The best way to keep your oriental rug clean is to protect it from dirt in the in the first place. Professional Oriental Rug Cleaning is usually necessary once a year or once every few years, depending on how much foot traffic the rug gets. To find out if cleaning is needed, rub the surface with your hand and see if your hand gets dirty, or pick up a corner and shake or kick the rug to see if dust and dirt come out.
How to Clean Spills
To keep your rug clean and prevent damage, always remove outdoor shoes before walking on it. High and spiked heels can cause damage, too. Walking on your rug barefoot or wearing only socks is the best way to protect it.
Clean any spills it as soon as they happen. Food spills should be removed before they have time to dry. Use a clean cloth or paper towels to remove the food and rinse the affected area with cool water. Always dry the rug well.
Pet urine is one of the most difficult stains to treat and it should always be cleaned immediately. Remove as much of the liquid as you can with paper towels, then rinse, wash and dry the affected area. White vinegar in the rinsing water helps to get rid of the urine odor.
How To Clean a Rug
Professional Oriental Rug Cleaning is the easiest way to keep your rug in the best possible condition. If you want to try cleaning your rug at home, use rug shampoo, available from stores that sell Persian rugs, or mild liquid soap. Avoid using strong chemical detergents or ammonia water as they can cause damage, and wash a small area of the rug first to see if the color reacts to washing.
Start the cleaning process by vacuuming both sides to remove dirt and dust. Then use a blend of cool water and rug shampoo or liquid soap, and wash with a soft brush or a sponge. Use firm brushing motions, but do not scrub too hard. Wash the fringes too, always brushing away from the pile.
After washing rinse the whole rug well with cool running water. Squeeze out excess water and lay the rug flat to dry. You can dry the rug outdoors but keep it away from direct sunlight to protect its color. Moisture can affect the color so make sure your rug is completely dry on both sides.
