One matter that often gets ignored, or at best, forgotten about, when a discussion about upholstery cleaning takes place, is rugs. In some homes rugs tend to be the poor relation compared to the carpets with them often placed where they will take the most abuse such as doorways, never cleaned, and simply discarded when they become soiled and threadbare.
However, some rugs deserve far greater care than what we have just described, and a prime example is oriental rugs. Oriental rugs are often given pride of place in a lounge or dining room and seen as part of the overall ambience in a room. They also cost a lot more than basic rugs. To prolong their life and keep them in the best possible condition they require special care over and above basic carpet cleaning. Here are seven examples of that.
Vacuuming: It is a common issue when vacuuming takes place in a home, that rugs are lifted out of the way, and when placed down again, they are not vacuumed. It is essential for the long term condition and cleanliness of your oriental rug it is vacuumed at least twice per week.
Cleaning Stains: Due to the multiple colours that oriental rugs have, some people ignore stains as often they cannot be seen. This is not how to treat an oriental rug. Instead, stains should be removed carefully as soon as they occur ensuring that you follow the manufacturer’s cleaning guidelines before applying any cleaning solutions.
Wiping: We have all seen funny videos of people taking their huge oriental rugs outside, beating them, and huge clouds of dust appearing. Beating can help remove dust and grit, but a safer option, and one requiring less physical effort, is wiping your oriental rug instead. Wiping the surface with a damp sponge or cloth removes those same undesirables and keeps the fibres in top condition.
Avoid Direct Sunlight: Hopefully, you are fully aware of direct sunlight’s ability to fade colours, and that is exactly what it can do to your oriental rug. For this reason, you should ensure that in whatever room and in whichever position you locate your oriental rug, it is never exposed to direct sunlight
Place Padding Underneath: People often mistake padding under a rug as being there to protect the carpet underneath, and whilst it may do so to an extent, the padding is used more to protect the rug it is under. Placing padding under your oriental rug, helps it to keep its shape, reduces wrinkling, and makes the rug more comfortable for those walking across it.
Rotate Or Relocate It Regularly: To facilitate even wear on your rug, you should relocate or at least rotate it every month or two. This prevents one area of the rug from excessive wear and therefore reduces the risk of it needing to be replaced sooner than it need be. Rotating or relocating is especially important if your oriental rug has high footfall such as in your hallway.
Professional Cleaning: This tip applies not just to oriental rugs but all carpets. If you want them to be cleaned properly to enhance their appearance and to prolong their life, then having professional carpet cleaners clean them regularly is the perfect way to maintain fibres and their appearance.