The beauty and quality of a hand-woven rug can be maintained a very long time through proper care and cleaning. Regular vacuum cleaning prevents dust from building up in the foundations of the carpet. Turn the carpet 180° every year to distribute better the wear from use and the decolouration by sunlight.
In the long term, it becomes necessary to have a carpet cleaned by professionals. The frequency obviously depends on the use. It is necessary to take oriental rugs to a specialised professional service, and especially avoid a person who does not know how to deal with hand-woven carpets. Make sure to point out that wool and silk have been used.
Insofar as possible, clean a stain as rapidly as possible. Avoid spreading it or pushing it in the fibres by rubbing. For the little story: Odile’s father cleans stains on his rugs (wool and silk) with Perrier, and it works very well.
For stubborn stains (coffee on light colours, oil, red fruit, etc.) after sponging with an absorbing paper without crushing the stain in the fibres, he adds a drop of mild hair shampoo and rinses well, always with Perrier, for very goods results on a fresh stain. In any event, never use any “chemical” carpet cleaner.
Under-padding of good quality in felt or rubber may be useful if the carpet risks sliding during stamping (on a parquet for example: in addition to being safer for the passers-by, the stability of the carpet prevents the fibres from breaking too rapidly).
And here is an amusing confirmation from “La Maison Française” (April 2009): |
Liliana has been working at the Plaza Athénée in Paris for 17 years. She started as a chamber maid and today is the keeper of the public areas. From the bar to the reception rooms, via the 120 metres of corridors per floor, she knows the premises backwards and forwards. Cleanliness is her top priority. Her survival kit? A nail brush for the fringes of the carpet, a wedge to keep the doors and thus prevent from making them dirty or scaling the paint, and pieces of sugar. “This is the miracle remedy against cigarette burns on fitted carpets or velvet. Just rub the burn with a piece of sugar that serves as a file, and in a few seconds, there is only an insignificant trace left.” And for the soda, coffee or wine stains on the fitted carpet or a fabric, “you blot with a sponge-serviette, then pour a litre of Perrier, let it set for half an hour, blot again, and the next day, it’s like new.” |
