Posted on February 22, 2020 by Behnam Rugs

Rug Cleaning Advice from a Specialist

This blog will give you the tools you need to effectively care for your rug at home.

Things you SHOULD be doing

• Sweeping your rug
• Gently vacuuming
• Rotating your rug
• Padding your rug
• Addressing spills and stains immediately
• Checking your rug for moths
• Inspecting your rug every year for damage
• Getting your rug professionally cleaned every 3 to 5 years

Things you SHOULDN’T be doing

• Vacuuming your rug with the beater brush
• Vacuuming the fringes of your rug
• Letting stains set into your rug
• Using your rug with no padding
• Storing your rug in dark, quiet places without checking on it periodically for moths
• Leaving your rug in the same place for years
• Allowing direct sunlight to hit your rug all day or for extended periods of time
• Using carpet cleaning solutions on your rug
• Allowing carpet cleaners or inexperienced individuals to  clean your rug

In-depth breakdown of the SHOULDs:

Sweeping your rug improves its health by loosening dust and debris from the pile and top of your rug. Sweep in the direction of the pile. You can ascertain this by running your hand over the rug: sweep in the direction of the grain.

If you have a handmade rug, it’s okay to vacuum it every week or so, but only if you don’t use the beater brush.

Rotate your rug every six months to a year to allow for even wear and a smaller likelihood of threadbare patches.

If you spill something on your fine, handmade rug, address it immediately. Use a towel to blot up excess liquid and a bit of water to dilute the stain. Call the experts at Behnam Rugs and ask us the best way to remove your specific stain at 972-733-0400.

Make sure to check your rug for moths, eggs, and larva every six months or so by lifting the edges of the rug and checking underneath. Make sure to check areas that lay underneath furniture as well.

Next, you need to inspect your rug every year or so. If you spot any damage, it’s better to repair your rug sooner rather than later, as damage tends to get worse with time.

Finally, your rug MUST be professionally cleaned at least every five years. Why? Because professional cleaning removes debris and dirt that your vacuum simply cannot reach. If left untended, these particulates effectively cut through the pile of your rug due to their sharp edges, resulting in thinning and patchy spots.

In addition, professional cleaning removes allergens, and odors that you may be nose-blind to, as well as tough, unsightly stains. If you love your rug, it deserves regular professional cleaning to extend its longevity.

For more information on how to clean your rug at home, please read our article published in the Dallas Morning News.

In-depth breakdown of the SHOULDN’Ts

Never, ever, ever vacuum a handmade rug with the beater brush. This attachment is too rough on the natural fibers and can cause unraveling and sprouting. Sprouting causes white knot heads to be visible on the face of your rug due to pulling. When vacuuming, leave the fringes alone. Gently sweep them to get rid of dirt instead of vacuuming.

Next, always address spills and stains immediately. Not doing so allows it to set, making it hard to remove yourself. Professionals can usually remove tough stains, but ideally if you get to the stain quickly you can get rid of it yourself.

The next mistake is not using rug padding. Padding is an inexpensive way to extend the life of your rug. Not to mention an unpadded rug is a safety hazard. Without padding your rug will experience more pressure than it should, especially underneath furniture. This can lead to permanent indentations in the shape of said furniture.

Next, you don’t want to leave your rug in a dark, quiet place for months or years without checking it for moths. Moths love spaces like these and their larva can do a lot of damage in a short amount of time in the right conditions. That’s why it’s so important to check the front and back of the rug for moths, eggs, and larva.

It is also important to rotate your rug so that the rug experiences wear evenly. This will prevent the rug from wearing out as fast.

If you have a fine rug, you probably want to display it in a room with good lighting. However, you should be careful about the amount of direct sunlight your rug receives. Ideally, you should place your rug in a room with curtains or blinds so that when you are not showing your rug off it’s not experiencing bright natural light. Sunlight can fade your rug after extended periods of time.

Next, NEVER use carpet cleaners on a wool, silk, or cotton rug that is handmade.

And lastly, do not trust your handmade rug to individuals who do not specialize in rug washing, such as carpet cleaners or inexperienced individuals. Only entrust your rug to the care of those with decades of experience washing fine rugs BY HAND. Call 972-733-0400 to schedule professional hand washing.