ORIENTAL RUG CLEANING & MAINTENANCE & INFORMATION PAMPHLET

This pamphlet is one in our educational series designed to provide brief information to art lovers and those interested in oriental rugs. We hope it will provide you with a better understanding and appreciation of the subject.

A staff member or I will be happy to answer any questions you may have and provide you the detailed information you seek.

CARING

If oriental rugs have survived centuries in comparatively good condition, it is because of careful treatment. Oriental rugs will give remarkably long service if treated with proper consideration. Their two enemies, apart from the inevitable destructive effect of wear, are moths and dampness. The formers are best controlled by frequent moving or handling and by regular exposure to light and air. If rugs must be stored, regular inspection at intervals is essential. A rug in use is rarely in danger from moths. Certain chemical applications will render the wool inedible to moths. In time dampness will rot the threads and destroy the fabric, so it must be avoided. If any mechanical damage is sustained, such as a cut or burn, the damage should be dealt with as soon as possible by a competent expert, because such lesions get worse very quickly. In ordinary use, quite apart from accidents, the ends and sides often tend wear and fray. In which case the damage should be repaired. Places in the middle of the carpet that are locally worn or damaged can have new knots inserted, and even large holes can be restored to make the rug almost as good as new, though such work is rather expensive. In carpets of less value, instead of new knotting, patches cut from a suitable run can often be inserted at a less cost, and sometimes a serviceable small rug can be made from a larger worn one by cutting away the bad parts. 

The following are few more hints to help you take good care of your Oriental rugs.

ROTATION

Frequently rotate the rug from sunny areas to the other side of the room to equalize the effect of the sun. Continued exposure to bright hot sunrays and even indirect sunlight will cause damage to the dyed fabric used in Oriental rugs. On bright sunny days, use window shades, shutters, or heavy curtains to reduce the sun damage. Also, in terms of fading, sometimes gases and fumes (from furnaces, cooking stoves, chimneys and auto exhaust) mix with oxygen and humidity in the atmosphere and form an acid. This acid reacts on the wool and causes deterioration and discoloration. Usually faded areas are hidden by soil and will not be noticed until the surface has been cleaned. In this case, obvious color fading can be avoided by rotating rugs from time to time so that all parts of the rug will have equal exposure.

PADDING

Good quality padding protects the rug, especially in heavily trafficked areas. The best padding is hair-filled or fiber-filled pad with rubberized surfaces to keep the rug from moving or wrinkling. Acceptable new padding techniques are being developed. The life of an Oriental rug can be doubled with use of a good quality pad.

HANGING

Before hanging carpets on the wall one should be certain that the warp threads could stand the strain. 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 to distribute the weight of the rug evenly.

STORING

If a rug is to be stored for a long period of time, use a sheet or cloth to wrap it, but do not use an airtight plastic bag. Oriental rugs need to breathe and they will sometimes rot or mildew in a plastic bag. They could also be rolled up and kept in a chest with some paradichlorobenzene crystals, which will have to be renewed every few months. Ideally, large carpets should be rolled around poles, the protruding ends of which should rest on blocks of trestles. It is advisable to let carpets lie flat on top of one another for any length of time.

DO NOT store rugs in a humid, damp, warm, or poorly ventilated room. This causes mildew which has a musty odor, discolors fabrics, and weakens them so that they fall in pieces. Never leave an Oriental rug wet. Failure to remove all the moisture might result in mildew.

DO NOT store an Oriental rug in a hot closet. The base of a rug can dry out and become brittle, destroying the strength and durability of the rug.

MOTHS

Moths can cause extensive damage to Oriental rugs. Not only do their larvae eat the pile, but they also eat the knots on the back of a rug. Moth larvae are especially attracted to areas such as those under furniture that remain relatively undisturbed. It is quite simple to eliminate these pests and carpet should be sprayed about every six months with any one of a number of available moth sprays.

SPOT AND STAIN REMOVAL PROCEDURE

STAIN TREATMENT INDEX