Posts Tagged ‘Fringes’

Oriental Rugs – How to Maintain Them So That They Will Last

February 10th, 2010

Oriental rugs are some of the most popular and exquisite rugs that you can buy for your home. In order for them to remain in tip top shape, they have to be maintained on a regular basis. They don’t look good when they start looking raggedy because of the lack of care.

Here are some things that you can do to keep your rugs from deteriorating quickly:

If Oriental rugs get punctured with holes or are torn, they should be repaired by an expert as soon as possible. Since time is of the essence with these tears, the sooner the rugs get repaired, the better chance you have of keeping them. Tears and holes can get larger in no time, so if they are not repaired in a timely manner, the rugs will be ruined.

If the edges of the rugs are frayed or worn, they can be darned over again. The fringes of the rugs can be replaced. Other areas of the rugs, such as the middle, can be knotted again. It’s helpful to know that even though these repairs can be made, the cost for repairs is not cheap.

When vacuuming the Oriental rugs, use a new vacuum bag. The suction level should be low and always vacuum toward the nap of the rugs. Otherwise, the rug will get dirty again. Avoid the fringes when vacuuming or the fringes can be damaged when as they are being sucked up.

From a span of every three to five years is the recommended time when Oriental rugs should be washed. It also depends on how much they are being used and if they receive a lot or a little foot traffic in your home.

Do not steam clean Oriental rugs or they will wear out before their time. You only have to use a surface cleaning technique to get it clean. Another thing that you must not do is to put the rugs in water unless it is absolutely necessary. However, it is strongly advised not to do that.

Quality Oriental rugs should be stored when not in use on a regular basis. You can wrap it up in fabric. Fabric will allow the rugs some breathing room. If you store it in plastic, mildew will surface and then it won’t be any good. You should also use methods to keep the rugs away from moths, which can destroy them.

If you are not sure about where to look for high quality rugs such as these, there are online retailers where you can choose from various colors and styles that will match the decor of your home. You will have a close up view as to how beautiful these rugs are.

Bookmark, Share and Enjoy:
  • Digg
  • del.icio.us
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Reddit
  • Yahoo! Buzz
  • NewsVine
  • StumbleUpon
  • Google Bookmarks
  • Technorati
  • Live
  • LinkedIn
  • MySpace

How to clean oriental rugs & carpets

February 7th, 2010

The best way to keep a rug clean is to keep it from getting dirty in the first place. Removing outdoor shoes when entering the house (as people do in most rug-weaving countries) is a good idea if this accords with your lifestyle. Bare-foot or sock-foot traffic is much gentler to a rug than a hard outdoor-shoe sole (or spike heel), and leaving your outdoor shoes at the entrance to the house tracks in much less dirt.

 

Have your rug cleaned only when it really needs it. For rugs in some areas this will mean a yearly cleaning. Rugs in other areas can go several years and more without needing professional cleaning.

To judge how dirty a rug is, try one of these methods:

Pick up a corner of the rug and while holding it, kick the back of the rug sharply. If a cloud of dirt flies out of the pile, the rug is dirty and needs cleaning. NOTE: some dust and wool fibers are normal!

Kneel down on the rug and rub the pile vigorously with your hand in a short arc for 5 to 10 seconds. Look at your fingers and palm: if your hand is dirty, the rug needs cleaning.

With the pile facing UP fold part of the rug back upon itself so that the pile opens along a line of knots. Look down into the base of the pile at the foundation of the rug. If the warp and weft look dirty, there is dirt deep in the pile where a home vacuum cleaner cannot reach it. The rug needs cleaning.

Clean It Yourself

It’s easy to clean small rugs yourself. The process is best done in a utility room or garage (on a clean floor) or outside on a clean driveway or paved walk on a nice, sunny day:

Vacuum both sides well.

Shampoo the rug with cool water and mild liquid soap or rug shampoo (don’t use strong detergents, ammonia water or sudsy ammonia water). TEST FOR COLOR RUN IN A SMALL AREA FIRST. Use a soft, long haired brush or a firm, non-shedding sponge. Brush the pile firmly with linear motions in the direction of the nap: don’t scrub too vigorously. Wet the nap thoroughly with the soapy water.

Wash fringes with the same soap solution. Use a laundry brush and brush repeatedly away from the pile.

Rinse thoroughly with running water.

Squeeze out excess water–a rubber window squeegee works well. Squeegee the pile repeatedly in the direction of the nap until no more water is forced out.

Lay flat to dry. When the nap feels dry, turn the rug over; the back is probably still damp. DRY THOROUGHLY.

If the pile feels a bit stiff when dry, brush gently or lightly vacuum.

For more information visit our website http://www.bwmrugs.com

Bookmark, Share and Enjoy:
  • Digg
  • del.icio.us
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Reddit
  • Yahoo! Buzz
  • NewsVine
  • StumbleUpon
  • Google Bookmarks
  • Technorati
  • Live
  • LinkedIn
  • MySpace