General Care
Oriental rugs have durability. They are designed to be used and walked on. A little common sense, however, will help your rug stay cleaner and minimize wear.
Walking on your rug with shoes is fine and wiping feet before coming in the house only makes sense. Spike heels might poke holes in the rug, however. Rotate your rug once or twice a year to even out the wear.
Vacuuming rugs regularly keeps dirt and grit from building up and wearing down the fibers. Vacuums with power heads can be rough on rugs. If you must use one, set it as high as possible so that the drag on the rug is minimal. Keep away from the fringe. Otherwise, a simple suction vacuum attachment works fine. Turn the rug over, and also vacuum under the rug.
Sunlight might actually be one of a rug’s worst enemies. If you care about fading then watch your rug’s exposure to sunlight, even indirect. Some people don’t care if their rug’s colors fade and see this as a natural part of the life of a rug. Others prefer the colors to stay as close as possible to what they were when the rug was first bought.
Specific Care Tips
Pets
Chewing and scratching is best controlled by training the pet or keeping the pet away from the rug. Applying chemical pet deterants might harm the color or fibers of the rug. A spray bottle filled with water is an excellent and humane training tool for pets.
Urine and feces need to be removed as soon as possible. Gently scrape or scoop up solids. Repeatedly blotting the area with a wet rag, rinsed each time, can remove the effects of small accidents. Place a thick towel below the rug and blot from the top so that the moisture soaks through the rug and onto the towel. Then, dry by blotting with a dry towel. You can even hose a rug or run it under cold water. The wetter the rug, the more important it is to blot as dry as possible and check daily to make sure the rug is drying completely on its own. Otherwise there is a risk of mildew or rotting fibers over time. Before any water is applied, check a small area for dye stability. Do not use commercial chemical cleaners – they are not necessary.
If your pets sleep on the rug, they might eventually leave a soiled look to their spot. You can clean this by wetting a cloth with water and a small amount of soap that is made of all natural ingredients. Then wipe the surface of the rug, rinsing the cloth and repeating until you like the results. Finally, wipe with plain water on a rag to remove any soap residues.
Insects
If moth damage to wool, fur, feathers and silk is a concern where you live, be conscious that this applies to rugs, too. Vacuuming the entire rug often will remove eggs and larva if they are present. especially in areas where the rug does not get much traffic or might be in the dark. It is important to vacuum under the rug and under the pad. Staying ahead of the problem with inspection, attention to insect life cycles in your area, and vacuuming are your best defenses.
Naphthalene and similar moth deterrants is not very effective as they do not kill the larvae which is what causes the damage. Additionally, the fumes are offensive and unhealthy for breathing.
If you have a considerable problem that you can’t manage, contact a reputable oriental rug dealer for help, rather than an exterminator. They will know the best strategies for your type of rug and can direct you to an exterminator, if needed, who understands rug care.
Pads
Putting a pad under your rug can keep it from moving around on the floor which lessens wear. There are many kinds of pads. Thin polyester felt pads provide plenty of cushion without bulk. Rubber pads can deteriorate with time and might stick to the floor. Putting a pad under a rug is based on personal preference more than anything. As a rule, the thinner the rug, the more likely it is that you might like a pad.