Caring for your Oriental Rugs

Question: When you cleaned our two oriental rugs, they turned out beautifully. I know there was a lot of work involved and that's why it cost more than cleaning a regular carpet, but could you explain why?

Answer: Thank you for asking. Oriental rugs are generally made of natural fibers and natural dyes. These give them their rich luster and warm feel. Most are hand made. Hand made rugs are always imperfect. Their imperfections are part of their charm. An oriental area rug can easily cost more than a whole house full of wall-to-wall carpet. The natural fibers and dyes along with their intrinsic value mean orientals need (and deserve) special care.

In cleaning we use an acronym: TACT. It stands for Time, Agitation, Chemical, and Temperature. All these elements must be present when cleaning, but they must be modified to clean an oriental rug correctly.

Time. Orientals are not bothered by water. However, it is important the rug be dried as quickly as possible. An oriental can get wet, but it must never stay wet. We take steps to ensure accelerated drying.

Agitation. Agitation is the physical action involved in loosening the soils for removal. Harsh scrubbing can damage the fibers. Older or damaged Orientals require gentle agitation. In some cases all or part of the rug has to be gently scrubbed or even stroked by hand. This kind of attention to detail assures the best results.

Chemical. The cleaning products we use on Orientals are especially formulated to clean the natural fibers we find in oriental rugs. The products must ensure a pH balance that will loosen the soils, and leave the fibers soft without harming the dyes. The cleaning agents must rinse freely to leave the fibers clean and natural.

Temperature. For some commercial carpets, we sometimes need as much heat as we can get. Orientals are different. If the cleaning solution is too hot, fibers can be damaged and left feeling like straw. With excess heat, dyes can also be removed. If the solution is too cold, the soils may not completely be removed by the cleaning agents. Control over the temperature is very important.

Other factors. The colors of an oriental are often the most striking part of its beauty. Rich reds and deep blues can be truly beautiful. Rich colors can also create problems.

Dyes have to be "set" in a fiber. Orientals are often hand made and that hand craftsmanship can lead to inconsistencies. If too much dye has been added to the fiber, it will bleed into the surrounding fibers while being cleaned. The white areas around a red area may turn pink from traces of fugitive dye.

To avoid unpleasant surprises, we have to pretest any colors we think might give us trouble. If any sign of potential bleeding is noted, special steps have to be taken in the cleaning procedure.

The fringe at the ends of many Orientals is another area of special need. Some short-cut cleaners use chlorine bleach on the fringe. Chlorine weakens the fibers. It is foolish to damage a fine rug to get it cleaned fast. We would never do that.

Orientals need special care, but they are worth it. They add beauty to our homes and, if taken care of correctly, they will last for generations.