Rug Care

How to Select an Area Rug

Choose your source carefully. Deal with only reputable businesses that possess an extensive knowledge of the rug business along with a high degree of integrity.

Proceed with caution if you intend to purchase a rug on the internet. In recent years, many inferior quality hand made rugs have flooded the market. Most of which are sold out of a “virtual” store where the consumer does not have the opportunity to see the true color, quality, or feel the thickness first hand. If you have the opportunity, go into a store where you can select your rug in person. If you cannot, then take care to do business with a reputable site.

Before you visit your local rug dealer, do your homework. Get out your tape measure and determine the size rug you will need. Do you want a room size rug? (This would cover most of your floor.) Or perhaps an area accent rug. (A rug with a design, such as a center medallion, that you would not want hidden by furniture.) Bring along samples of upholstery, pillows, etc. to aid in your color selection.

Although rugs are available in a variety of sizes, not all are available in every size. You will find that many rug sizes have become “nominal.” This simply means that the old standard sizes such as 4' x 6', 6' x 9', 9' x 12', etc. may not be available. Nominal sizes are slightly smaller than standard. Before final selection and purchase, verify the size carefully.

Select your rug as you would select art. Consider the design, pattern, and colors. Will the rug compliment your existing furnishings, or will it be the dominant focal point for the area? If you are decorating an entire room, it might be wise to make your rug selection first, as your rug provides the backdrop for all the other elements in your room. The concept here is to bring everything together for a coordinated look.

What Kind of Rug Should You Purchase?

Rugs are generally divided into two categories. Namely hand made and power loomed (machine made) constructions. Although there are different characteristics in each construction type, one is not necessarily superior to the other. There exists many, many quality ranges in either category.

The hand made Oriental rug is the world’s standard concept of quality. Hand made rugs are quite literally pieces of art, woven one knot at a time. It will take a weaver up to nine months to hand knot a single 9’ x 12’ rug. Each and every hand knotted rug is truly unique. No two rugs are exactly alike. Wool has been the fiber of choice of hand knotted Oriental rugs for countless centuries. Wool rugs have inherent qualities of soil and stain resistance. Wool is also a renewable natural resource. With minimal care, your hand made wool rug can keep its original appearance for many years to come.

If selecting a power loomed rug, then look to the reputation of the manufacturer for quality, style, selection options and dependable availability. The versatility of designs and colors may provide a distinct advantage. Some producers of power loomed rugs have replicated proven ancient designs and updated them with modern color trends. Alternately, you can find power loomed rugs that retain the original designs and colors that have successfully withstood the test of time. In power loomed rugs, here too, the fiber of choice is wool.

What Type of Underpad Should You Purchase?

Buying a rug without underpadding is like buying an automobile without springs or shock absorbers. If you want to obtain the maximum wear life and appearance retention for your rug, then the purchase of a rug underpad is extremely important. The underpad should be firm, yet provide resilience underfoot. It should have a non-slip backing to anchor the rug and prevent slippage and falls. Too soft a pad will accelerate wear, cause creeping and eventually cause damage to the rug backing.

How To Care for Your Rug

Remember, most any rug will not wear out from the top down. Rather, accelerated wear begins at the base of the rug pile where dirt and small abrasive particles may accumulate. The best remedy for this is frequent vacuuming. Contrary to popular belief, vacuuming will not wear out your rug. In fact, it will extend the wear life of your rug. Special care should be taken in the fringe area. Vacuums with beater bars may catch and pull the fringe, causing separation. In the first year after bringing your new rug home, it is recommended that you vacuum at least two to three times a week to remove the excess fuzz that may appear. This condition is perfectly normal and in no way shortens the life of the rug. It is merely the result of loose fibers created during the weaving process.

How To Clean Your Rug

Send your rug to a reputable professional who is accustomed to the cleaning of quality rugs. Avoid in home “steam cleaning” of your valuable rug. Take immediate action on spills. Remove any solid material with a spoon or a blunt knife. Never rub a spill. Just blot, blot and blot. Use a white paper towel or cloth. Work from the outer edge of the spill towards the middle to prevent enlarging the stain area. If you are in doubt of what to do, call your local dealer to obtain professional advice. Last of all, enjoy your new rug. Use it, show it off, walk on it and admire it. After all, that’s why you bought it!