How to Keep Your Hand-Knotted Persian Rug in Wonderful Condition
You’ve just purchased a genuine hand-knotted Persian or Oriental rug and you’re over-the-moon happy with it. It’s gorgeous. Its design is one you love. You’ve researched the design’s history and you feel even closer to the rug, now that you understand the hard work and culture behind it.
You naturally want to take care of this textile wonder and so you admit that you’re babying it a bit much: you’ve yet to even place it on the floor, you’re so worried that walking on it will destroy its beauty.
A Persian/Oriental Rug is Made to Be Walked Upon: USE IT!
You’ve really no reason to worry about using your rug. These rugs are incredibly sturdy and were made to be used – walked upon.
Still, you do need to take proper care of it, so we’ve put together a very short primer on how to care for your rug. Or, as we like to say “How to Keep Your Hand-Made Persian Rug Happy.” Take a look below.
- First, definitely place the rug on the floor and use it, but you don’t need to go overboard with the use. For example, don’t place it in the most-walked hallway in your home, but do place it somewhere where it will be seen and occasionally walked upon.
This beautiful Bokhara rug is too beautiful not to showcase and use.
- Don’t place the rug in direct sunlight. This will fade its colors. If the spot you choose occasionally does receive direct rays from the sun, close window blinds or curtains at that time. It’s also wise to invest in some curtains or blinds that block the sun’s rays. These often are called “blackout” or “sun blocking” curtains/blinds.
- No matter where you place the rug, rotate it regularly. This helps keep wear and sun damage “even.” This is especially important if you place the rug under furniture because the furniture’s legs will create deep impressions or creases in the rug’s pile and you want to “air” those impressions/creases out regularly. Doing so helps keep the rug’s fibers from wearing thin. Regularly means even six months to a year.
- Never place a live potted plan on your rug. Even if you have a dish under the pot, dirt, water, leaves, etc. will find their way onto your rug, eventually causing mildew, wear, etc. In fact, most bald spots on rugs get there due to water damage. Bottom line: put your live plants elsewhere.
- Vacuum the rug regularly but never use the machine’s beater brush. Instead, use the suction tool/attachment. This will take you longer to vacuum the rug, but the beater brush can tug too strongly on the rug’s fibers, weakening them. You want the rug to stay gorgeous for years, right? So take some extra time and vacuum it with the suction attachment only.
- Have the rug cleaned professionally every three years (if it’s not walked on regularly) or every year or so if it sees a lot of use.
This post’s topic is about keeping your rug “happy.” But you’re the rug’s owner; it’s really about keeping you happy. Take proper care of your rug and your rug will stay gorgeous for years, keeping you definitely happy.
If you love hand-knotted rugs and you live in the greater Dallas region, visit
Behnam Rugs’ showroom. Contact us at 972-733-4000.
Image courtesy of Joanna Bourne/Flickr.com
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