Oriental rugs are a beautiful aspect of home décor. They have been around for centuries now. There are different types of oriental rugs, such as Persian, Bokhara, Chobi Zieglar, Ikat, and many others. Oriental rugs are back in style as they balance sophistication and appeal. If your living room is decorated with these hand-oven oriental rugs, they sure must draw the attention of your guests. However, since the rugs are intricately woven, they require special maintenance and care. Due to their sensitive nature, oriental rugs easily get dirty and turn dark. Cleaning your oriental rug is as important as cleaning your machine-made carpets and upholstery. This article will give you the know how to clean your oriental rug.
Oriental Rug Cleaning
While you can hire an experienced firm that offers oriental rug cleaning, you can also try cleaning it yourself. All you need are your hands, hose pipe, water, and detergent. The fine wool cannot withstand machine wash.
If your rug is small enough to carry outside, you can wash it in your patio, balcony, or driveway. Hand cleaning is the best way to wash your oriental rug, no matter what the type is. In the olden days, the Persians, Indians, and Chinese used scrubs and buckets of water to rinse-dry the rugs. You have to follow the same technique.
Simplified Steps to Oriental Rug Cleaning
Just turn the rug to a corner and beat its back with your hand. If the dirt and dust start falling out, it means the time to clean the rug is due. Clean the rug only if there are visible dirt and dust after beating it. Choose a sunny day for the washing so that it takes less time to dry.
Get Rid of the Dry Dust and Dirt
Vacuum the rug with a raised brush. Ensure you don’t pull on the fabric fibers. Don’t forget to vacuum the back of the rug too. The best way to vacuum clean the rug is by vacuuming in the direction of the pile to prevent damage. Vacuuming the borders of the carpet isn’t a good idea. If the fringe is not part of the original weave, it may tear away from the carpet.
Wash the Oriental Rug with Soap Water
Remove hard, visible stains before you start washing the rug. Use warm water and a soft cloth to blot the tough stains.
- Take the carpet outside to an open space like garage or veranda
- Now saturate the rug with water using a hose. The carpet should be dripping wet.
- Use gentle detergent (specifically for wool) and start washing the rug
- Use your hand to cleanse the dirt as you would do with your hair
- Don’t forget to turn the carpet and wash the backside
Rinse the Carpet with Water Pressure
Rinsing the carpet may take some time as you have to make sure there is no trace of soap in the wool. Use an adjustable nozzle to remove the soapy water. You will know your carpet is clean when the suds are gone. Clean the back of the carpet. And once that’s done, turn the carpet over and rinse the front one more time. To remove excess water from the rug, press a squeegee against the nap, and squeeze up water. Try to remove as much water as possible.
Dry the Carpet
It may take a day or two for the rug to dry completely. Ensure that you dry the back of the rug too. Since wet wool gives away the bad smell, don’t bring the rug in if it is not stark dry. Rub your fingers against the wool to check for dryness. Once it is completely dry, vacuum your carpet one more time. A professional oriental rug cleaning company is always the best way to clean your rugs. However, with these how to clean your oriental rug tips you can save some money.
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