Did you grab that bottle of carpet cleaner and start rubbing it until it actually seemed to have faded? Most of us have been there! If you’re an antique rug collector or if you have any antique oriental rugs in your home, the first thing you need to know is that they’re actually very easy to clean. However, this doesn’t mean that you can just grab a bottle of carpet cleaner and start using it on any piece of art.
You need to know how to clean antique oriental rugs properly and safely so that you don’t damage them in any way. In this article, we will share some tips and tricks on how to clean antique oriental rugs so that you can keep them looking brand new for many years to come! Oriental rugs have always been popular, and antique oriental rugs are no exception. These beautiful pieces of art can be found in homes, museums, and even government buildings around the world. A lot of effort went into creating these masterpieces, so it’s important to take care of them properly.
What You Should Know Before Cleaning Your Antique Oriental Rug
- The most important thing when cleaning an antique oriental rug is not to use water on the pile or fringe. This can cause serious damage and will make the pile curl up and become fuzzy.
- If you need to clean the fringe, then use a very gentle foam brush or soft toothbrush dipped in warm soapy water. Don’t scrub too hard as this will cause damage as well!
- Always use cold water when cleaning your oriental rug (unless otherwise specified by the manufacturer). Why? Because hot water can shrink the fibers in your carpet and cause it to lose its shape and size over time, which is bad news for any rug!
- Never put any type of chemicals directly onto your antique oriental rug without first testing them on an inconspicuous area first!
Oriental rug cleaning isn’t everyone’s cup of tea and hence, the best way to clean your antique oriental rug is to hire a professional. However, if you want to do it yourself, there are several options. First, you need to determine the type of rug you have and pick the method that will work best for it.
Determine the Type of Rug
Antique rugs come in many different styles and materials. Some are made from wool or cotton and others from silk or camel hair. Rugs can also be hand-knotted, flat-woven or kilim-style. The type of rug you have will dictate which cleaning method is appropriate. Let’s say for example—
Wool Rugs: For wool rugs, use a dry shampoo made specifically for cleaning wool rugs. These products are designed to pull dirt away from the fibers without damaging them or leaving behind residue. Be sure not to soak your wool rug as this can cause mold growth if it sits too long before drying completely.
Cotton Rugs: Cotton rugs should not be washed but rather cleaned with plain water and a good quality vacuum cleaner fitted with an upholstery attachment. This will remove dust particles and other small debris without damaging the fabric’s finish or causing shrinkage and wrinkling that may occur when washing with soap and water
If you want to keep your antique oriental rug looking its best, here are some tips for keeping it clean:
- Always test a small area of the rug with a drop of water before you proceed with the entire cleaning process. If there is any color loss or damage, discontinue using the cleaning solution immediately.
- Use a soft brush for removing dust from your antique oriental rug. Avoid using brushes with hard bristles as they can damage your rug’s surface.
- Vacuum your antique oriental rug regularly to remove dirt and grime that might have accumulated over time.Dust regularly with a soft brush or vacuum cleaner with a soft brush attachment. Dusting will remove dust particles from the surface of the rug that can cause damage over time. You should also use a soft brush or vacuum cleaner attachment when vacuuming because this will help prevent abrasions from occurring on the surface of your rug.
- Use a vacuum cleaner attachment to clean the dirt easily from between the knots on your antique oriental rug’s surface. You can also use a soft brush or toothbrush for this purpose but make sure that there is no debris left behind in between the knots once you are done cleaning them off with these tools.
- Spot clean stains as soon as possible by blotting up any liquid with paper towels or cloths dipped in cool water mixed with mild soap or detergent (do not use hot water). Do not scrub at stains; instead gently dab so as not to damage fibers by pulling them apart. Once liquids have been removed, dry your rug immediately by blotting it with several more paper towels until they’re just damp (not wet).
Conclusion
It’s always surprising how many people have an antique oriental rug in their home or office, but don’t know how to clean it. Probably it’s not a common’s understanding to know the right way to preserve this antique pieces as it requires a lot of experience and expertise, hence a professional aid is always recommended.
