— Do-it-yourself —
CARE & MAINTENANCE
image courtesy of Catalina Rug
SPOT CLEANING
Spills and pet accidents
Liquid spills should be addressed immediately; first absorb as much of the spill as possible by blotting with a clean white towel or cloth, folded to make a pad. Do not rub, and do not use salt, baking soda, or any commercial cleaning products. If no color is bleeding from the rug’s dyes, a mild solution of three tablespoons distilled white vinegar and 1/4 teaspoon of mild liquid dishwashing detergent in a quart of lukewarm water can be applied carefully to the area and blotted dry again. Do not over-wet. Then, with another clean cloth, lightly dampened with clean water, re-dampen the area working toward the center of the spill, and absorb the moisture again, repeating until no foreign matter is visible on the cloth. Absorb the last moisture by leaving a folded cloth on the area under a weight for an hour or so, then elevating the area to allow air to circulate on both the front and back of the rug. A fan or area heater speeds this process.
Flooding
In the event of flooding, it is necessary to dry the rug quickly in order to prevent dye bleeding and mildew. If a wet vacuum is not available, a carpet cleaner can be called to extract the water, but not to clean the rug. Elevate the rug so that air can reach both surfaces, and contact a rug washing specialist as soon as possible for proper cleaning and drying.
Vacuuming
Removing abrasive particulate matter and sand from a rug will greatly extend its life. Never shake or beat a rug, as this causes undue stress on the foundation and edges.
Regular maintenance cleaning of any hand-made rug should involve a hand held upholstery vacuum attachment, never a beater bar or upright vacuum. Inspect the rug for the direction of the pile or flat-woven fibers on the surface, and vacuum in the direction of those fibers, never “against the grain”. Be extra careful around the edges and ends, which are usually most vulnerable to wear.
