What are some tips on caring for and cleaning my oriental rug?
You Need: Vacuum A hair brush An old T Shirt Hair conditioner Scotch-guard Before you say “who is this freak”, just hear me out… Give the rug a good vacuum. Put some hair conditioner in a bowl and add warm water. Take the T Shirt and soak it in the bowl. Squeeze T Shirt and then wrap it around the hair brush. Brush the rug until it is damp BUT NOT WET. This will keep the fibers soft. Once you have done this, use the hair brush again, this time without the T shirt. You want to fluff the fibers up. Once done, it then needs a final vacuum. NOTE: The number of times you will need to do this will depend on how much traffic the rug gets. If traffic is high, then do this every two months. If not, then maybe every 4-5 months. Lastly, your rug is less likely to absorb stains if you scotch- guard it after cleaning.
Vacuum it as often as you can; the more the better and go with the pile and not against it. Have is professionally cleaned by people who specialize in oriental rugs when they look dirty. Every 2-4 years is a good rule of thumb for cleaning. It all depends on how much traffic the rugs get. I love them because they hide dirt so well.
Vacuum your area rugs regularly, being sure to go back and forth in the same direction over the entire rug (avoiding the fringes). If you are vacuuming with a beater brush, we suggest you set the brush so it just touches the top of the pile and moves easily across the rug. When vacuuming with a carpet tool, ease the suction of the vacuum by adjusting it accordingly. Be sure to periodically vacuum the back of the rug. Rotate your area rugs as often as possible (1-2 years), when you notice the high traffic areas of your rug starting to look dirty, or the nap has lost its original direction or shape. Rotating your rugs will allow them to wear more evenly, maintaining their original appearance and value. Also, rotate your rugs according to the amount of direct sunlight. Over time direct sunlight can fade the dyes of your rugs.
