Antique rug cleaning...Never scrub--just blot

Despite your best efforts, your antique rugs will inevitably collect dirt, dust, and grime. Its large surface area renders it more susceptible to foreign objects and materials. Regular cleaning will help protect it while keeping the rug as fresh as can be. Dirt, dust, and even insects could get caught in the crevices of the rug, which makes it so important that antique rugs are cleaned regularly. Depending on the fragility of the rug, frequent vacuuming will remove the surface dirt and dust, thus reducing the risk of the dirt and dust becoming a grinding, abrasive material that could ruin the rug with each foot that steps on it. Vacuuming is not only important to the upkeep of your antique rug, but to your health as well. Dust and air pollutants can get caught in the rug and cause prolonged allergic reactions and illness.

It is best to keep the rug on a pad, because it will help keep the rug in place, minimizing wrinkling and avoiding unnecessary wear. With a pad, the rug will be safer to walk on and will help to avoid the depression of the rug’s pile. Once in awhile, the rug should be flipped over onto its back and vacuumed. This allows the dust and dirt to fall onto the floor, allowing the rug to breath and removing grit that might have collected deeper in the fibers. If the rug has fringes or tassels, do not vacuum them--rather, you should simply run your fingers through them which will loosen and strip any latent dirt. Do not vacuum the face of your antique rug with a brush attachment because it can cause the ends and sides of the rug to fray, be sure to vacuum areas that are beneath furniture to avoid collecting dust, and rotate the rug every two years to spread foot traffic evenly over the piece.

A rug should not be stored in a room with intense sunlight. However, if this cannot be avoided, it would be best to use some sort of shading such as UV films on the windows, which will protect the colors from fading. Sunlight runs the risk of drying and oxidizing the wool which will weaken the fibers. Conversely, if a rug is stored in a dark, rarely used place, it can be susceptible to moth, silverfish, or carpet beetle infestation. Most insect infestation happens when rugs are stored. If you cannot avoid storing a rug in your home, you must not--under any circumstances--store it in the basement, because the damp conditions might lead to dry rot which would cause irreparable harm to your rug. If you store the rug in a closet or attic, you must check every few months for moths. Be sure to roll the rug up with mothballs and wrap it in Tyvak paper so that moisture and bugs won’t be able to get in.

If you find yourself in a situation where the rug is stained and you need to clean it yourself, there are a few substances which are safe to use on your rug. This includes non-chlorine dishwashing liquid, non-chlorine laundry detergent, vinegar, and of course water. When using these solutions, never scrub--just blot. Use a white cotton towel to blot out stains and spots. Although carpet shampoos are advertised towards rugs, they may cause the dye to bleed as they are typically made for commercial grade wall-to-wall carpeting. It is also advisable to get your Antique rug professionally cleaned once every four years or so..

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