Oriental rugs rank among the most beautiful and durable home furnishings worldwide. It is truly an ‘art under foot’, and you’ve made a wise choice adding it to your home, boosting interior aesthetics for generations to come.
But that’s only if you properly care for it. So, whether you recently bought an oriental rug or looking for how to care for existing ones properly, this article shares maintenance and cleaning tips you can keep in mind:
- Regular Rotation
One of the easiest ways to maintain the look of your oriental rug is to rotate it at least every few months. Consider rotating your rug more often if it’s in a high-traffic area.
Doing so can help evenly distribute wear and tear as well as prevent patches of color fading from exposure and sunshine. Regular rotation also allows you to inspect the rug and check for damages and issues.
- Block Sunlight
Speaking of sunshine, the harsh sun rays are a natural enemy of colorful oriental rugs. While a bit of uniform fading can give your rug an antique-aged and unique appearance, prolonged exposure to direct sunlight can cause excessive fading. Not only that, but sun rays can also cause the fibers to become brittle and weak.
So, to prevent premature fading, make sure to block direct sunlight from hitting your rug. Consider installing curtains or UV-filtering window tints to minimize the effect of the sun on your rug. You can also move the rug away from openings to avoid sunlight exposure.
If these measures are impossible, consider rotating your rug as frequently as possible for uniform fading.
- Regular Vacuuming
As with regular rugs and carpets, oriental rugs need regular vacuuming to remove ground-in debris and dirt that can damage rug fibers. It also prevents the fibers from being packed down due to foot traffic, essentially fluffing your rugs.
That said, when vacuuming oriental rugs, make sure to do it carefully. Always use a beater bar only and no brushes. Make sure the beater bar is on the highest setting when vacuuming the front side of the rug.
When vacuuming, always vacuum in the direction of the fibers. Do this slowly and repeat the entire process at least twice. Be careful not to catch the fringes in the beater bar. Use an upholstery attachment to vacuum the edges and prevent the fringes from being sucked up and causing damage.
- Clean Spills Immediately
Stains on rugs are ugly and cause damage to the fibers. Fortunately, it’s possible to prevent stains on your oriental rugs if you address any spills right away.
If you spill something on your oriental rug, make it a habit to clean it right away. Use white cloths or a paper towel to blot up liquid. Never brush or scrub the spillage, as this can push the stain further into the fibers while causing damage.
Also, avoid using steam cleaners or strong carpet chemicals since these can damage delicate fibers. In general, warm water, baking soda, and vinegar should be enough to clean spills. Then, you can consider leaving it to air dry outside.
- Use Padding
Adding padding under your oriental rug can help stabilize and prevent it from sliding around on top of a hardwood floor. What’s more, it also helps prevent the buildup of dust and debris on its underside, preserving its shape and reducing wrinkling.
Lastly, adding padding not only helps in maintaining your rug but also makes it more comfortable and safer to walk on.
- Be Careful About Furniture Placement
Most people place furniture on top of area rugs. While you can do this with an oriental rug, make sure that you don’t put heavy or large furniture on top of your rug.
In addition, consider rearranging furniture pieces every now and then to help prevent imprints and wear from forming in one area of your rug. To further minimize damage from furniture placement, you can also use casters under furniture feet to protect your rug’s fibers.
- Call The Experts
While you can always clean and wash your oriental rug on your own, for a deeper clean, consider calling the experts. Ideally, it’s best to have it professionally washed to prevent dust and dirt build-up while restoring its natural fibers and freshening up its appearance.
Experts have the right experience and tools to tackle any stains and properly deep clean your rugs. This can help extend the life of your oriental rug while making it look new.
Takeaway
Oriental rugs can create an atmosphere of upscale artistry, beauty, and elegance that can’t simply be achieved with plain, average rugs. That said, with such high aesthetic appeal, oriental rugs also require a high standard of care to maintain their condition and look. So, keep in mind the above maintenance and care tips so they can continue to elevate your home’s interior and ‘wow’ guests for years to come.