RUG MAINTENANCE
Preserving Your Hand-Knotted Rug Investment
Hand-knotted rugs are valuable investments that appreciate with meticulous care and regular professional cleaning. While everyday rug wear is inevitable, proper Oriental rug care is vital to maximize longevity and preserve the unique beauty of your investment piece.
At Treasured Knots, we have dedicated years to researching and examining our inventory to ensure our professional cleaning methods offer the highest compatibility for your one-of-a-kind products. We understand that area rugs trap dust, dirt, and odors due to foot traffic; therefore, proper cleaning and maintenance are crucial to extend the life of your rugs. Even though area rugs are resilient, dirt accumulation at the base of the fibers can cause damage over time. Rotating your rug frequently helps equalize wear and fading.
Protecting Your Rug from Environmental Factors
- Dampness and Mildew: Dampness can cause mildew or deterioration. Avoid soaking your rug when spot cleaning.
- Moths: Moths are a major threat to a rug's longevity. To protect it, move your rug periodically, keeping it exposed to air and light.
- Sunlight Protection: Continual exposure to strong sunlight will eventually cause colors to fade and fabric to become brittle. Display your rug where it is protected against excessive sunlight.
Spill Response & Professional Stain Removal
Cleaning an area rug on your own is risky. You should clean a spill immediately by gently blotting the area with a white towel to contain the fluid. Crucially, never use harsh chemicals or detergents, as they may permanently damage the sensitive fibers and materials in your treasured rug.
Professional Rug Cleaning & Expert Stain Removal
If you are looking for professional rug cleaning or need specialized stain removal services, Treasured Knots has the equipment, training, and experience to restore the beauty of your rugs. Our experienced professional technicians are certified and trained to recognize different fibers, constructions, and types of rugs, ensuring the correct solution is applied every time.
We offer several types of expert hand-cleaning processes, including:
- Soak and Rinse Cleaning: Ideal for pet stains and heavily soiled rugs.
- Dry Cleaning: Recommended for delicate silks and other sensitive fibers.
- Conservator Cleaning: Specialized cleaning for antiques and highly valuable rugs.
Treasured Knots delivers the professional results you can trust. Contact us; our friendly and knowledgeable staff will answer all your rug cleaning and care questions.
Essential Maintenance Tips for Your Area Rugs
Here are a few things that will help you keep your Area Rug(s) maintained:
Uneven Wear Prevention
To prevent premature wear, turn your rug end-for-end once every year or two. Avoid using a rug on a very uneven floor, as this causes the covering area to wear much more rapidly.
Laying a Rug Flat (Wrinkle Removal)
If a rug has wrinkles from folding (e.g., from shipping), follow the proper technique to unroll it in the direction of the nap. Persistent wrinkles can be gently pressed from the face of the rug using a steam iron on the "wool" setting, following the direction of the pile.
The Value of Rug Pads
Rug pads are invaluable for Oriental rug care. They prevent sliding, prolong the life of the rug by cushioning impact, and add comfort underfoot. A pad should be approximately one inch smaller than the rug on all sides (not counting fringe). We recommend dense polyester felt pads for large hand-knotted rugs, cautioning against rubber pads that can degrade and stick to the floor.
Rug Storage Best Practices
When a rug is to be stored for more than a few months, it must be professionally cleaned, sprayed with insecticide, and completely dry. Wrap it in protective plastic or a tough synthetic paper (like Tyvek®). Do not use acidic common wrapping paper. Store the rug in a clean, dry place and conduct periodic inspections.
Expert Stain Removal Chart
The following chart is for informational purposes only. We do not take responsibility for how you use this. If you have questions or require professional stain removal help, please email your questions to info@treasureknot.com.
|
Stain |
Cleaning Method |
|
Acids |
Detergent/white vinegar |
|
Alcoholic beverages |
Detergent/White vinegar or cleaning fluid |
|
Ammonia or Alkali |
Detergent/White vinegar |
|
Ball-point pen ink |
Methylated spirits or turpentine |
|
Beer |
Detergent/White vinegar |
|
Bleach |
Detergent/White vinegar |
|
Blood |
Detergent/White vinegar or Starch Paste |
|
Burning cigarette |
Brush off with a hard edge |
|
Butter |
Cleaning fluid |
|
Candy |
Detergent/White vinegar or scrape and vacuum |
|
Cellulose paint |
Acetone |
|
Chewing gum |
Detergent/White vinegar or cleaning fluid |
|
Chocolate |
Detergent/White vinegar or cleaning fluid |
|
Coffee |
Glycerine |
|
Cosmetics |
Detergent/White vinegar or cleaning fluid |
|
Crayon |
Detergent/White vinegar or cleaning fluid or scrape and vacuum |
|
Egg |
Detergent/White vinegar |
|
Fat and Oil |
Tissue and iron, then cleaning fluid (Do not use iron after solvent) |
|
Fruit and juices |
Detergent/White vinegar |
|
Furniture polish |
Detergent/White vinegar or cleaning fluid* |
|
Glue |
Alcohol |
|
Grass |
Methylated spirits |
|
Gravy |
Detergent/White vinegar or cleaning fluid |
|
Grease |
Cleaning fluid or scrape & vacuum |
|
Household cement |
Detergent/White vinegar or cleaning fluid* |
|
Ice cream |
Detergent/White vinegar or cleaning fluid* |
|
Ink |
Water only |
|
Iodine |
Alcohol |
|
Jam |
Lukewarm water |
|
Lipstick |
Detergent/White vinegar or cleaning fluid* |
|
Medicine |
Call a reputable cleaner |
|
Metal polish |
Detergent/White vinegar or cleaning fluid* |
|
Mildew |
Call a reputable cleaner |
|
Milk |
Detergent/White vinegar or cleaning fluid* |
|
Mud |
Detergent/White vinegar |
|
Mustard |
Detergent/White vinegar |
|
Nail polish |
Polish Remover* |
|
Oils |
Cleaning fluid |
|
Paint |
Detergent/White vinegar or cleaning fluid* |
|
Perfume |
Detergent/White vinegar or cleaning fluid* |
|
Permanent ink |
Call a reputable cleaner |
|
Rust |
Call a reputable cleaner |
|
Salad dressing |
Detergent/White vinegar or cleaning fluid* |
|
Sauces |
Detergent/White vinegar or cleaning fluid* |
|
Shoe polish |
Detergent/White vinegar or cleaning fluid or scrape and vacuum |
|
Soot |
Vacuum, then cleaning fluid |
|
Tar |
Cleaning fluid |
|
Tea |
Detergent/White vinegar |
|
Vomit |
Detergent/White vinegar or cleaning fluid |
|
Wax |
Cleaning fluid or scrape & vacuum |
|
Wine |
Detergent/White vinegar or cleaning fluid w/water 50/50 Mixture |
Note: This is for informational purposes only. We do not take any responsibility for how you use this. If you have any questions or need help. Please email your questions to info@treasureknot.com.