COMMON ISSUES
Shedding
- All wool rugs will shed, however, hand-knotted rugs will shed less than tufted rugs.
Sprouts
- Sprouts are simply loose fibers and are very common in hand made rugs. Simply clip with scissors to remove.
Creases
- Creases are unavoidable due to the simple logistics of shipping and storing rugs. Try reverse-rolling and you will find that they should disappear in a week or two.
Fading
- Direct sunlight will fade rugs over time. To balance the effect of the sun, rotate your rug to allow equal exposure to each area. Wear and Tear
- Rotate rugs every 3-6 months, especially in high-traffic areas.
GENERAL CARE AND CLEANING
Purchasing a designer rug should be likened to the acquisition of a work of art. Like any investment, if you want it to last, you must take care of it properly. Here are some routine maintenance tips to help you take care of your own personal masterpiece and ensure its longevity.
Vacuuming
- The most damaging effect on area rugs is vacuuming. Extra care must be taken when vacuuming your rug. The gentlest way to clean your area rug is to employ the use of brooms and carpet sweepers for regular day to day maintenance. Canister vacuums, without beater bars, are the most effective. High-powered vacuums will pull threads out of the back of rugs and cause sprouts. Such destructive models include many of the bag-less units that have become popular over the last decade. If a vacuum can pick up a bowling ball, imagine what it can do to a hand-made rug! Expert Tip: Use the handheld brush attachment to vacuum your rug.
- A “beater bar” or rotating brush on regular vacuum cleaners can pose its own unique threat to designer rugs. It will pull fibers from the face of the rug and can cause the face of your rug to fuzz and frizz. Expert Tip: Disable the beater bar on your vacuum while vacuuming your area rug. If it cannot be manually disabled, set it for the highest elevation setting (ie. “shag”).
- The serged edge of an area rug is very sensitive. Running the vacuum over the edges will cause the serging to deteriorate and fibers will come loose around the edges. Expert Tip: Carefully place your vacuum on the edge of the rug.
- Fringes on the ends of rugs will be destroyed by all vacuums. Expert Tip: Use the handheld attachment to clean all fringes.
Spot
Cleaning
- If you spill on a rug, clean it immediately. Once the stain is set in it becomes more difficult to clean.
- Never rub a spill as it forces the spill deeper into the rug. Blot with a clean white cloth.
- On wool rugs, use lukewarm water or a gentle wool cleaning liquid to remove any residual stain.
- On natural fiber grass rugs, use lukewarm water to remove any residual stain.
- Always use clean water to remove any residual cleaner, and dry towels to absorb any remaining moisture.
Professional Cleaning
- Always use a professional area rug cleaning expert. Cleaning a handmade rug is completely different than cleaning wall to wall carpet. Inspect the rug with the cleaner before it is cleaned. Get a signed receipt and guarantee of work before the work is done.
