Oriental rugs add a bright, sophisticated element to the décor of any home or office. They can also represent a substantial investment. That’s why it’s important to protect that investment with regular care and cleaning.
Oriental rugs add a bright, sophisticated element to the décor of any home or office. They can also represent a substantial investment. That’s why it’s important to protect that investment with regular care and cleaning.
Caring for oriental rugs properly starts with identifying how they’re made. While most oriental rugs are made of wool, some have cotton backing that can be ruined by dampness. If the backing of your oriental rug seems stiff and brittle, chances are you have a moisture problem.
The most frequent culprit is a potted plant that has been overwatered. Any small crack or hole in the pot that allows water to leak onto the rug will result in dampness that can result in irreparable damage in as little as a few days.
Concrete floors pose another threat to your rugs, particularly in basements and with on-grade slabs. Even though your concrete may seem dry to the touch, enough moisture can wick up through the concrete to damage your floor coverings.
A good-quality pad can be helpful in preventing moisture wicking from damp floors. A high-density polyester felt pad about 3/8” thick and about an inch smaller than the rug all around is a good choice. It’s soft underfoot and stands up to age and wear quite well. Rubber and synthetic foam pads can crack and tear, and some can become gummy or brittle, actually damaging the rug rather than protecting it.
If you have or suspect water damage to your oriental rug or any other fabrics in your home or office, the pros at A Personal Touch can accurately appraise the situation and help you take actions to remediate it.
If you find gritty, sand-like material in your rug, you may have a moth problem. Other signs of a moth infestation are broken or loose pile, bare spots and fine white filaments that are the webs left by moths.
Weekly vacuuming of the rug is the best defense against moth damage. Clean the top thoroughly with gentle vacuuming (power brushes and beater bars can cause excessive wear and damage, so turn them off if you can, or take it easy if you can’t). If you’re using an upright, stop short of the edge and fringe to avoid catching them in the machine.
Vacuum the back of the rug and the pad and floor every couple of months. For large rugs, flipping up the edges and cleaning a foot or two in will usually suffice since moths and larvae generally don’t penetrate the underside farther than that.
Mothballs and crystals don’t work on rugs, nor does cedar scent. If you have hard-to-reach areas such as under furniture or wall-hung rugs, there are some non-staining insecticides for household use that contain pyrethrins, compounds that poison insects but break down quickly for safe use around humans and pets.
Carpet beetles can also attack your oriental rugs. They are less common than moths and generally do less damage, but the steps you take to guard against moths are just as effective against carpet beetles.
Moth larvae can linger for up to 30 months before they emerge as adults and start a new generation of vandals. So anytime you suspect an infestation is the time to call for help.
If you need help treating water or moth damage to your oriental rugs, or any of our professional cleaning and remediation services, A Personal Touch, Denver’s carpet and upholstery cleaning experts, are at your service. We’ll answer any questions you may have and give a free written estimate without any cost or obligation on your part. Give us a call at 720.344.2870 or visit the Contact page on our web site for complete details. You can also request a free estimate right on the Contacts page.
Our staff is personally chosen and trained by our company’s founder and the technicians are IICRC-certified to deliver the finest carpet and upholstery cleaning available. That’s why at A Personal Touch Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning we say, “We don’t cut corners, we clean them.”
