Oriental rugs create an atmosphere of upscale elegance, artistry and beauty to a home that cannot be achieved with the average rugs. Though they set a high aesthetic standard and they are set to last, neglect can take the best of them leading to wear. For this reason, they require a high standard of maintenance. Knowing how to properly take care of your rug will help keep it in tip top shape for many years.
The best way to accomplish this is to vacuum both side properly. Vacuuming the front side of an oriental rug gets the dirt up and vacuuming the back side removes the deep down dirt. Begin by vacuuming the front side first then flip it over and vacuum underneath the carpet. To prevent spreading the dirt, vacuum in the direction of the pile and be careful when vacuuming the edges especially the fringes.
Vacuuming in the direction of the pile will help to prevent additional dirt and dust from settling farther into the pile. Vacuuming against the direction of the pile or sideways will brush and lift the pile.
It is recommended that you vacuum in at least two directions, starting with moving in the direction of the pile.
· Change the beater brush height.
Consider changing the beater brush height to a higher setting. This is because a brush that is too low can easily damage the rug by pulling the knots and fibers out. The beater bar should touch the rug fibers to release the dirt but not dig in and cause balding.
· Use the upholstery brush to clean fringes.
Be careful with a cleaner that is equipped with a beater bar or power brush. These powered brushes in the vacuum do a great job on machine made carpeting but they can damage the top layer of oriental rugs if strenuously used. Therefore, if your vacuum cleaner has a power brush, use it lightly and only occasionally on your oriental rug.
For regular cleaning, use the plain vacuum nozzle. This especially important for fringes. Avoid running a power brush or an upright vacuum over fringes as they shred the fringes and causes fast wear. The fringes get caught and chewed up the rotating mechanism of the brush.
For easier cleaning, clean spills immediately. However, you should not use bleach or soap on your rug to clean it. Begin with absorbing the spills with paper towels by daubing it gently from one end to another of the spill and moving towards the center to prevent the spill from spreading. To stop further damage, place paper towels under the spill as well and use only water to clean the spills and if the stain cannot be removed.
To prevent sun damage, keep your rug away from direct sunlight as it damages the rug making it to fade and become lighter when hit by the sun’s rays.
Another care tip for oriental rugs is to vary the pathways. When furniture is placed on the Oriental rug, it creates a natural pathway that is frequently used. To prevent this, you should move the furniture on the rug so that the walkways are changed. This stops wearing out in just a single place.
· Utilize padding
Placing a rug pad beneath the Oriental rug protects the shape of the rug, stabilizes it and reduces wrinkling. This in turn enhances the value of the rug as well as makes it comfortable and safe to walk on.
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