How to Clean and Care for Oriental Rugs

Cleaning Tips to Keep Your Oriental Rugs Vibrant.

Cleaning and Caring for Your Beautiful Oriental Rugs.

Tips for Cleaning, Vacuuming and Caring for Oriental Rugs

I absolutely love oriental rugs, their vibrant colors and intricate patterns add a timeless elegance to any space. But learning how to clean and care for oriental rugs is essential if you want them to stay beautiful for years to come.

As a self-proclaimed bargain hunter, it took time to find the perfect pieces. But it was worth the wait, these rugs aren’t just stunning; they’re built to last. I’m now the proud owner of three antique, hand-woven rugs and a couple of smaller, machine made ones that are just as eye-catching.

I’ll admit, even though I know how to clean, I’ve let regular maintenance slide more than once. And the truth is, dirt can seriously damage these rugs. Their delicate fibers, rich dyes, and heirloom quality all require proper care to stand the test of time.

The good news? It’s not as complicated as it seems. Once you understand the basics, keeping your oriental rugs clean and well-maintained is totally doable and definitely worth the effort.

Types of Oriental Rugs

It all sounds so exotic: Chinese, Indian, Turkish, Persian, Afgan and Tibetan. The name or type of Oriental rug really only specifies the country or region it came from.

Oriental rugs come in many beautiful designs such as they can have the look like of a vintage rug, a traditional looking rug, boho style rugs and more.

The origin and name itself will denote the common pattern or style, weave and maybe the fabric used, but the name on its own doesn’t influence its care or cleaning instructions.

Routine Care

Rotate the rug 180 degrees every year. If you want your rug to retain its beautiful appearance, you need to protect it against constant sunlight and foot traffic by rotating it’s position every six months. Rotating your Oriental rug will help to ensure that your rug ages beautifully and its colors stay vibrant.
Minimize exposure to dirt and debris. I’m assuming you don’t use your rug to wipe your feet. Try to avoid tracking dirt on the rug to start with by taking off your shoes and adding rugs that are meant to remove dirt and grit in the doorways of all entrances to your home.
Protect the rug from moisture. Moisture will not only cause natural fibers to mold and mildew, but disintegrate natural fibers. An old or stale odor caused by mold and mildew can be difficult to completely remove, and mold stains may be permanent.
Protect the rug from smoke. Smoke from fireplaces, cigarette smoke, or even exhaust combined with moisture creates an acidic environment that can further hasten your rugs demise.
Avoid deep indentations. Move your furniture around. This simple trick will help you avoid making huge dents in the pile of your rug and ruining the fibers.
Don’t sit things directly on the rug. Plants, ceramic pots, or other furniture can not only dent the rug, but the lack of air space can allow the natural fibers to rot if moisture is present and no air is circulating.
The cleaner the rug is, the longer it will last. Dirt and grit wear down the hemp backing that the rug fabric is woven into. Walking on a dirty rug grinds away at the fibers and backing. The cleaner the rug is the longer it’s beautiful and useful life.

Vacuuming

Vacuum frequently. Don’t wait until the rug is filthy before you clean it. Dirt and debris are very damaging to oriental carpets. Vacuum your rug at least once a week or more often of needed. Clean both the front and back sides.
Vacuum in all directions. Make sure to vacuum in the direction of the pile both forwards and backwards.
Vacuum with the pile. Vacuuming with the pile prevents dirt and dust from settling farther into the rug.
Vacuum against the pile. Vacuuming against the pile brushes, fluffs and lifts the pile.
Finger brush the fringes only. Periodically straighten the fringes with your fingers. The fringe on your Oriental rug can be fragile and a vacuum can pull them up with the suction and both fray and weaken their attachment to the rug itself.
Don’t use a vacuum with a beater bar. Use a canister type vacuum only. Avoid vacuuming with a vacuum that uses a rotating brush. Beater bars are hard on oriental rugs and will fray fibers with time.
Vacuum the underside several times a year. Flip the rug over and vacuum the rug from the underside to remove dirt and debris lodged deep in the weave.

Keeping Your Oriental Rug Clean

Remove your shoes when you enter the house. This will keep dirt and debris from outside off the carpet and it also minimizes wear from hard soled shoes or high heeled shoes.
Use floor mats. Floor mats remove dirt and debris that become lodged in your rug and cause all sorts of damage.
Switch locations or rug orientation. Rotate rug locations and orientation to reduce wear and tear patterns.
Treat your rugs with a water repellant. Scotchgard repels liquid and will help to prevent stains.

Enjoy Your Beautiful Clean Rug!

Taking the time to learn how to clean and care for oriental rugs is the key to preserving their beauty, value, and craftsmanship. With just a little regular attention – gentle cleaning, proper handling, and mindful maintenance – these stunning rugs can remain a treasured part of your home for generations. Whether antique or machine-made, a well-cared-for rug will always add warmth, color, and character to your space.