Keys to Rug Care

A great rug can truly transform a room, and therefore is worthy of investment and proper care. To help us ensure that our rugs will stand the tests of time and wear, we reached out to the experts at Birmingham, Alabama-based Eighteenth Street Orientals for advice; here are their recommendations:

1. Vacuuming. When vacuuming your wool rug, it’s best to use the hand held attachment. If using an upright vacuum cleaner, turn the beater bar off, or if it can not be turned off, raise the height of the beater bar to its highest setting. The serging on the edge of rugs are very sensitive, and running the vacuum over the edges will cause the serging to deteriorate and fibers will come loose around the edges. To avoid this, carefully place your vacuum on the edge of the rug, steering clear from the edge that is serged.
2. Stains. No matter the type of stain, always act quickly. An easy stain-removing recipe for wool rugs is 1/2 teaspoon dye-free liquid dish soap and 2 cups of warm water. Apply the solution using a clean white cotton towel and blot (do not scrub). Repeat this process until the stain is completely removed. For pet stains, you can add 1/4 cup of white vinegar to the solution above. Never use chemicals to clean your rug, and remember that cleaning a handmade wool rug is different from cleaning carpet. Always contact a professional rug cleaner if you’re unsure of how to treat a stain.
3. Pads. We recommend putting a rug pad underneath every area rug. Rug pads extend the life of your rugs, as they absorb wear and tear from the friction between floor and rug. They also help people avoid accidents from slipping on moving rugs and tripping on turned-up edges and they provide extra cushion for your feet.

Expert tip from Eighteenth Street Orientals in Birmingham, AL.