Never fold a hooked rug. Roll it lightly with the pile side out to prevent the straining of the burlap foundation. Don't wrap any textile in plastic, because trapped moisture leads to mildew. Wrap in a clean white cotton sheet, pillowcase or towel, fastened loosely. Don't store your hooked rug in an area susceptible to mold and mildew (cellars), or temperature extremes (attics). Avoid placing your rug in high traffic areas with lots of moisture(doorways, kitchens, bathrooms). Choose an upstairs hall, bedroom or parlor. Always use a thin, non-sticky, high quality rug pad, available from oriental rug dealers. The pad should be cut one-half inch smaller than the hooked rug on all sides, and be inspected frequently for signs of wear. Hand dyed colors are easily faded by bright sunlight, so choose the placement of your rug carefully. NEVER allow anyone to suggest coating a hand hooked rug with latex, scotch guard, or any chemical preparation. Fabric backing, or underlining of hooked rugs is not recommended because it traps dirt and grit within the pile and foundation of the hooked rug, gradually destroying the fibers.

The weight of the textile should be distributed by hanging from a dowel inserted through a hand sewn, non-stretch, handwoven cotton or linen fabric sleeve sewn to the back top surface of the rug. Never use glues, adhesives, or tapes. If you prefer to frame a rug, use only professionally prepared, acid free, museum quality frames. If under glass, air permeable backing must be used on the frame so that no moisture is trapped in the textile. Don�t allow wood in direct contact with the rug, as this is a source of acid and discoloration. HOOKED RUG CLEANING AND MAINTENANCE: Hooked rugs have two major enemies: too vigorous vacuum cleaning, and too much moisture. House pets can also be considered enemies! (See section on hanging hooked rugs if dogs and cats can�t be trusted.) NEVER use the beater-brush attachment of electric vacuums. Use only a gentle hand-held vacuum, or an upholstery attachment, or the floor attachment covered with a piece of cheesecloth to reduce the force of the suction.

NEVER, EVER immerse a hooked rug in water to attempt to wash it. If the burlap backing becomes saturated, the wool pile will insulate it from drying and the whole thing will begin to rot. Blot up surface stains immediately with a dry white cloth. Use only the bubbly SUDS of Woolite on a soft baby hairbrush to clean spots as they occur, avoiding saturating the pile of the rug. It�s smart to test for color fastness first on the reverse side of the textile.best carpet cleaner for urine stains Never use harsh detergents or chemicals.carpet cleaning equipment loan Hooked rugs should not be entrusted to a dry cleaner, as they usually have no idea how to handle hand made, antique and heirloom textiles.johnsons carpet cleaner hire cost

Even companies who regularly clean antique oriental rugs may not know how to treat a hooked rug. Contact the textile departments of folk art museum collections: Sturbridge Village, Shelburne Museum, or Colonial Williamsburg for expert advice. The traditional method of cleaning old hooked and braided rugs is to allow them to be coated with fine, dry, crystalline snow, and to brush them quickly with a clean whisk broom, not allowing the rug to absorb any moisture.pool cleaner malaysia From time to time, turn your rug upside down, and allow any embedded sand or dirt to fall out. cleaning pool filter cellDON�T beat or hang it on a clothesline to air it, though you may want to lay it on a clean sheet outside for brief sun and air.las vegas pool parties september 2012

In the old days, when pets lived outdoors, and vacuums were not invented, rugs would last for generations! At the first sign of damage, take your rug to a qualified restorer, because as rips become bigger, they are obviously more difficult to repair. For more information, order a personally signed copy of the book Finishing Hooked Rugs. A must for all rug hookers! You don’t have to rush to the shops to buy a carpet cleaner when you get a stain on your rug. Instead, quickly whip up a homemade remedy of warm water, a dash of white vinegar, and a drop of laundry detergent such as Persil small & mighty Bio to tackle the stain as soon as possible. Just remember to test this in a small area first. A mistake many homeowners make is to treat their rugs in the same way they treat their carpets. That is, they vacuum them all over, and treat stains and long-term dirt and grime with store-bought carpet cleaner. The truth is that rugs are often much more delicate than carpets.

Whereas carpets are specifically designed to handle high volumes of foot traffic, and are more hard-wearing, rugs are designed for much less use, so they are typically much more susceptible to damage. Understanding how to clean a rug is important for to keep them looking clean and fresh. Is a Rug Cleaner Really Necessary? For everyday rug cleaning and maintenance, a rug cleaner really isn’t a necessity – but for removing stains and dirt you might consider purchasing a dedicated rug cleaner, or a carpet cleaner that is suitable for delicate materials. Alternatively, opt for a homemade remedy to tackle stains. A mixture of warm water, a dash of white vinegar, and just a drop of laundry detergent is ideal, but ensure you use the bare minimum – you don’t want to saturate the rug or wet the rug backing. For everyday rug cleaning, all you really need is a good quality vacuum cleaner and a medium bristled brush. Here’s how to clean a rug: Firstly, turn the rug upside down.

Vacuum the rug backing, loosening any ground in dirt. Turn the rug right-side up, and vacuum, being careful to avoid any tassels. Fluff out the tassels using your hands, as they can become damaged in the vacuum’s suction pipe. After vacuuming, use a brush to remove any leftover hair and dust – this is usually more of a problem in households that have cats and dogs. Do Washing Machines Make Good Rug Cleaners? You should always check the label on your rug before putting it through the washing machine, as some materials can be washed and others cannot. As a general rule, woven and braided rugs are often robust enough to withstand a thorough wash, whereas other materials are usually too delicate. Even with woven rugs, it’s best to try to provide it with some protection – put it in a pillowcase or washable cotton bag first. This will mean the material is not in direct contact with the drum, reducing the risk of damage. Watch this video for instructions on how to free your rugs from even the toughest stains:

How Do I Tackle Delicate and Oriental Rug Cleaning? When it comes to oriental rug cleaning, and buying a rug cleaner for other delicate materials, you’ll want to take a bit more time and care to ensure you don’t damage your rug’s fabric and fibres. Here’s how to clean a rug that is a bit more vulnerable than your everyday doormat: For everyday maintenance and upkeep, place an airy fabric, such as a light cotton pillowcase or piece of nylon, over the top of the rug. Vacuum the rug with the protective material over the top. Dirt should be filtered and extracted through the material, and the fibres of the rug should be fluffed up, without them being damaged from direct suction. For obvious dirty marks and stains, wherever possible use a gentle homemade rug cleaner containing natural ingredients. The detergent, vinegar, and warm water concoction mentioned above is excellent for oriental rug cleaning. For treating smells – especially pet smells and lingering tobacco odours – sprinkle the rug with a gentle talcum powder or baby powder.