The Art of Cleaning an Antique Rug
Made dozens, if not hundreds, of years ago from the finest fabrics, antique rugs offer a unique and unsurpassed beauty. They add a touch of class, style, and color to any room, and are often warm and comfortable to the touch. Yet for all their benefits, antique rugs also require a special level of care to remain as young and fresh as possible.
Want to know how antique rug cleaning can reverse time and rid your carpet of years of dirt and dust? Keep reading to gain some tips that will help you weave your way through the world of antique rug care!
The Dos and Don’ts of Antique Rug Cleaning
Here are some basic tips when it comes to cleaning antique rugs:
- DO make sure to vacuum often. For routine cleaning, use an ordinary suction vacuum on a low setting to clear away dirt from the top and bottom of the rug. Doing this about once a week should help keep dirt and dust from accumulating.
- DO NOT use abrasive cleansers. If you need to spot clean your antique rug, you’re best served by using mild soap, warm water, and a soft bristle brush. For more extensive cleaning situations, it is in your best interest to take it to a professional antique rug cleaning service rather than DIY it and cause further damage.
- DO learn about the rug’s history. Prior to purchasing an antique rug, obtain as much information as possible about its age, country of origin, and the last time it was professionally cleaned. This will help you make informed decisions about its care and protect your investment for years to come.
- DO NOT let stains set. Oil-based stains should be removed using a heavy towel, followed by a blot-and-rinse technique. Water-based stains should be removed by blotting the area with a paper towel, then using trace amounts of water to dilute it. In either case, scrubbing should be avoided as it will only grind the stain further into the rug fibers.
- DO have your rug professionally washed on a yearly basis. Regular vacuuming and as-needed spot cleaning should be more than adequate for the most part, but we would advise having your antique rug receive an annual deep cleaning in order to rid it of deep-set grime and fiber-eroding pests.
For the most part, antique rugs are more sturdy than you think. There’s no need to worry that weekly vacuuming will pull at the rug’s delicate fibers. In fact, antique rugs don’t shed nearly as often as new rugs and could therefore use the cleaning as much.
It can even be argued that many newer rugs made using such techniques as hand tufting last fewer years than antique rugs that were expertly hand-crafted using high quality materials. While some antique rugs will always require a higher level of care, by and large they are far from flimsy.
Should you want to learn more about our antique rug cleaning process, we’re only a phone call or visit away. Contact Bagdad Rugs today to schedule a free estimate!
