the best way to clean oriental rugs

NOTE: We are accepting repair and cleaning of Oriental rugs and Carpets. We clean and service Oriental rugs for many dealers, and can provide the same services to private customers. We've been in busines for many years, and have an excellent reputation in the rug trade. Visit our Rug Repair and Cleaning page here. The best way to keep a rug clean is to keep it from getting dirty in the first place. Removing outdoor shoes when entering the house (as people do in most rug-weaving countries) is a good idea if this accords with your lifestyle. Bare-foot or sock-foot traffic is much gentler to a rug than a hard outdoor-shoe sole (or spike heel), and leaving your outdoor shoes at the entrance to the house tracks in much less dirt. Have your rug cleaned only when it really needs it. For rugs in some areas this will mean a yearly cleaning. Rugs in other areas can go several years and more without needing professional cleaning. To judge how dirty a rug is, try one of these methods:
It's easy to clean small rugs yourself. The process is best done in a utility room or garage (on a clean floor) or outside on a clean driveway or paved walk on a nice, sunny day: Always try to work on the spill so as not to increase the area of the spill. Of the most common spills, urine presents the most severe problem. It can cause severe color run in the rug, and the odor can be very hard to remove or disguise. Urine can also chemically damage the structure of a rug by making the foundation hard and less supple, and the presence of urine in a rug can help attract moths. Repeated wettings can cause the foundation of the rug to loose mechanical strength to the point where the rug cracks and breaks when rolled or folded. In case of a food spill or urine on a rug, the problem is much more easily handled if the spot is treated promptly, before the spill is allowed to dry. Blot up as much liquid as possible with paper towels or a clean, white cloth. Try to rinse out as much of the spill as possible.
A smaller rug can be taken outside and rinsed with a hose and cool water (try not to saturate the whole rug--it will take much longer to dry if you do). With a larger carpet, the corner or edge can be laid in a plastic dishpan and saturated with cool water or a bucket or plastic garbage can can be placed under the wet area of the carpet and cool water poured through the rug (make a hollow in the carpet over the container before you pour, and don't exceed the capacity of the container under the rug!). Add about 1 cup of white vinegar per gallon to the rinse water--vinegar helps prevent colors from running and will help neutralize the urine odor. After the rug has been rinsed, blot dry and sponge with rug shampoo or with the solution given below. Let dry thoroughly (drying a wet area of a larger carpet can be hastened by arranging the carpet so that air can circulate both top and bottom--drape the end of the carpet across a lawn chair, or put a sawhorse or painted bench under the rug in the area of the wet spot).
If a pet regurgitates on a rug, you are faced with removing a complex mixture of foodstuffs, saliva, and stomach acids. Depending on the foods involved, this mixture can actually work as a dilute dye to stain the pile a different hue. If a pet regurgitates or defecates on a rug, clean the area immediately by picking up as much material as possible with paper towels or with a clean, white cloth. pool cleaning bermudaIf necessary, use a tablespoon to scrape up all the foreign material. wet vacuum cleaner in indiaBlot the area dry and immediately sponge several times with rug shampoo or with the cleaning solution listed below. best vacuum for cleaning carpeted stairsDon't scrub hard--too much manipulation of the pile can spread the stain. carpet cleaning prices calgary
Sponge in the direction of the nap. 1/2 tsp liquid dishwashing detergent *Most Oriental rug dyes are acid-fast. By adding a little white vinegar to the wash water you make the wash water more acidic, and this reinforces the bond between the dyestuff and the wool in the rug, and so helps prevent the colors from running.best portable spot carpet cleaner Finally, sponge the area with cool, clean water to finish. carpet cleaning supplies milwaukeeUse absorbent towels or a firm, non-shedding sponge. best carpet cleaner in okcDon't use a brush so stiff that it pulls fibers from the pile. Don't scrub hard at the pile. Sponge in the direction of the nap. Place some towels under the spot to keep floor or pad from getting wet.
When the nap feels dry, check the back of the rug to be sure the area is completely dry.User ReviewedHow to Clean Oriental Rugs Four Methods:Taking the Proper PrecautionsDoing a Quick CleaningPerforming a Deep CleaningUsing Alternative MethodsCommunity Q&A Oriental rugs are a common style of rug that originate from countries like Iran, China, and India. These rugs are known for their rich colors and unique designs and can be found in thousands of households across the world. Oriental rugs come in all shapes and varieties and are usually made from materials like wool or cotton, but can also be made from things like silk or synthetic material. Adding an oriental rug to your house can bring a room to life, but like most rugs, they are prone to getting dirty. Luckily, if you use the proper techniques to clean and care for your rug, you can keep your rug looking new for a long time. Check the rug's label. Lift the corners of your rug to reveal the rug's label. Usually, on the label, it will have instructions on the safest way to clean your Oriental rug.
Rugs can be made of silk, wool, cotton, or synthetic material and each requires a certain degree of finesse when cleaning. Cotton and wool rugs are generally more durable and easier to clean. If you have a silk rug, consider taking it to a professional instead of cleaning it yourself in the case of severe stains. Vaccum and tend to the carpet regularly. Vacuuming your rug at least once a week will lift recent debris and dirt from it and keep it smelling and looking new for a longer time. Vacuuming also prevents the wool fibers in your rug from becoming packed down. Do not frequently vacuum antique or silk oriental rugs as it can damage them and reduce their value. Keep your rug out of direct sunlight. Oriental rugs can be prone to sun damage, so keep it away from windows if you can. Keeping an oriental rug in the sun will cause the colors to fade over time.[4] If your rug has to be in direct sunlight, rotate it at least once a month. While the colors are still likely to fade, at least they will fade evenly.
Test to see if your carpet is colorfast. Some carpets are colorfast and won't bleed when wet, while others will. If the rug's label reads "dry clean only," then there's a good possibility your rug is not colorfast. If you want to test your rug, saturate a small corner of the carpet with room temperature water, then press on it with a clean white cloth. If there is dye on your rag, then your carpet is likely to bleed if you clean it yourself. In the case that your carpet is not colorfast do a light cleaning but avoid getting your carpet wet or using chemical cleaners on it. If you need to deep clean a carpet that is not colorfast, your best option would be to bring it in to be professionally cleaned. Move your furniture around occasionally. Heavy pieces of furniture that sit on top of your oriental rug can work down the fibers and damage your carpet over time. To prevent this, rearrange your furniture every six months. This will even out the wear and tear on your rug and increase its longevity.
Use a broom with straw bristles or a carpet sweeper to do the initial cleaning of your rug.[7] Sweep in one direction from end to end. Don't rub your broom back and forth because you could end up damaging it. Once you're done sweeping the entirety of the rug, repeat the cycle and go over it a second time. Electric carpet sweepers use static electricity to pick up dirt and are the safest method for quickly cleaning an antique oriental rug. Vaccum the rug on both sides. Lay out your rug in an empty area and vacuum over the rug slowly to remove excess abrasives, hair, and dirt that can damage your rug over time.[8] Repeat this process three or more times to get all the dirt and debris from the rug.[9] Avoid the rug's fringes because they can become stuck in the vacuum's sweeper.[10] Once you're done vacuuming, flip the rug over and repeat the process on the other side. When cleaning an expensive or antique rugs, make sure to use the carpet tool because a revolving brush can damage your rug and hurt its value.
Beat and shake your rug outside. If you can pick your rug up, you can take it outside and shake it to remove embedded dirt and other particles. If your rug is too big to shake, hang it on a clothesline and beat it with your hands. You should see the dust and dirt come off of the rug as you do this. Spot clean your rug. It's best to tend to spills as soon as they occur because if they dry it will be much harder for you to get the stain or smell out of your rug. As soon as the spill occurs blot up as much of the liquid as you can, with a paper towel or clean rag.[13] Once you've soaked up the spill, dampen a rag and use cold water to blot the stain again. Do not rub back and forth on the spill because you could end up rubbing the stain deeper into the carpet. Vaccum both sides of the rug. Bring your oriental rug outside so that you can lay it out on a flat surface. Sweep and clean the area before you begin to clean your rug.[14] Vaccum the rug until most of the dirt and debris is lifted from it, then flip it over to the other side and repeat the process.
After you vacuum, shake the rug to remove any additional dirt or debris. You can also use an electric sweeper if your vacuum is not effective. Use a garden hose and spray the rug with cold water. Soak the entirety of the carpet on one side then flip it over and spray the other side with water. You should only have to do this for a few minutes on each side for your oriental rug to become saturated with water. Fill a bucket with cold water and a mild liquid soap. You can use a mild liquid detergent or dish soap to clean your rug. Fill a bucket with one gallon of cold water and three tablespoons of your mild soap. Mix the solution together in your bucket. You can also use a mild shampoo for oriental rugs that are made from wool. Test your solution by cleaning a small part of the carpet. You can use a long haired brush or a non-shedding sponge to clean your carpet.[19] Dip your sponge or brush into your water and soap solution until it's saturated and lightly go over a small part of the rug.
Wait up to ten minutes to see if the cleaning solution has an adverse effect on it before proceeding to the next step. If the cleaning solution is changing your carpet's color or making the colors bleed, stop cleaning it and take it a professional. Clean the rest of your rug. Lather your rug in the direction of the nap, or so that the fibers lay down, opposed to sitting up.[20] Lather your carpet enough to create suds on the surface of the rug. Rinse your rug with your garden hose. Dry your oriental rug thoroughly. Wet rugs can build mildew over time and create a bad odor. Once you're done rinsing your rug, it's important that you allow it to dry before putting it back to where it belongs. Use a squeegee to squeeze the rest of the water out of your rug, then allow it to dry flat on the ground. Remember to flip your rug over so that both sides can dry. If drying is taking too long try pointing a fan on to quicken the process. Use talcum powder to remove unwanted odors.