Good handmade area rugs can last for generations.

A fine rug can last for generations, and age superbly with proper rug care. Following these simple recommendations for rug care will help you in taking good care of your handmade fine area rug.

Vacuuming*

Keeping your rugs clean and vacuuming them when necessary is fine, and if done right will not cause harm. Never vacuum any of the fringes on your rug. The continued catching of the fringe in the suction of a vacuum cleaner causes the fringes to break and tear. Always vacuum your rug without the beating brush, you can either turn the brush off, or just use the attachments. Following these instructions goes a long way in rug care.

Cleaning/Washing*

The beauty and life of your fine handcrafted rug depends largely on cleanliness and rug care. Handmade rugs should be washed regularly every three to five years depending on the use and the amount of traffic they bear. The best method is to get them cleaned when they look dirty and soiled.

Stain Removing*

The following method for removing stains is of a general nature and may not apply to all rugs because of the different materials and dyes used. SPILLS – Take care of any kind of spill immediately. First lightly blot as much of the spill as possible using a cloth or paper towel. Then dilute the spill with water and blot the wet area until all of the moisture is removed. Repeat this process if any of the spill remains. Once you get the spill out, dry the wet area either with air, letting air under the rug also in the wet area by draping the rug over something. Even a hair dryer on cold will help in drying the rug. While drying, comb the nap in the same direction as the rest of the nap of the rug so that it dries in the proper direction.

Rotation

Frequent rotation of your fine rug will help eliminate the effect of the sun and normal wear. On intense sunny days, use curtains, window shades or shutters to help lessen the harmful effects of direct sunlight.

Padding

A good quality pad will help protect your rug, especially on hard surfaces like tile, stone, linoleum, and hardwood floors, and also will keep it from moving or wrinkling. Alyshaan Fine Rugs carries excellent quality pads for various surfaces.

Dampness

Water can be your fine rug’s best friend and worst enemy. Water is the best thing to use for cleaning and general stain removal for most wool rugs that are colorfast. But, leaving your rug wet is particularly dangerous. Even the most colorfast rug may bleed colors if left wet. Just make sure that you dry your fine rug when it gets wet. You can air dry it or even use a hair dryer on the cool setting. When drying a rug that is really wet, comb the wet part in the direction of the overall nap of the rug. This does not mean that you have to be scared of using rugs in an environment where they may get wet, like the kitchen or the bathroom. Just make sure and dry them if they do get wet.

Hanging

DO NOT use nails or staples at the top of a heavy rug to hang for long periods of time. Use a strong poster holder, or proper clamps, to distribute the weight of the rug evenly. The best way is to have a strong fabric sewn on the back with a metal rod running through the fabric and then to hang the metal rod on the wall. This makes the rug look beautiful on the wall without any hanging mechanism showing and also helps to distribute the weight of the rug evenly. Alyshaan Fine Rugs rug experts can help prepare any rug for hanging.

Crushed Pile

(For pile rugs only) You can keep furniture on your rug as long as you move it around periodically so that it is not crushing the same spot for an extended period of time. To fix the pile that is indented or crushed by the legs of heavy furniture, brush the depressed area with a soft brush and faintly mist the area with water and follow up by brushing again. Make sure not to place any furniture on a damp rug.

Moths

A rug in use is usually not in danger from moths. Moths are best controlled by frequent moving, handling and regular exposure to light and air. Moth crystal and Cedar wood balls are good repellents of moths and helpful in your rug care regime. A routine inspection is necessity if your rug must be stored

Storing

If you are planning on storing your rug for a long period of time, use cloth to wrap it, be sure not to use an airtight plastic bag. Handmade rugs need to breathe and they will sometimes rot or mildew if not able to. Your rug could also be rolled up and kept cool dry place with some moth crystals, which should be replaced every few months. Ideally, large rugs should be rolled around a pole, let the protruding ends rest on blocks or trestles. It is suitable to let carpets lie flat on top of one another for any length of time.

DO NOT store rugs in a hot and humid or poorly ventilated room. This will cause mildew, which has a musty odor, and also discolor the fabrics, and weakens the rugs. Never leave a rug wet. Failure to remove all the moisture might result in mildew. DO NOT store a handmade rug in a hot closet, this could result in the base of your rug drying out and becoming brittle, and also destroying its strength and durability

Damage

If any damage to your rug is sustained, such as a cut or burn, an experienced expert should deal with the damage as soon as possible. It is important to bear in mind for proper rug care, that such damage can worsen over time. Any portion of the rug that is locally worn or damaged can be re-woven; and even large holes can be restored to make the rug almost as good as new. Alyshaan Fine Rugs does have an expert repair facility available.

The above recommendations were just a few hints to help you take good care of your rugs.

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