Persian Rugs Buying Guide: Oriental Rug Care and Cleaning

Persian Rugs or also known Persian carpet having many kinds of designs and styles, materials used to make the wool, cotton, and decay. according to the theory of art of weaving carpets in Iran has been around for 3,500 years. for coloring persian rugs using the coloring of plants, roots and other natural materials. persian rugs traditionally known very great both in design, color, size, and how to weave. Persian Rugs are also known to have the uniqueness of each every process of production. The article below is relevant to the possibility of Persian Rugs, if you're looking for information on Persian Rugs I hope this article helpful.

Oriental Rug Care and Cleaning

Caring

If oriental rugs have survived centuries in comparatively good condition. It is because of careful treatment. Oriental rugs will give remarkably long service if treated with proper consideration. Their two enemies, apart from the inevitable destructive effect of wear, are moths and dampness. The former are best controlled by frequent moving or handling and by regular exposer to light and air. If rugs must be stored, regular inspection at intervals is essential. A rug in use is rarely in danger from moths. Certain chemical applications will render the wool inedible to moths. Dampness will in time rot the threads and destroy the fabric, so it must be avoided.

If any mechanical damage is sustained, such as cut or burn, the damage should be dealt with as soon as possible by a competent expert, because such lesions get worse very quickly. In ordinary use, quite apart from accidents, the ends sides often tend to wear and fray, in which the damage should be repaired. Places in the middle of carpet that are locally worn or damaged can have knots inserted, and even large holes can be restored to make the rug almost as good as new, though such work is rather expensive. In carpets of less value, instead of new knotting, patches cut from a suitable rug can often be inserted, a less cost, and sometimes small rug can be made from a larger worn one by cutting away the bad parts.
The following are few more hints to help you take good care of your oriental rugs.

Rotation

Frequently rotate the from sunny areas to the other side of the room to equalize the effect of the sun. Continued exposer to bright hot sun rays and even indirect sunlight will cause damage to the dyed fabric used in oriental rugs. On bright sunny days, use window shades, shutters, or heavy curtains to reduce the sun damage. You can also apply a sun screen to your windows to filter the damaging sun rays. Also in terms of fading, sometimes gases and fumes (from furnaces, cooking stoves, chimneys, and auto exhaust ) mix with oxygen and humidity in the atmosphere form an acid. This acid reacts on the wool and causes deterioration and discoloration. Usually faded areas are hidden by soil and will not be noticed until the surface has been cleaned. In this case, obvious color fading can be avoided by rotating rugs from time to time so that all parts of the rug will have equal exposure.

Padding

Good quality padding protects the rug, specially in heavy traffic areas. The best padding is Synthetic fiber with rubber backing to keep the rug from mowing and wrinkling. The life of an oriental rug can be doubled with the use of a good quality pad.

Hanging

Before hanging carpets on the wall one should be certain that the warp threads can stand the strain. Do not use nails or staples at the top of a heavy rug to hang for long periods of time. Use a strong poster holder to distribute the weight of the rug evenly.

Storing

If a rug is to be stored for a long period of time, use a sheet of cloth to wrap it but do not use an airtight plastic bag. Oriental rugs need to breathe and they will sometimes rot or mildew in a plastic bag. They could also be rolled up and kept in a chest with some Para dichlorobenzene crystals, which will have to be re- newed every few months. Ideally, large carpets should be rolled around poles, the protruding ends of which should rest on blocks or trestles. It is not advisable to let carpets lie flat on top of one another for any length of time.

Do not store rugs in a humid, damp, warm, or poorly ventilated room. This causes mildew which has a musty odor, discolors the fabrics, and weakens them so that they fall in pieces. Never leave an oriental rug wet. Failure to remove all the moisture might result in mildew.

Do not store an oriental rug in a hot closet. The base of a rug can dry out and become brittle, destroying the strength and durability of the rug.

Moths

Moths can cause extensive damage to oriental rugs. Not only do their larvae eat the pile, but they also eat the knots on the back of a rug. Moths larvae are specially attracted to the areas such as those under furniture that remain relatively undisturbed, It is quite simple to eliminate these pests and safeguard against their return. Both front and back of a rug should be sprayed about every six months with any one of a number of available moth sprays.

Crushed Pile

To right the pile that is indented or crushed area by the legs of heavy furniture, brush the depressed area with a soft brush and faintly mist the area with water and follow up by brushing.

Cleaning

The beauty and life of oriental rugs are depended largely on cleanliness and care. Lack of correct maintenance will contribute to a loss in the potential of investment.

Vacuuming

Never vacuum against the nap of the rug (the direction of the nap can easily be determined by running the hand across the pile from fringe to fringe). Vacuuming against the nap also drive dirt back into the rug. Never vacuum the rug's fringes. The continued catching of the fringe in the suction of a vacuum cleaner causes the fringes to break and tear. As a general rule vacuum your rug with low level suction, using a newly replaced bag.

Sweeping

Sweeping with a broom is the best way to remove loose soil. A rug should be swept at least once a week with a broom. It helps to bring out the natural patina, or sheen, in the rug.

Beating

One of the best cleaning methods is beating several times on each on each side during dry weather. But this is rarely possible in crowded urban areas. In most cases the carpet has to be washed.

Washing

Oriental rugs should be washed regularly every three to five years depending on the use and the amount of Traffic they bear.

Never clean oriental rugs chemically or by steams. They remove the natural oils and cause the pile to become brittle and wear more rapidly.
Do not wash rugs in a machine.

Do not wring out squeeze an oriental rug because it dislodges the pile from the foundation. Let the rug dry on a towel or on grass for a full day.
Do not, unless absolutely necessary, submerge an oriental rug in water (unless it is done by professional hand made rug cleaner) . Surface cleaning is usually all that required.

Stain Removing

Take care of any kind of spill immediately. Spills of coffee or milk may be removed without permanent stain if taken care of right away. Dilute the spill with plenty of water and blot the wet area until all of the moisture is removed. Then, brush or scrape any excess immediately to prevent penetration and chemical reaction with the fibers and colors. If the cause and nature of staining substance are known, follow the instruction in the table.

All techniques herein and pertaining to washing and stain removing are of a general nature only. You consult an expert rug cleaner or your rug salesperson for further advice.

Blotting

The most effective way of preventing a spill from turning into a stain, is blotting up as much moisture as you can with lots of clean towels (or paper towels), and scraping up all solids. Begin at the center. Do not rub because this rubbing will only spread the stain.

Do not apply a spot remover until you have done a through job of blotting.
The best way to blot any kind of spill is to take a spoon and scoop it up, making sure not to rub the stain further into the carpet.

General Procedure

Always rub or brush lightly from the outer edge toward the center of the stain to prevent spreading or causing "The Ring" when using solvents, specially on twist rugs and pile carpets. On old, dry or stubborn stains, saturate, blot and brush. Repeat this operation as often as necessary to remove the stain completely.

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Copyright 2005 Bijan Aziz.

Bijan Aziz is the owner and Web Master for Bijan's Oriental Rugs

http://www.bijansorientalrug.com

The best source for fine Hand Made Oriental Rugs on the web.