Caring for your rug

Caring for your rug

Each hand-madeTurkish rug is a unique work of art, which will last for hundreds of years with the right care. If you follow a few simple guidelines, your children and grand-children will be able to gain as much enjoyment from your rug as you do.

It is important to keep your rug clean, as dirt and soil particles will wear away the pile, and reduce the lifespan of the rug.

The best way to clean your rug is to beat it thoroughly. This should be done on both sides of the rug, and in dry weather.

You may also sweep your rug regularly with a natural bristle broom to remove loose soil and dirt particles. You may also use a carpet sweeper, and, if you need to use a vacuum cleaner, try to use a low suction level as you may otherwise loosen the knots and pull the fibres from the pile. Never vacuum against the nap of the rug, and never vacuum the fringes, as this may damage the fringe.

For a more through clean, a mixture of four parts carpet shampoo and four parts warm water with a tablespoon of white vinegar can be used. The mixture should be applied to the rug with a natural bristle brush, in light and even straight strokes, brushing up and down with and against the pile, and then back and forth across the rug as well. Finish by brushing lightly with the pile to make sure the pile is lying flat.

Dry the rug flat with a warm air flow, and once the rug is dry, brush it lightly again to remove any residual dirt or dry shampoo.

Don't be tempted to take your rug to a dry cleaning shop, as the harsh cleaning chemicals used in these establishments may irreparably damage your beautiful work of art by removing the natural oils from the fibres. This will make the wool more brittle and the carpet will wear out sooner.

Never soak your rug in water. If you believe that your rug needs a more thorough clean than you can give it, take it to a rug specialist. At Alaturca Collections, we are able to make sure your rug is cleaned thoroughly and safely.

Exposing your rug to direct sunlight will speed up any fading, and should be avoided. You may also rotate your rug to even out any damaging effects of the sun.

You should protect your rug from damp and moisture, which will rot the cotton threads and damage the wool fibres.

While a rug in regular use will not normally be damaged by moths, if you have your rug in storage, or have it is hanging on the wall, you should treat it regularly to avoid moth and insect damage. Moths and other insects are attracted to the underside of soft furnishings including rugs and wall hangings, and so spraying the front and back of the rug with insect spray is necessary to eliminate the potential for insect damage to your rug.

If you are storing your rug, wrap it in cloth, which will allow it to breathe, rather than plastic, which may cause the rug to rot and mildew.