Wool rugs require surprisingly little care, but they must be properly maintained. Typically, Oriental rugs are knotted with 100% wool; this material is extremely durable and resilient. For example, wool is heat resistant which is helpful if placed in front of a fireplace. Because wool is a durable natural fiber it will have a longer life than those made from other materials.
Usually made of a mixture of fibers such as olefin (which is a high density nylon) and polypropylene. For those with allergies to wool or lanolin these rugs are a wonderful alternative. Be aware, the lifetime on these rugs is not near the lifetime of a wool rug, but they are less expensive and have the same feel as a wool rug.
Often times made from a mixture of wool and silk, these rugs are beautiful to look at and wonderful to touch. Silk rugs need to be vacuumed very carefully. Our recommendation is to use the suction attachment on your vacuum to avoid the damages that a rotary vacuum cleaner could do. If vacuuming the rug does not lift the dirt and it needs further cleaning then we recommend taking your rug to a professional cleaner.
When spills occur, it is best to act immediately. The longer you wait the harder it will be to remove. ALWAYS BLOT, NEVER RUB. Quickly blot or scrape up the entire spill. Use paper towels, a sponge, or a clean rag. Allow the rag to soak up all the moisture possible. Adding cold water in small quantities to the stain may help in lifting the stain from the rug. Never use hot water, as this may cause the rug colors to bleed into one another. When treating a spill or stain always make sure to dry the rug as much as possible, if left wet the rug may mildew later.
Rotating your rug 180 degrees every 6 months or so will allow even wear, it will also even out any fading that may have occurred in extreme sunlight.
Regular vacuuming can remove harmful grit and prolong the life of your rug. We recommend minimizing the use of a rotary type vacuum cleaner which beats the rug, increasing the wear on your rug. When vacuuming your rug we suggest that you vacuum your rug from side to side. By avoiding vacuuming against the grain you are increasing the life of your rug. Every six months the rug should be flipped over and vacuumed with a rotating head on the back side of the rug, this will help remove any grit that may have fallen to the bottom of the pile during other cleanings.
As always we only recommend using cold water on your rug. Warm water should never be used as it may cause the colors in your rug to bleed into one another. If using water alone does not lift the stain from the rug we recommend using a very mild laundry detergent that has been diluted. When putting any sort of cleaning materials onto your rug you should always make sure to rinse the rug completely, as well as dry the rug to the best of your ability by blotting with a clean dry cloth. Moisture left in a rug can later cause the rug to mildew.
Often times people are hesitant to purchase a wool rug because of their pets. If the concern is that your pets will get the rug dirty quickly, be assured that wool rugs are extremely resistant to stain. Often times pets are very drawn to wool rugs because of the smells left in the wool. This is okay, although animals may also mistake this for another animal and decide to leave their mark. When cleaning up after a pet has had an accident on a rug we recommended first using water then a mild soap to lift the stain. If there remains an odor Natures Miracle (available at any local pet supply store) will lift the stain and smell completely. To make sure that the pet doesn稚 return to the same areas on the rug, we recommend the product No Go.
If you池e planning on storing your rug make sure to take it to a rug cleaning professional. The rug will need to be cleaned, treated with moth repellent and then rolled tightly and stored in a clean cloth, sheet, or heavy acid-free paper. This process will prevent mildew and moths from growing.
Your rug should not need to be professionally cleaned very often, every 1-3 years is more than enough for the upkeep of your rug. We would be happy to recommend a professional rug cleaner in your area.