Caring for Your Oriental Rug

If you’re someone who loves to decorate with antiques or consignment finds, you’ve probably come across a few Oriental rugs.  Whether you’ve actually purchased one or you’re considering adding one of these beautiful floor coverings to your décor, it’s important to understand the amount of care they require.

Generally speaking, common problems include things which may harm any sort of carpeting—water damage, pet damage (chewing, scratching, staining), vacuum cleaner damage, chemical damage, sun damage, and uneven wear.  However, some things like moth damage are often unique to this type of rug.

WATER DAMAGE—Most varieties of Oriental rugs are made with wool pile, but many also have cotton warp and weft (foundation).  Therefore, if the rug is continually wetted and not properly dried, it can be weakened and may actually rot.

Often times, this type of damage occurs when potted plants are placed directly on the rug, or when the rug is used in a damp area such as a basement or an indoor/outdoor porch.

MOTH DAMAGE—While adult moths will not actually eat your rug, the females may lay hundreds of eggs in it, which will eventually hatch and consume the wool, fur, feather, and silk fibers.  Although difficult to spot, pay attention to signs of flying moths, bare spots in your rug, larvae in the fibers, sand-like particles inside your rug, and fine webs.

VACUUM DAMAGE—It’s incredibly important to vacuum Oriental rugs on a regular basis, since dirty rugs tend to wear prematurely; however, modern vacuums are often equipped with power brushes that are made for machine-made carpeting, not handmade Oriental rugs.  These brushes can cause a raking effect, so for routine cleaning, it’s always wise to use the vacuum nozzle—especially the fringes—instead.

UNEVEN WEAR—To even out wear and color damage, make a point to turn your rug, end-for-end, once every year or two.  Additionally, make sure the area you’re covering with the rug is even.  Something as simple as a loose floorboard may cause the rug to wear much more rapidly than the rest of the rug.

SUN DAMAGE—Thankfully, most rug dyes are pretty resistant to sun fading or bleaching; however, ultraviolet rays are extremely powerful and will fade the rug overtime.  It’s always wise to consider sheer drapes to block some of the direct sunlight and to turn the rug once per year to even out any color changes.

Susan Hill | All Around the House Fine Consignment | www.allaroundthehouse1.com