Be it an antique Kazak, Sarouk, Bidjars or Herati, a quality oriental rug is a valuable investment. Part of their appeal is that, generally, handmade antique rugs are hardy and stout resistant to wear, stains and aging when properly cared for and maintained.
Certainly the better quality of material and workmanship that is used in making a rug, the easier it is to maintain it.
That said, these rugs are by design found on floors and accidents do happen. Using good judgment is the best way to safely care for, maintain and enjoy your valuable rugs for now and future generations.
What causes damage? The first suspect is unnecessary movement and wrinkling. We strongly urge all our customers to place a quality pad under your antique carpet to minimize movement. It also helps to absorb periodic as well as unplanned impact.
Next, be cautious about humidity. Excess moisture can cause degradation of fibers; especially cotton fibers. Avoid exposing your rug unnecessarily to water; be mindful of spills and placement of houseplants. When it does happen, blot the area as soon as possible with an absorbent, color-fast towel.
While these rugs are tough and durable, you can minimize fiber wear by not allowing dust, dirt, grit or sand to accumulate in your rug. These elements have abrasive qualities which wear down and shorten the life of fibers. Vacuuming with a rotating beater brush attachment will stave off damage from these elements.
Be on guard for insects which can damage your rug, especially moths, silverfish and carpet beetles which actually feed on the wool and cotton fibers in carpets. Dirt and dust can attract these pests as can lack of use – so don’t be afraid to walk on that rug often. If you are going to be storing your carpet, we recommend treating it beforehand in case insects have become an issue.
While pets love rugs as much as you do, pet ‘accidents’ can cause serious damage by bleaching dyed fibers and causing fiber breakdown. Clean-up after an accident should happen as rapidly and as thoroughly as possible. Remove solids and use an absorbent towel to soak up liquids both top and bottom of your rug. Spray water to dilute pet urine, blot dry and repeat. Know that once a pet has soiled a carpet, it may repeat that behavior until the scent is removed which may take professional measures.
When dealing with wine spills, coffee stains or other spots, we advise blotting with an absorbent towel to remove as much of the spill as possible. We advise cleaning with nothing stronger than mild soap suds and cold water, and only after you’ve tested it in a small inconspicuous area first.
If this doesn’t do the trick, while it may seem self-serving, we strongly recommend bringing in a professional before you use anything stronger than mild soap. We clean stains every day; don’t risk a priceless antique to save a few dollars in cleaning services.
Contact us if you have any questions, our email address is inquiries@kaoudantiquerugs.com.