Oriental Rug Cleaning
Oriental carpets were made for every day use, and for this reason most of them are fairly hardwearing. However, it is important to give them careful care to preserve the carpet in the future. Ideally an oriental carpet expert should examine the rug once a year.
Oriental Carpet Cleaning
Oriental carpet cleaning should be done twice a week by giving the carpet gentle shake, followed by vacuuming. Both sides of the rug should be cleaned with a vacuum cleaner, and it is best not to rub against the pile as this can push dirt further into the fabric. The easiest way to determine the direction of the pile is to rub your hand against the carpet. If it feels smooth, then this is the correct direction to use the vacuum whereas a rough texture indicates this is against the pile.
Beating the carpet during Oriental rug cleaning is not recommended as it can damage the knots. When using a vacuum cleaner extra care should be taken in case it has a beater bar as this can damage the knotting of the pile.
Oriental carpet cleaning can also be done by professionals. This will often involve air dusting, where soft but powerful compressed air removes dust from the carpet. A submersion wash can also be done.
Rugs should also be protected from moths, which can eat holes into the carpet. Vacuuming the carpet as described can help prevent moths.
Carpet Restoration
Carpet restoration can be carefully done by professionals if there is damage to a carpet. Old or fragile oriental carpets should be given to a specialist to remove stains. Oriental rugs should never be given to general carpet cleaners, as the chemicals used in this wash can damage the carpet further.
Removing stains from oriental carpets can be attempted at home, as long as care is taken. Staining on carpets can be removed by shampooing with a wool or silk compatible detergent. The rug should be placed on a flat surface. The detergent must then be dabbed onto the outside of the stain, slowly working inwards. An oriental carpet should never be rubbed with a detergent, as this can cause the colours to run.
After shampooing, the carpet should be left into sunlight to dry. If this is not possible, it should be kept in a warm, ventilated room. It is important not to leave the carpet close to a direct heat source, as this can damage the carpet.
Carpet Repair
Carpet repair can be done by experts and the most common area of damage to an oriental carpet occurs around the edges. The fringe, binding and cord can become damaged. It is possible for an expert to replace these areas, using threads as near as possible to the original colour and texture of the carpet.
Worn areas of a carpet can also be repaired by an expert. Faded colours can often be dyed again, and in some cases colour running can be repaired. Colour running is often caused by water spillage on a carpet.
Oriental carpets with holes should be taken to a professional as soon as possible, as the holes will only increase in size with time. Carpet repair is easier if the warp and weft do not need to be replaced, and only the pile and knotting needs repairing. Professionals are often able to match the texture, colour and finish of a carpet.