When your Oriental rug is dirty, tackling the rug cleaning at home can seem daunting. And that is understandable, considering most oriental rugs have a family history. They are unique, colourful and natural family heirlooms made by artisans. And this goes for any rug that has been in the family for a while. They are often statement pieces, and rug cleaning seems impossible to do at home.
But rugs can get dirty. As time goes by, dust and dirt sink deep into the fibres, causing them to get damaged. In addition, the rug might be affected by humidity and can develop mould. And when rugs are part of an active family, they are destined to get some stains or spots.
Oriental rug cleaning indeed needs special attention and care to do correctly, but the right amount of TLC can get you a long way. Via this article, we will guide you through the process with some tips and tricks to make your favourite rug look like new.
Step one: Get out the vacuum!
This step might seem obvious, but vacuuming is often overseen. But, it is an excellent way to remove dirt, dust and other debris from your oriental rug. In addition, vacuuming your rug once a week will prevent the fibres from being damaged by the loose particles. Make it a habit; it is a great way to keep your rug spick and span.
Ideally, for a deep vacuum clean of your rug, you start with flipping the rug over. First, run your vacuum over the back surface. If your vacuum has a rotating brush, it might also have a beater bar attached. You can leave the bar in place as it will vibrate the rug; it will help loosen any particles that are ingrained in the rug. Once most dirt is removed, you are ready to flip it back over.
If your vacuum has a beater bar, now is the time to retract it; leaving it out can damage the rug’s fibres. If your vacuum has an attachment for carpets and rugs, you can use this to vacuum the top side. Move the vacuum over the surface, being careful at the edges as we don’t want to damage the fringes. Try to go in the direction of the fibres and slowly get rid of all the loose dust and dirt particles in your rug.
Step two: tackle those stains!
If your rug is stain-free, you can skip this step and move on to step three about washing the rug.
It’s worth mentioning that it is good to clean up spills as soon as they happen. It might seem logical, but it wasn’t for me. I once had mud stains on my favourite Persian rug and thought it would be easier to let it dry and clean then. Bad idea! The dried sand came out easy, but the muddy colour soaked deep into the fibres. So I had to get it treated by a professional rug cleaning service. More about them later.
When disaster strikes and something is spilt on the rug, get some paper towels and blot up as much as possible. Don’t rub the fibres roughly, as this might damage your rug and help the stain penetrate deeper into the fibres.
Careful: You can buy rug stain removers, but make sure it is a professional product, specifically for Oriental rugs or any wool or silk rug. The majority of the rug stain removers are for fitted carpets, which is not the right product for the job.
You can also use some household items to remove the stains. For example, measure a quarter cup of white vinegar and add some warm water. Then, use a white cloth to apply the liquid to the stain. Let it sit for a few minutes before blotting off the excess product. If the stain is a little stubborn, like the mud stains on my rug, add some baking soda to the mix. Let it soak for about an hour. Now you are ready for step three!
Step Three: wash away
To clean or wash your Oriental rug, you can use cool or lukewarm water and a natural cleaner that is pH neutral.
Tip: There are different rug cleaners for wool on the market, but you can even use a pH neutral shampoo. After all, wool is sheep's ‘hair'.
Avoid hot or boiling water and chemical products at all costs. You wouldn’t want to use it on your hair either. If you worry the colours will run, try the process on a small part of the rug; but it shouldn’t be a problem. Grab a bucket with water and add the cleaning liquid. Use a cloth to apply the mixture to the rug. Work in the product, one small area at a time, following the direction of the rug’s fibres. Of course, don’t go mad rubbing the product into the rug; remember that your Oriental rug is a delicate piece of art.
Careful: avoid saturating the rug. It will make the drying process more manageable.
Grab a squeegee to rinse the rug and remove the product and any leftover dirt. Pass it over the surface in the direction of the fibres and remove all excess product. If the rug looks pretty wet, lay some white towels on the surface. Carefully walk over the rug so the towels can absorb as much liquid as possible.
Step four: get out your comb
An authentic Oriental rug has a fringe, and till now, we have steered clear of it. Now it’s time to take on this part of our rug. It’s a good idea to comb your fringe first. You can just use your fingers, or if you have a wide-tooth comb lying around, this will do the job even better. Use the vinegar and water mix to remove stains, then move on to our washing solution from step three to apply to the fringe. Gently scrub and rinse with clean water.
Step five: let’s dry this rug
It is crucial to dry the rug thoroughly! If we put back the rug in its usual spot without drying it well, your Oriental rug will most likely form mould, smell bad, and it can even start to rot.
So, dry the rug in a well-ventilated space, lay it flat and rotate it. You can use a fan to add some more air rotation, and it can add to a speedy drying time. It is perfectly fine to let the rug dry in a sunny spot, but prolonged periods of direct sun can fade the pattern.
Take into account that the rug might need two to three days to dry out completely.
Step six: forget all the above
I understand that this might seem like a task too big to take on; however, you can do it! But I can also understand that it is just too much to do at home, sometimes we even lack space. I have gone through this process at home, but I have also used professional rug cleaning services.
Tip: It is recommended to take your rugs for a professional rug cleaning once every two years.
If you are in or around Sydney, there is an Oriental rug cleaning service I can recommend. Oriental Rug Care Australia has taken care of my rugs a few times now. They pick up and drop off for free, which is a massive advantage over putting a heavy rug in your car.
One of my rugs needed some repairs, and they happily restored it to its original state.
Now, dear readers, whatever you choose to do, I sincerely hope this guide helps you get the results you want. And now, time to get out the vinegar!
