Rug Care & Cleaning

Care and Cleaning Advice for Hand- Knotted *100% Wool* Rugs

Hand-knotted, 100% wool rugs are extremely durable and will last many decades with proper maintenance (which is minimal).

First and foremost, vacuum your rug regularly. Sand, dirt, grit, etc. can work its way into the base of the pile over time and this abrasion can damage the knots. Vacuum with suction only, never use a beater brush on your rug. The beater bar (also called a power head) is the rotating brush that agitates the pile of the carpet. On most machines this can either be turned off by switching to the smooth floor/hard surface setting, the beater brush can be raised high enough to where it barely brushes the surface, or if you have a canister vac or central vac switch to the brush attachment that you would use to vacuum your hardwoods. High powered suction in conjunction with a rotating beater brush is much too abrasive for area rugs and should never be used.  Damage from improper vacuuming is easy to identify.

If you do use the beater brush on a high power suction vacuum, it can cause excessive sprouting – which is repairable, but also mostly avoidable.  Suction is all that is required for effective vacuuming.

 

When Spills Happen:

  • Act Fast. BLOT – NEVER RUB: When a spill occurs, blot up as soon as possible. After blotting up all that you can, use club soda and a clean white towel to help neutralize/clean the spill (white vinegar is another option). Do not soak the stain with the club soda/vinegar, rather put a bit on a clean white towel and blot into the area (you could also put some in a spray bottle). Don't rub, as this will spread the stain.
  • Clean stain – Edge to Center: After blotting, we recommend using a mild liquid soap (such as Dial or Woolite) to make a cleaning solution. Put a pump of soap in a cup, add water, and mix to make suds. Using a toothbrush or clean white cloth, work the stain from the outer edge to the center.  Do not rub or scrub, but rather work the residue out in one direction towards the center (to avoid spread). Blot as you go, to remove the stain.  When finished cleaning, rinse the cup and fill with fresh water (no soap). Repeat the process with water only, to remove any soap residue. Cornstarch can be used to soak up liquid after cleaning. Sprinkle a thin (1/8”) layer of cornstarch on rug and let it dry for 24 – 48 hours. Vacuum and whisk away excess.

** On old and stubborn stains, repeat the process until the stain is completely removed**

  • Pat and Fan Dry: When cleaning is complete, dry the rug with a fan or hand blow dryer, preferably on a low heat setting. Finally, to restore the pile, brush it with a soft brush in the direction of the pile.

**Failure to dry the carpet properly can cause mold, mildew and dry rot.**

Special Stains:

  • Spills such as mustard, blood and mud should be allowed to dry and then scraped off
  • Chewing Gum – Press ice cubes against spot until it becomes brittle and breaks off. Use spot remover to vanish last traces. Saturate the spot with a cloth soaked in vinegar or alcohol.
  • Wine – if you are a red wine drinker, keep a bottle of Wine Away on hand. This can be purchased at wine and specialty stores. It is safe for fine rugs and helps neutralize the stain for easier removal.  Also works on spills such as coffee, grape juice, tomato juice, and other acidic stains.
  • While we always recommend good ole soap and water first, we've also had success with Folex for particularly stubborn stains. It can be purchased on Amazon.

 

Deep Cleaning:

 Periodically, depending on use, a hand-knotted rug should be cleaned by a professional in a full immersion wet bath. (Hand-knotted rugs can be wet-cleaned in this fashion as opposed to hand-tufted rugs that can only be spot cleaned.)  Find a reputable professional that is experienced in cleaning fine rugs. If someone says they can do it in your home, this indicates inexperience with fine rugs.  You need someone with a wash facility for full immersion, which means they will come and pick the rug up from your home.  Once cleaned, they will return the rug refreshed and clean.

 

Never use dry cleaning methods on a wool rug. Never “steam clean” a wool rug as this may cause dyes to bleed. The rugs should be wet-cleaned by a professional, thoroughly rinsed and allowed to dry completely before being placed on the floor again.

 

Care & Cleaning Advice For Mixed Material Hand-Knotted Rugs:

While the majority of our carpets are 100% wool, on occasion we will offer carpets made of mixed materials.  It may be a blend of wool, cotton, silk, or possibly even jute.  Any rug made with a blend of materials should be *professionally cleaned only*.