Caring For Your Oriental Rug
A genuine handknotted Oriental rug will last a very long time if you
take a few precautions to protect it from premature wear and the most
common kinds of damage. Common problems include water damage, moth
damage, dog chews and cat scratching, pet stains, vacuum cleaner damage,
chemical damage, sun damage, and uneven wear.
This page tries to answer the most frequently-asked questions about
caring for Oriental rugs. See also our recommendations for
cleaning your rug.
Water Damage
Most varieties of Oriental
rugs have wool pile, but many have cotton warp and weft (the warp is the
foundation upon which knots are tied to create the pile; the weft runs
over and under warp strings between rows of knots to strengthen the rug
from side to side). This cotton foundation can be weakened, and sometimes
actually rotted, if the rug is wetted repeatedly and not properly
dried.
A common cause of such damage occurs when potted plants are placed
directly on a rug. The plant is watered regularly, the pot leaks, and the
rug under the pot stays permanently damp. Within two or three weeks the
foundation of the rug can become so weak that chunks can be torn from the
affected area by hand. If you use planters near a rug, try to place them
on a slim legged stool, or a caster-based support that lets you see under
the pot and allows for ventilation. After watering the plant check to be
sure the rug under it is completely dry.
Another form of water damage can affect rugs used in a basement or
other area below grade level. If the basement floods the potential for
damage is obvious. The rug must be removed quickly, properly cleaned, and
allowed to dry completely. A more insidious form of damage can be caused
by using a rug over a damp floor (as is often the case if the floor is
cement). Even though the floor is not noticeably wet to the touch, there
can be enough moisture to allow microorganisms to flourish in the material
of the warp and weft and to degrade the strength of the rug's
foundation.
A rug damaged in this way will often feel peculiarly stiff when
manipulated. The rug will sometimes be so stiff it will be difficult to
roll, and if you listen carefully to the back of the carpet when it is
creased or folded, you can often hear the cracks and popping noises made
by breaking warp and weft fibers.
Moth Damage
Flying clothes moths do not eat
your rugs, but the females do lay hundreds of eggs each, and the eggs
hatch into larvae that consume wool, fur, feather, and silk
fibers. Moths and their larvae thrive in dark, undisturbed areas
where a rug gets little traffic and is not often vacuumed. A bad
infestation sometimes leaves a cobweb-like veil in the area of the damage,
along with fine, sand-like debris. An infestation often involves more than
one rug, and can spread to (or from) woolens or furs hanging in a closet
or sweaters stored in a drawer. A rug damaged by moths is not difficult to
repair, but reweaving a large area of the rug can be expensive.
The life cycle of the clothes moth
(Not to
scale) |
To identify the presence of moths, look for one or more of these
signs (see pictures
here):
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To prevent moth damage:
If a rug will be stored for a long period see the recommendations on
storage.
Carpet Beetle Damage
Similar in
appearance to moth damage, but caused by the larvae of a small (1/8"
long), dark brown or brown-black insect. Beetle larvae damage is usually
not as severe, nor as messy as moth damage. Strategies to prevent or treat
moth damage will
be effective against carpet beetles as well.
Dog Chews
Puppies tend to chew rugs because
of tooth growth. The best way to prevent chew damage is to control
the puppy by keeping it away from the rug. Sometimes sprinkling an ounce
of moth flakes under the rug along the edges will help the dog keep his
distance from the rug.
Cat Scratchings
Cats which are not declawed
can do significant damage to a rug if they habitually sharpen their claws
on it. As with dog chews, the best prevention is to control the cat's
activities. Sometimes a squirt gun (squirt the cat when it starts to
scratch the rug) can be used to condition the cat to avoid the rug.
Vacuum Cleaner Damage
In almost all
instances, regular vacuuming of an Oriental rug with an electric vacuum
cleaner is good for the rug--a dirty rug wears prematurely, and regular
vacuuming helps prevent dirt on the surface of the rug from filtering down
into the pile where it can accumulate and cause increased wear. Still, be
careful with a cleaner equipped with a power brush or "beater bar"; these
powered brushes in the vacuum head help the vacuum do a good job on
machine-made carpeting, but they cause a raking effect on the top layer of
an Oriental rug's pile if used too strenuously. If your vacuum
cleaner has a power brush, use it only occasionally and lightly on your
Oriental rug. For routine cleaning, use just the plain vacuum
nozzle. This is especially important for fringes; try not to run an
upright vacuum or a power brush attachment over fringes. The brush shreds
the fringes and causes rapid wear. Frequently fringes get caught and
chewed up by the rotating mechanism of the brush.
Chemical Damage
An old trick of some
rug cleaners is to bleach the cotton fringe of a rug snowy white before
returning the rug to the customer (on the theory that if the fringe looks
nice and clean, the whole rug looks cleaner). Unfortunately, chlorine
based bleach weakens natural fiber over time. We have seen many rugs with
"dead fringe"--fringe so weakened by repeated bleachings that a tug on the
fringe will tear away small bits. If you must have snowy white fringe, use
a dilute bleach solution, and be sure to rinse the fringe very
thoroughly.
Sun Damage
Most rug dyes are quite resistant
to sun fading or bleaching. Still, ultraviolet rays are a powerful force
of Nature, and a rug will likely fade over time if used for years in a
very sunny area. Consider sheer drapes to block some of the direct
sunlight, and try to turn the rug end-for-end once a year to even out
possible color changes.
Uneven Wear
A rug should be turned
end-for-end once every year or two to even out wear and color change. Try
not to use a rug on a very uneven floor. An area of the floor that is
raised (a loose floorboard, a transition strip from one flooring material
to another, etc.) causes the part of the rug that covers it to wear much
more rapidly than the rest of the rug.
To Move a Rug
When you move a big rug to
adjust its position, there is a better way than just to pull with brute
force on the fringe or edge. A simple trick is to rapidly wave the edge of
the rug up and down a foot or two close to the floor while pulling. This
ripple effect sends a cushion of air under the rug, making it very easy to
move.
To Lay a Rug Flat
If a rug has been folded
for shipping, there may be wrinkles or creases when you lay it down.
To flatten them out, first determine which way the nap lays (rub your hand
across the pile in the direction of the fringe: the pile will feel smooth
one way and will roughen up when rubbed in the opposite direction). Stand
at the end of the rug with the nap running toward you. Roll the rug up
from this end as tight as you can, then slowly unroll and smooth it down
along the way. Persistent wrinkles in the same spot can be pressed
from the face of the rug using a steam iron on "wool" setting (be sure to
iron the pile in its original direction). Persistent wrinkles should be
attended to, as premature wear along the ridges made by the wrinkles can
result. Some rugs have wrinkles "built in" as the rug is woven--try
not to buy one of these!
Rug Pads
Pads under Oriental rugs can
prevent sliding, prolong the life of the rug by cushioning the impact
between shoe sole and hard floor surfaces, and provide comfort under
foot. To determine if you need a pad, the rule of thumb is: a
heavy, thick rug does not necessarily need one, whereas a thin, soft rug
does, as does an older rug or a rug that has been rewoven or patched or
which has a weakened foundation. While a pad can extend the life of any
rug, whether or not to use a pad under a new rug is often a personal
decision based upon your preference for the feel of the carpet underfoot.
A pad should be about an inch smaller than the rug all the way around (not
counting the fringe) so that the pad will not show beneath the rug.
Pads can be made of materials like rubber, felt, polyester, or one of a
number of synthetic foams. For a number of years we have preferred pads
for larger rugs made of a polyester felt about 3/8" thick. This material
is quite dense and is mechanically strong. We have seen rubber pads crack
and crumble around the edges with time, and occasionally rubber pads will
become gummy and stick to an older floor finish or even to the back of the
rug. Many of the synthetic urethane foam pads seem too soft and
lightweight to provide much support to the rug.
Curled Corners and Curled Edges
Because of
the way it is woven, a rug may have corners and/or edges that tend to curl
under. Straighten them out when you lay the rug down. If the
edges curl badly, the rug may need the attention of a good rug repair
person. Using a rug with badly curled-under edges or corners causes
unnatural wear patterns that can damage the rug and be difficult to repair
properly. See a badly
curled
edge..
Sizing or Blocking a Rug
When a rug is
out of square or has built-in wrinkles, sizing or blocking may help. A rug
is sized by turning it over, making it as square and flat as possible, and
fastening it down along the edges (we use a staple hammer). A mixture of
sizing and water is sprinkled over the back of the rug, and the rug is
allowed to dry. The moisture in the sizing helps equalize tension in the
foundation of the rug, and the sizing helps the rug hold its square, flat
shape. Note that even a good quality rug is rarely perfectly rectilinear.
When blocking a rug the choice is sometimes between getting it flat or
making it square--from the standpoint of what's good for the rug, it is
almost always better to make the rug flat than to make it perfectly
rectilinear.
Used with care and when appropriate, sizing makes a rug more attractive
and usable. Used incorrectly, blocking can distort or even damage a rug.
Over-aggressive blocking will not remedy the problems of a badly crooked
or poorly woven rug. Don't try this at home! Sizing is definitely a
process best handled by an experienced dealer or rug repair person.
Storage
When a rug is to be stored for
more than a few months it should be cleaned, sprayed with insecticide, and
wrapped in protective plastic or a tough synthetic paper like "Tyvek"®
building paper. Don't use newspaper or common brown wrapping paper. These
materials are not chemically stable (they are usually quite acidic), and
do not provide the protection from insects or moisture the stored rug
needs. Make sure the rug is completely dry. Think twice about using
moth balls or flakes--these materials have little repellent effect, and
the odor they impart to the rug can be difficult to remove. Cedar
scent is useless in moth control. Store the rug in a clean, dry place out
of the reach of squirrels or other rodents. Periodic inspection of
the rug is strongly recommended.
Summary
You should vacuum your rug often--both front and back
sides, and turn it end-for-end once in a while. Although many kinds of
damage can be repaired, prevention is much easier (and cheaper) than
repair, so avoid placing potted plants on the rug, and keep an eye on your
pets. Inspect the entire rug periodically for signs of wear or damage.
Have your rug cleaned only when it really is dirty. When you see
something wrong with your rug that is beyond your ability to rectify,
don't hesitate to call a reputable Oriental rug dealer for advice. With
just a bit of care your Oriental rug will provide many years of utility
and pride of ownership.
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