A handwoven rug, elegant and beautiful, can brighten up any space and bring colour and texture to otherwise flat areas. It’s important to properly care for area rugs as they can be costly. You shouldn’t treat area rugs like Persian or Oriental in your home the same as regular carpet. Although steam cleaning oriental rugs at home may seem appealing, it can cause serious damage. Your rug’s material and cleaning method will determine the best way to clean it.
Is steam cleaning an oriental rug at home recommended?
Steam cleaning is great for wall-to-wall carpets, but Oriental rugs should not be steam cleaned at home. This rug is usually made from natural fibres such as wool, silk, cotton, and jute.
These fibres need to be cleaned more thoroughly. An Oriental rug will not be properly cleaned by rug cleaning services, and may even be damaged.
It is a smart idea to have a professional clean Oriental rugs because of their delicate nature. They will be able to identify the type of rug and the best cleaning methods.
Spot Cleaning Oriental Rugs
You can spot clean an Oriental rug if it has a small stain or spillage between professional cleanings.
Here are some tips to spot clean your Oriental rug
- Make a solution with one part vinegar and two parts water
- Apply the solution with a white cloth. Blot the spot or stain using a clean, dry cloth.
- Let the area dry before deciding if professional steam cleaning is necessary.
How do you clean area rugs?
Most area rugs and Oriental rugs are made from wool. Wool has small crevices which can trap soil and dirt. Also, hand-made area rugs can be made entirely from fibre and not with a backing such as carpet.
To get a rug clean 100%, it must be cleaned from the top down, not just the surface. This is why steam cleaning carpets is done. It is not recommended to steam clean Persian and Oriental rugs at home.
You can also make area rugs from other natural fibres like silk, cotton, and jute. This means that each rug must be cleaned individually. It is not possible to clean an area rug by simply steam cleaning the back and front.
How to clean wall-to-wall carpet?
A carpet cleaning company can steam clean your wall-to-wall carpets to remove all dirt and grime and ensure that they dry quickly. A steam cleaner is a must, especially for carpets made of nylon, polyester, and other plastic-based fibres.
It is a good idea steam cleaning your carpets at least once per year. You can spot-clean small stains with homemade detergent solutions or diluted vinegar between steam cleanings. Vacuum regularly and immediately treat any spills or stains.
What is the difference between carpet and area rugs?
What they are made is the main difference between wall to wall carpet and area rugs. Wall-to-wall carpet is usually made using synthetic material. It can produce approximately 15 feet per minute. The primary components of the carpet are a face fiber and a backing material.
Contrary to this, most area rugs can be made entirely by hand using all natural rug materials such as wool, silk and cotton. A single handmade rug, such as an Oriental or Persian rug, can be made in as little as one month. However, it may take up to two years to complete.
