Oriental rugs make a great accent to any room’s decor. They have been popular for centuries and have been used in some of the finest homes in the world. Their popularity in recent times has increased. Oriental rugs can last for generations if they are properly cleaned and maintained.
Like anything else, the best way to keep it clean is to not let it get dirty. But of course this is not realistic. You will need to clean your oriental rugs on a regular basis. To limit how often they need to be cleaned it is a good idea to do like the Chinese. Do not wear your shoes in the house. Not wearing your shoes in the house really can cut down on how often your carpet will need to be cleaned.
Although you want to take your shoes off it is a good idea to leave your socks on. The oil on your feet can attract dirt.
While cleaning your rugs on a regular basis is a good idea, you may want to limit how often you do this. Over time cleaning your rug can break down the particles that hold it together. The basic rule is to plan to do it once a year but you may want to check and see if there is dirt that cannot be picked up by a vacuum.
There are two quick ways to tell if a rug needs to be cleaned. One method is to lift the rug up and pat it on the back if there is a cloud of dust that comes off the rug then it needs to be cleaned. Another method is to rub your hand on the rug vigorously if your hand shows signs of dirt it is a good idea to clean the rug.
Vacuuming once a week will help keep a rug clean and it will reduce the amount of work that settles deep into the nap. Small rugs can also be taken outside a patted with a broom or old fashioned rug cleaner to get dust off the rug.
While there are plenty of reputable carpet cleaners that will provide a good service for a reasonable price, you can clean your oriental rugs yourself. This job is actually pretty easy. There are only a few simple steps to cleaning a rug. Start this process by taking the rugs outside and setting up a plastic sheet. The driveway and the garage both make good areas to clean your rugs. Start the cleaning process by vacuuming on both sides.
This Oriental Rug Cleaning New York cleaning process will require a bucket, a gentle liquid detergent, a soft bristle brush and some towels. You can use dish detergent or carpet cleaning soap. The bucket should be half-filled with room temperature water, it is not recommended to use hot water. Also make sure you never let ammonia or bleach to come into contact with your rugs. These chemicals will destroy your rugs.
The first thing to do is to check the color to make sure it will not bleed. Simply dampen a towel with the soapy water from the bucket and rub the rug with the damp towel. If no color comes off the rug onto the towel it is safe to clean the rug.
Using the brush and soapy water scrub the rug in a linear motion. Allow the soap to do the work. Water alone will not properly clean your rugs. Use the brush and get the rug thoroughly wet.
Once the main areas of the rug have been completed you should clean the fringe. Fringe that has not been properly cleaned can make a rug look dirty even if the rest of it is clean.
The next step is to rinse off the rug. Use a hose or clean wet towels and remove all the soap from the rug. Let this side dry then repeat the process on the other side.
Once both sides have been completed you should run a wet/dry vac over the carpet to remove any more moisture you can. Do not be surprised if there is a slight odor emitted from the rug when you clean it. This is simply the smell of wet wool. Many good rugs are made of 100% wool.
Follow these steps and the cleaning process will be easy and you will have saved the money you would have paid a professional. When properly cleaned top quality oriental rugs will last for a very long time. In fact fine rugs are great family heirlooms.