Care and Maintenance of Hand-made Area Rugs

1. All area rugs should be thoroughly vacuumed at least once a week. Approximately every six months, the rug should be turned over so that the back of the rug can be vacuumed.
2. All rugs should be turned 180 degrees every 12 months. This procedure will prolong "wearability" in the traffic patterns.
3. When vacuuming the rugs, it is important that the fringe does not get pulled into the vacuum. It's best to vacuum in the direction perpendicular to the fringe or bounded ends of the rug.
4. All spills should be blotted immediately with a white paper or terry cloth towel. It is important that the pile is not rubbed while wet, nor should any chemicals, soaps or cleaners be applied to the soiled area.

   **if needed, a very diluted solution of dish soap and water can be applied in a blotting motion to the stain. Many times, water alone will be enough.

5. Depending on the traffic load, the area rugs should be professionally hand washed every 18 to 24 months. (particularly reversible rugs)

For cleaning, repair and restoration of hand-made rugs we highly recommend:

All rugs should have an appropriate pad. This helps to keep the underside of the rug clean and will cause less abrasion.

Rug Pads

We stock several kinds of rug pads. Depending on the use of the rug, the location and the surface material under the rug (whether carpet, hardwood or tile, radiant heated surfaces, etc.), we can recommend the most suitable option. We also offer pad cutting services for those odd or over-sized rugs. Given at least a 48 hour notice, your pad will be cut to the exact size needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is a real oriental rug?
   By definition an oriental rug is a hand-knotted, wool or silk floor covering that is made in the Orient, historically considered to be the land east of Vienna.
2. Is it true that antique rugs are better than new rugs?
   Workmanship, not age, determines the quality of a rug. The fundamental weaving and knotting of oriental rugs has not changed over the last 2,500 years. Sometimes the look of older or worn rugs is a trendy preference, but is not a statement of quality.
3. Where are the best oriental rugs woven?
   One country or a single region cannot honestly claim that it produces the best rugs. Geographical boundaries do not dictate, nor confirm, the capacity to produce fine art. Artists everywhere are performing their work at various levels of skill. This is true of every art medium, so it is true in carpet weaving.
4. Do knots per square inch account for quality and price?
   Generally, the more knots in the rug, the higher the price of the rug. The number of knots indicates the amount of labor consumed in the rug's production. Occasionally, certain intangibles such as sentimental value, remarkable history of a specific piece, or exceptional beauty, will supersede knot count and affect the value of the rug.
5. What is the difference between a hand made and a machine made oriental rug?
   It is easy to see the difference by looking at the fringe and the back of the rug. The fringe on a hand made rug is the warp of the rug, onto which the individual knots are hand tied. The fringe on a machine made piece is optional and is sewn on to imitate the look of a hand made piece. The back of a hand made rug has obvious inconsistencies in the bumps or knots, the back and sides of a machine made rug are more perfect and uniform looking.