silk is more delicate and is better cleaned by an expert.
2. Don’t: Clean Using Random Cleaning Techniques
Using the right oriental rug cleaner can make or break your oriental rug. Some cleaners aren’t compatible with your oriental rug and might even damage them. Here are some things to keep in mind before choosing an oriental rug cleaner.
Check Your Oriental Rug Material
Before cleaning any item, it is essential to know its material. Think of your oriental rug as a piece of clothing. Clothing and rugs usually come with a tag with cleaning directions.
If you are unsure what material your oriental rug’s made from, you can always ask your seller. Luckily, wool carpets are stain-resistant by nature, meaning you only need water to clean them.
Due to its natural properties, you need to avoid using harsh chemicalsUnfortunately, thatwool carpets. That means you won’t be able to use bleach, but don’t worry. Cleaning any stains and accidents that may occur is easy with wool carpets.
To clean a wool carpet, vacuum the carpet at least once a week. It’s best to use a soft-bristled vacuum cleaner when cleaning a wool carpet.
Rooms that see more foot traffic will need more vacuum sessions. It also helps to use a steamer twice a year to keep your wool carpet looking its best.
Check if Your Oriental Rug is Colorfast
Check to see if your carpet retains its color. While some carpets will bleed color when wet, some are colorfast and won’t. There is a good chance that your rug is not colorfast if the label says “dry clean only.”
To test your rug, soak a small area of it in water that is at room temperature, then push on it with a white, clean cloth. If your cloth has dye, cleaning your carpet by hand will likely cause it to bleed.
If your carpet isn’t colorfast, give it a little cleaning but avoid getting it wet. You can buy an oriental rug cleaner safe for oriental rugs on the market.
Avoid using chemical cleaners on oriental rugs that are not colorfast. Your best bet would be to bring the carpet in to hire oriental rug cleaning experts.
3. Don’t: Use Random Cleaners for Oriental Rug Deep Cleaning
The types of oriental rug cleaner you can use depend on what kind of material your oriental rug is. For example, if you have an oriental rug made from wool, you will need mineral turpentine. Turpentine is perfect for tough spillages like oil or crayon.
Turpentine is often used in thinning paints and is available at DIY stores. Once you have this, test a small hidden section of your carpet.
It’s best to clean your silk oriental area rugs at least once every six months. You can get the proper shampoo for this type of fabric online or at specialty retailers. This is crucial, and you will want to research it before buying one.
A mild, non-toxic shampoo for this kind of rug will work best for silk carpets. If you have silk oriental carpets, it’s always better to hire rug cleaning experts.
4. Do: Oriental Rug Maintenance
The best way to avoid a massive deep clean on the regular is by maintaining a clean oriental rug. You can apply simple rules such as no drinking or eating staining food in areas of the oriental rug. Other ways, such as regular cleaning, also help keep your oriental rug clean.
Keep your rug out of the sun’s direct rays. If possible, keep oriental rugs away from windows as they are susceptible to sun damage. If an oriental rug gets exposed to direct sunshine, rotate it at least once per month.
Rotating your oriental rug helps prevent sun damage. In addition, this will help prevent the color from fading over time. Of course, the colors will still deteriorate and fade, but at least they will do so more evenly.
Learn More About Cleaning an Oriental Rug Today
No matter how beautiful an oriental rug is, it will still receive tons of foot traffic. Here’s everything you need to know about cleaning an oriental rug, so you never have to worry about spills and mud again. Use these tips to clean your rug today and have it look brand new.
Are you looking for more cleaning tips? Consider checking out our other blog posts for some great guides on keeping your home clean.
