Care & Cleaning

The following guide was provided by Renaissance Rug & Textile Cleaning in Portland Oregon. Kush recommends Renaissance for all of your hand washing and repair needs.

Vacuuming
Rugs should be vacuumed on a regular basis to remove and lessen the build up of abrasive soils. Care should be take while vacuuming around the fringes so they do not get sucked up into the vacuum and cause damage.

Rotating
Rotating rugs, turning them end for end, helps to even out wear and soiling. We recommend that this be done seasonally.

Padding
Padding extends the life of a rug and reduces slipping and tripping hazards. Padding also helps to provide a barrier to protect wood floors from liquid based spills seeping through a rug damaging floors.

Washing
Cleaning intervals depend on environment and use of the rug. The average washing interval is every 2-5 years. However, rugs in commercial environments or high traffic and or high soil areas often require more frequent cleaning.

Storage

  • Rugs should never be stored dirty. Soils can oxidize making them difficult or impossible to remove.
  • Rugs should always be wrapped to protect them from insects and dust. We highly recommend a breathable material such as kraft paper or Tyvek.
  • Rugs should never be stored in plastic.
  • Rugs should never be stored on concrete or tile surfaces.

Spot cleaning tips

  • Most Prepackaged carpet cleaning products are not formulated to clean natural fibers found in oriental rugs. These products are often too aggressive for wool, silk and their dyes, and can result in irreversible damage.
  • A mild spot cleaning solution can be made with 1-2 drops of hand dish detergent such as bio-clean, planet and seventh generation to a cup of warm water. Blot, never scrub aggressively scrubbing back and forth can permanently damage the pile of an oriental rug.
  • Remove as much of a spot or spill as possible with a towel, butter knife or vacuum before using any cleaning products.
  • Test all spotting products in a inconspicuous area first. Look for bleeding/color transfer or any other abnormal changes. 
  • For oil based spots, apply rubbing alcohol to a towel in small amounts and blot the spot. Never flood a spot. This can damage a rug's backing and flooring, and can create a flammable vapor in your home.
  • If you are unsure how to spot your rug, please consult a professional first.
  • Work from the outer edge of the spot towards the center.
  • Never used chlorine or oxy-clean type products on natural fiber rugs. 
  • Some spots are best handled by a professional; ink, large paint spills, old dried wine and old pet spots.