Posted on October 18, 2016 by Behnam Rugs

What You Should Know About Your Rug Before Having It Cleaned

Obviously, some amount of rug expertise is required in order to clean rugs, but just how important is it? Well, each and every handmade rug is unique. That means that no two rugs can be washed in exactly the same way.

You’ll have to account for a rug’s origin, color, age, history, fiber, and more. We always recommend having your rugs cleaned by a rug expert with decades of experience. A knowledgeable rug cleaner will look for the answers to the following questions before deciding how your rug should be cleaned:

1. Where is the rug from?
2.  How was this rug made?
3. What sorts of dyes were used in this rug, and how were these dyes made?
4. What sort of fiber is used in this rug?
5. Are these fibers natural, synthetic, or is there a blend of both?
6. If the rug is wool, where is the wool from? What conditions did the sheep endure?

At Behnam Rugs, we will find the answers to these questions, and if you are not sure about the answers, we will happily educate you on your rug. Many people purchase rugs simply based on looks alone, so we will happily help you discover the true origin and approximate age of your rug.

Even if you do not decide to have your rug washed by Behnam Rugs, we do suggest only going to a rug expert to have your rug washed. Many companies who are experienced at cleaning other things, such as area rugs made of synthetic fibers, carpets, and even clothing, might not know how to properly approach cleaning a handmade Persian or Oriental rug. They often use machines to clean fine rugs, and it is not unusual for customers to bring their rugs in to us falling apart due to improper machine washing by carpet cleaners. In addition, these cleaning companies typically leave a soapy residue within the pile of the rug, resulting in a loss of sheen and increased stiffness.

We often receive rugs that were incorrectly washed for repair jobs. A common issue we come across is color bleeding. Color bleeding can occur when an inexperienced cleaner does not know if the rug was dyed with vegetable dyes or synthetic dyes. This can sometimes result in texture damage, too.

Another problem we see is damaged wool and silk. There are many different types of wool. For example, much of the wool used in fine Persian rugs is sheared from sheep raised in the harsh hill climates of Iran. The sheep there need to grow thicker wool, which is full of lanolin oils that protect the sheep from the harsh elements in their habitat. This type of wool will vary drastically from wool harvested from sheep living in warmer climates.

Although we try our best to repair every rug in our care, sometimes, the damage is permanent. No matter if your rug is cleaned by us or someone else, please make sure you go to a rug expert. You might spend a little less going to someone who does not specialize in cleaning handmade rugs, but the amount you will end up on repairs and the headache you will end up with trying to restore your precious rug is simply not worth it.

Have a rug in need of repairs? Call 972-733-0400.