Persian Rugs - Care and Cleaning

You've just invested in a beautiful Persian rug. Even though they are durable, they still need to be properly cared for and cleaned. A well maintained rug will last indefinitely. Let's look at some standard care tips.

General Care:

1. Don't forget the padding - get a quality padding to place under your rug. Padding is for more than slippage. It will extend the life of the rug by providing a supportive base that will allow the rug to breathe. A good pad can extend the life of your rug. It protects against dirt, wear and wrinkling specially in high traffic areas.

2. Rotate once a year, at least. This one will depend on where your rug is located. Try to avoid exposure to direct sunlight and high traffic areas. If the carpet is getting a lot of wear, consider rotating it every six months.

3. Vacuuming. Wool is porous and it holds a lot of dirt. Regular vacuuming is essential. Always vacuum with the pile. To determine the direction of the pile, run your hand across the pile from fringe to fringe. The smooth side is the pile. Use the suction attachment or the bare floor setting as a rotary brush may cause added wear. Also, once a year, flip the rug and vacuum the back.

4. Moths. Moths can do some serious damage to your rug. Check the back regularly for infestation. Moths are common in rugs that are in hidden in the dark, such as under a bed.

5. Storage. If you need to store your rug for an extended period of time, roll it tightly into a cylinder. Don't forget to mothproof it first. Cover with kraft paper. Then wrap the rolled rug in Tyvek