Cleaning

An oriental rug is a very careful and delicate process. It begins by identifying the origin of the rug, the nature of the fiber and the dyes used in the rug. This dictates the type of cleaning process necessary for any given rug. Pet stains/odors require additional detail and use of an enzyme to remove odors.

Basic Steps:

1. Beating (Extracts dust from rug)
2. Soaking with Water
3. Brushing with Soap (Front & Back)
4. Rinsing (Front & Back)
5. Ringing (Squeezes all water out)
6. Final Hand Brush
7. Drying

We bring dust and soil inside the house and onto the rug. Eventually dust and grit settles between the piles and create a hard surface. Wool fiber is composed of lanolin oil. The accumulated dust absorbs the oil from the fiber, the pile starts breaking apart and it begins to shorten the life of the rug. This is why oriental rugs should be cleaned regularly in order to enhance the look and protect the value of the rug. For high traffic areas, they should be cleaned every year.

At Sarkis Oriental Rugs, we use the “old fashion” cleaning method. We hand wash all our rugs.

Home care instructions

1. The most important step in home care is to have your rugs washed on a regular basis. We strongly recommend a yearly cleaning for rugs exposed to high traffic, and every other year for ones with light traffic.
2. If the rugs are not cleaned regularly, or not moved for years, particularly in the case of a room not well ventilated, moths will settle in the rug and will eat the wool fiber. You will notice the moth droppings, black and sand-like, around the edges and hidden places.
3. Have your rugs vacuumed regularly, making sure neither the fringes nor the binding get caught in the vacuum cleaner.
4. If liquid is spilled on the rug, do not brush or rub the spot, and do not apply any household cleaning product. The best thing is to try to absorb as much of the liquid as possible with a cloth, without spreading it over a larger area. Call an expert. A quick professional cleaning will give you much better results than waiting and increasing your chances of having a permanent stain.
5. As soon as your rug presents signs of unraveling, wearing on the sides or ends, or tiny holes, have it repaired quickly. This will be less costly and your rug will preserve its originality and value.
6. In case of water damage or flood, have a professional pick the rug up to have it washed and dried properly. If not, the chances of having a dry rot or mildew will increase. You may even notice color run in these areas along with a bad odor.
7. If you have pets and have a pet stain, the rug should be washed right away. For further information please Email us.
8. Unless protected by a proper potting, do not place any plants on an oriental rug. Even with proper potting over watering can cause water damage.
9. Avoid having direct prolonged sunlight on your rug by rotating the piece regularly in order to prevent fading of the color.
10. Protect your rug’s life by using a proper pad. This will also limit wear and slippage.