Oriental Rug Cleaning & Care Guide

Oriental Rug Cleaning does not have to be a mystery. For over 2,500 years, Oriental Carpets have been used in the East by nomads and villagers for warmth and beauty. More recently in the West, they have graced homes with their art and luxury and complement any decor. Hand Knotted Rugs will last a lifetime, and when properly maintained they will last for generations to come. The information contained on this page offers basic advice for the care and protection of your fine art investment.

Wool Makes an Last

Antique are generally made of wool, which makes them easy and inexpensive to clean and maintain. Antique wool rugs are extremely durable and consistently out perform other materials. Wool cleans easier, stays clean longer, and is more resilient than most fibers.

General Cleaning

Get professional Cleaner to clean your Hand Knotted Rugs, do not steam clean, chemically clean, or spot clean your rug. We also recommend the you do not Scotchgard your Antique Persian Rugs, as it interferes with lanolin’s stain resisting properties. Also, do not have your rug dry cleaned, or saturate it in the tub. Oriental Rug Cleaning is an important procedure in order to maintain rich colors and softness. We recommend taking your rug to Cleaners every 3-6 years, depending on the amount of traffic. Make sure you pick a trusted, professional Cleaning Service, qualified to clean Antique Carpet.

Rotating

Persian Carpet should be rotated rug around once a year to ensure even wearing.

Vacuuming Antique

Like most carpeting, be sure to vacuum your hand knotted rugs regularly, but do not vacuum the fringe.

Rug Padding for

A quality rug pad under your helps protect it from dirt, wear, and slippage. We will be happy to provide you with the best pad for your hand knotted rugs.

Removing Kinks and Creases

To remove kinks and crease from soak a white towel or cloth and wring it out until it is damp. Make sure your towel or cloth is white otherwise color may transfer to the fibers of your Hand Knotted Carpet. After you have your damp cloth or towel place it over the creases and place heavy objects over the towels. Regular traffic and vacuuming will also help.

Repairing Antique Handmade Rugs

If your have been damaged, the chances are a professional restoration will fix it. Old and antique rugs sometimes need to be rewoven where it was worn, and restored back to life. Newer rugs are rarely in the need of repair. When it comes to Repairing Antique Carpet, always consult a professional.

Blotting Stains

When Blotting a stain on Wool Hand Knotted Rugs it is important to use a white cloth and blot the stain from the edge to the center.When a stain occurs, dilute it with plenty of water, then blot the stain, avoiding rubbing the area. For solid spills, take a spoon and carefully scoop up the material. It is always best to take care of a stain right away. The following information will help you eliminate most stains. For further advice, please contact us.

Removing Wax from Antique Rugs

Put a blotter or brown paper bag over the spot. Then put a hot iron over the blotter. Wait a few minutes until the wax is absorbed into the blotter. Repeat if necessary. Make sure you move the iron constantly and do not let it stay on one place.

Removing Ink from

Saturate a spot with hairspray, allow it to dry. Then brush slowly with a 7% white vinegar solution.

Removing Glue from Antique

Saturate the spot with a cloth soaked in a 7% white vinegar solution or alcohol.

Removing Chewing Gum from an

Press ice cubes against the spot. Then wait until the gum becomes brittle and breaks off. Afterwards, use spot remover to vanish traces of the spot.

Stain Removal Procedures for

Work quickly, blot up excess spill with paper towels.
Check for the procedure number you should use in the Index above, left.
Apply the numbered procedure to the corresponding stain number
Pat with paper towels, and dry with fan or hair dryer
Restore pile with clothes brush

Procedure 1

Blot with mild detergent (no bleaches or alkalies)
Blot with a 7% white vinegar solution
Blot with mild detergent (no bleaches or alkalies)
Blot with water

Procedure 2

Blot with dry cleaning fluid
Blot with mild detergent (no bleaches or alkalies)
Blot with water
Blot with weak ammonia
Blot with mild detergent (no bleaches or alkalies)
Blot with water

Procedure 3

Blot with mild detergent (no bleaches or alkalies)
Blot with a 7% white vinegar solution
Blot with weak ammonia
Blot with mild detergent (no bleaches or alkalies)

Procedure 4

Blot with mild detergent (no bleaches or alkalies)
Blot with weak ammonia
Blot with mild detergent (no bleaches or alkalies)
Blot with water

Procedure 5

Blot with mild detergent (no bleaches or alkalies)
Blot with weak ammonia
Blot with a 7% white vinegar solution
Blot with mild detergent (no bleaches or alkalies)
Blot with water

Oriental Carpets Cleaning Index

Acid – 4
Alcoholic Beverage – 1
Ammonia or Alkali – 1
Beer – 5
Berries – 5
Bleach – 1
Blood – 4
Butter – 2
Candy (sugar) – 1
Carbon Black – 2
Catchup – 2
Charcoal – 1
Chocolate, Cocoa – 1
Coffee – 4
Cooking Oil – 2
Cosmetics – 2
Crayon – 2
Crème de Menthe – 3
Dye, Blue, Black – 3
Dye, Red – 5
Egg – 2
Excrement – 2
Fish Slime – 2
Fruit Juice – 5
Furniture Polish – 5
Gravy – 1
Hair Oil – 2
Hair Spray – 1
Hand Lotion – 2
Ice Cream – 2
Lacquer – 2
Lard – 4
Lipstick – 1
Machine Oil – 2
Mayonnaise – 2
Mercurochrome – 5
Merthiolate – 5
Metal Polish – 1
Milk – 1
Mixed Drinks – 5
Mud – 1
Mustard – 5
Paint – 2
Perfume – 1
Rust – 1
Salad Dressing – 2
Sauce – 1
Shortening – 2
Soft Drinks – 5
Soy Sauce – 2
Starch – 2
Tar – 2
Tea – 5
Tooth Paste – 1
Urine – 5
Varnish – 2
Vaseline – 2
Vomit – 2
Washable Ink – 1
Wine – 5