After buying area oriental rugs, you need to take good care of them. One of the ways of doing it is to clean the rugs. Quality Oriental rugs don’t come cheap, and since homeowners don’t want to destroy them, you will often hear them asking, how do you clean an oriental rug? Are you looking to clean your rug? Here is a step by step guide on how to do it:
Check the rug’s label.
Everything begins here. Lift the corners of the rug and reveal the rug’s label. The label will have details about the rug and how to clean it safely.
Cotton and wool rugs are generally more durable and easier to clean and don’t require much care, but if you have silk rugs, you have to take them to a professional.
Remove loose dirt
Once you know the type of rug you got, go ahead and remove any loose dirt the rug might be having. One of the best ways to remove the dirt is by vacuuming the rug. Start vacuuming from the top of the rug, then turn the rug upside down.
By vacuuming the rug, you lift recent dirt and debris that keep the rug from smelling and looking new. Vacuuming also prevents wool fibers from becoming packed down.
If you don’t have a vacuum cleaner or the rug is small, shake it to get rid of the dirt.
For best results, vacuum your rugs once a week. Avoid vacuuming antique or silk rugs too often as you can damage them and consequently reduce their value.
Spot clean the rug
Does your rug have obvious spills and stains? In addition to giving your rug a dirty, cheap look, they also might smell. Use cold water to get rid of the spills. If your rugs have a pet, grease, or coffee stains, use white vinegar to clean the rugs. Mix quarter cup vinegar and ½ teaspoons of mild detergent with excess water and clean the stains.
Don’t rub back and forth on the spill as you will end up rubbing the stain deeper into the rug, worsening the situation.
Soak the rug with water
If your entire rug is dirty or you have gone for a long time without cleaning it, soak it in water. One of the best ways to do it is to use a garden hose.
Shampoo the rug
Does your woolen rug attract a lot of foot traffic? Clean it using a mild shampoo. If you don’t have shampoo, use a mild liquid detergent or dish soap. Before using any product, ensure its high quality and safe for your rug.
When it comes to cleaning the rug, use a long handheld brush or non-shedding sponge. Dip the sponge or brush into your water and soap solution until the soap solution is fully saturated.
It’s recommended you first go over a small area of the rug and determine whether the cleaning solution has serious effects on the rug. If the cleaning solution changes the carpet’s color and makes the colors bleed, stop the cleaning and take the rug to a professional.
If the rug isn’t bleeding, lather it in the nap direction so the fibers lay down. They shouldn’t sit up. Lather your rug enough to create suds on the rug surface.
Rinse the rug
Once you are done cleaning the rug, rinse the cleaner’s remainder off with your garden hose. Once you are done with one side, flip the rug over and rinse the other side. Before drying, ensure the suds on the top of the antique rugs Vienna VA are thoroughly washed off.
