Oriental Rug Cleaning Guide By Steve D Aquila Oriental Rugs and Custom Made Area Rugs are True Art Pieces that complement your home in the same way a painted picture hangs on your wall. Your rugs will last for several generations if properly cleaned and cared for. I wrote this guide to get the message out to consumers on how to properly care for your rug investment and how to choose the right company to clean and maintain your investment. In this Guide You Will Discover 3 Potential Causes of Irreversible and Unrepairable Damage! 4 NO-BRAINER STEPS to Keeping your Rugs for a Lifetime! 5 most asked QUESTIONS people have about cleaning their Rugs! 3 Causes of Irreversible & Unrepairable Damage # 1 BLEEDING: Colorfastness is the term used when dyes do not bleed from their fibers. Both new and old rugs are dyed with vegetal dyes and some are NOT colorfast. Vegetal Dyes come from vegetables, roots, some insects and minerals. Vegetal dyes give your rug fibers their color and hue. Other dyes used are synthetic and are normally colorfast. Some rugs bleed more than others depending on their fiber construction. Most rugs are washed with a chlorinated rinse after construction to strip any overdying of the rug. Because there are rugs made on the go in war torn countries, some rugs WON T go through this process because they simply do not have the facilities, money or chemical to finish the rugs this way. That s why a lot of Afghan (Afghanistan) rugs are not colorfast and bleed. Before any rug is washed it must be tested for colorfastness and fugitive dyes. The main colors that bleed are blue and red.
Most color bleeding can be controlled by using an acidic acid or a man-made dye stabilizer. Because of the unknown history of the rug, not all rugs can be guaranteed that they will not bleed. FOR EXAMPLE: pet urine damage, high alkaline chemical cleanings, misuse of over the counter spotters and improper cleaning methods make it impossible to predict the reaction of the dyes in your rug once the cleaning process begins. All rugs should be tested thoroughly for color fastness before any cleaning procedure begins. A history report on the rug being cleaned is helpful as well to be sure proper precautions are taken while cleaning your rug. # 2 Wool Distortion or Felting: is the process when the wool fibers have a texture change that causes the fibers to lay flat. If you were to look at a wool fiber through a microscope this is what you would see. MICROSCOPE WOOL FIBER There are overlapping scales that provide a shield on the outside of the fiber to protect the inside of the fiber from being harmed from foreign objects. A wool fiber is also made in a crisscross shape unlike other fibers that allows it to retain its shape when stressed.
Carpet mills try to replicate wool because it is so resilient. Wool gets damaged when high heat above 150 degrees is introduced or when it is improperly agitated. Most truck mount carpet cleaning systems use heat as high as 280 degrees and pressure as high as 500 psi. This combination will ruin a fine rug fast. # 3 Neglect: I have seen rugs that were not moved for 10 + years and never properly cared for. I explained before that a wool fiber has scales. These scales not only protect the fiber but their construction allows for abrasive dirt and grime to hide in the scales and go unseen for years. Most people won t clean their rugs until they look dirty. That type of thinking is the beginning of the end of a rug that should last a lifetime. There also could be unseen moth and beetle eggs living in your rug. Both wool and silk are a protein food source that allows them to lay their eggs and multiply in natural fiber rugs. MOTH DAMAGED RUG We offer a 4 step solution to maintain the value, look and feel of your rug investment. Another reason you should inspect your rugs frequently is to be sure there is not any unwanted water intrusion from plants and
windows. Water will destroy a rug if left consistently wet over a long period of time. Water will break down the cotton foundation fibers causing fungus and your rug to fall apart. 4 NO-BRAINER STEPS TO KEEPING YOUR RUGS FOR A LIFETIME! 1. VACUUM, VACUUM, VACUUM. Dry soil is a killer because it is so abrasive. Loosening the soil and extracting it alone will keep your investment safe from pre mature wear out. Don t catch the fringe in the beater bar or you will destroy it. Here s a test if you have a small rug, flip it over and carefully vacuum the back of the rug. Just back and forth for a minute or two. Now look under it. It will give you an idea of a small portion of the dirt, sand and dust that a professional rug plant can remove. When you are vacuuming also have a good look if there are any bug nests building up in your rug. If vacuuming is done by someone else, pass these instructions on to them as well. 2. TURN YOUR RUGS TWICE A YEAR Your rug will wear more evenly and will look better longer. It will also allow you to examine your rug and pad for critters or other evidence of parasites and damage. It s also a great time to clean the floor. 3. MAINTENANCE BETWEEN WASHINGS WITH PROFESSIONAL DUSTING. Refresh your rugs by having impacted soil removed between washings. This includes dust, pollen, pet dander and other allergens. This is an investment in your rug at ½ the price of a complete cleaning. 4. THOROUGH WASHING OF YOUR RUGS EVERY 12-18MONTHS. Hand washing must be done by an IN-PLANT Facility. Never ever allow a carpet cleaner to clean your fine rug in your home. DON T ALLOW YOUR RUGS TO GET DESTROYED OR WEAR OUT BEFORE IT S TIME. TAKE GOOD CARE OF YOUR RUGS AND THEY WILL LOOK GREAT FOR A LIFETIME!
5 QUESTIONS PEOPLE HAVE ABOUT CLEANING THEIR RUGS! 1. Q: I don t know who to call tan trust to clean my expensive rug? A: Make sure you use a company that has experience, certifications and has a plant facility specifically for washing rugs Ask questions that you learned from this guide and ask for referrals. 2. Q: Will washing my rug wear it out prematurely? A: Just the opposite. Removing harmful abrading dirt and grime will allow your rug to last a lifetime. 3. Q: Will my Rug Shrink after a washing? A: There may be a slight shrinkage after your first wash of your rug. Usually less than 1 on each side. After a washing (with cold water) rugs should be dried flat with fans in a dry room. This will speed dry your rug. This will reduce the risk of shrinkage. Rugs can sometimes twist as well after a through washing. Tugs can be blocked and be stretched to reduce the twist of a handmade rug. Keep in mind that it is part of the handmade model to have slight imperfections. That s what makes them so unique. 4. Q: How often should I clean my rug? A: Rugs should be cleaned every 12-18 months by a qualified professional rug plant. This will assure your rug lasts a lifetime by removing harmful grime and dirt that can lead to distortion and permanent stains. Cleanings must be done in a controlled environment to prevent damage to your rugs and floors. 5. Q: What do I do with Pet Stains on my Fine Rug? A: Our wash process is gentle and safe for rugs, for people and for pets. We use a mild shampoo and cold water on all natural fiber rugs. We stabilize rug dyes before cleaning so that we can safely clean your rug. We then soak the rug in an enzyme solution to remove the odor causing bacteria from the fibers and the foundation of the rug. All of this is rinsed out thoroughly. Our success at removing the odor
ill depend on how long we can safely soak your rug. Our success at removing stains varies with rug type and age of the stains. Pet stains are always assumed to be permanent. A Fine Rug will last a Lifetime and will provide your home with years of beauty and memories for generations to come. Take care of your rugs and they will take care of you! I hope you found this Guide helpful when you decide to hire a cleaning company to handle your investment. If you have any further questions please feel free to give my company a call @ 630-654-2084. You can e-mail me directly as well on the contact page on the website. You can also include photos of any rugs you need help with. Cheers! Steve D Aquila Action Cleaning Systems Inc. www.actioncleaningsystems.com 630-654-2084