7 Oriental Rug Cleaning Questions Answered

Has it been quite a while since your oriental rug was cleaned? If it is starting to show noticeable signs of accumulating dust and dirt, you don’t want to wait to get started with oriental rug cleaning. Oriental rugs are often quite delicate, and too much dirt and dust can overwhelm their hand-woven fibers, causing unnecessary wear and tear and premature aging.

Are you unsure of how to go about oriental rug cleaning in a safe, effective manner? Unlike synthetic rugs, the natural dyes and textiles used in the creation of these precious heirloom pieces require special care. 

To help you protect and preserve the beauty of your rug while ensuring it is clean, our oriental rug cleaning experts are answering some of the most common questions we receive on this topic below.

What is the correct frequency for oriental rug cleaning?

The answer to this question depends on an extensive range of variables. For example, is your rug in an area where it receives daily foot traffic or in a room where you don’t spend a lot of time? Do you have pets or children? Does anyone in the household smoke? 

All of these factors should be considered when determining the right cleaning frequency for your rug. For most households, annual cleaning is a good rule of thumb to keep in mind for the average rug.

Can I steam clean my oriental rug?

Steam cleaning is a conventional carpet cleaning method that employs the use of hot water vapor to penetrate carpet fibers and release soil and stains. However, it’s important to keep in mind that your oriental rug differs from carpet in many ways, and steam cleaning could actually damage it. Depending on how your rug was made, the high temperatures used in the steam cleaning process could harm its fragile fibers and even cause its colors to fade or bleed. 

Can I power wash my oriental rug?

When you invest in a power washer, you may be eager to find multiple uses for it. While it’s great for cleansing hard surfaces like concrete and stone, this tool shouldn’t be used on something as delicate as an oriental rug. The intense pressure of the power washer can pose a risk to the structural integrity of your rug and should be avoided in favor of a much gentler method.

Can I hose down my oriental rug?

Although your run-of-the-mill garden hose lacks the power of a power washer, it still isn’t ideal for cleaning oriental rugs. One of the many reasons why is that it will leave your rug completely saturated with water, meaning it could remain moist for days. Extended periods under these conditions frequently lead to the growth of mold or mildew, which can not only make your rug smell, but also require additional cleaning.

Can I use baking soda to clean my oriental rug?

Baking soda is likely one of your go-to cleaning compounds for just about anything in your home that needs to be refreshed. It’s known to lift away dirt, grime, and stains from a wide range of surfaces and materials, and it’s inexpensive to boot. That being said, its gritty nature makes it a no-go for oriental rugs. Similar to how dust and dirt cause friction on delicate rug fibers, baking soda is too abrasive for this purpose.

How should I clean my hand-knotted Persian rug?

Hand-knotted Persian rugs are prized for their intricate detail and the effort and skill that goes into crafting them. Because they are knotted by hand, they are much more prone to damage, making them particularly vulnerable during the cleaning process. 

That’s why the task of cleaning these rugs is best left to oriental rug cleaning experts with plenty of experience handling such pieces. Should you attempt to clean them using DIY hacks, you run the risk of fraying the fibers and causing dyes to run or bleed, ruining the beauty of your unique rug.

How should I vacuum my oriental rug?

As with carpet cleaning, vacuuming plays an important role in oriental rug cleaning. However, there are a few things to keep in mind when vacuuming your rug that don’t necessarily apply to regular carpeting, including:

• Avoid the fringes when vacuuming, as they could easily break off. 
• Vacuum the back of the rug in order to access deep-set dust and dirt. 
• Vacuum your rug regularly rather than waiting until it looks dirty. 

While you may worry that vacuuming too often could contribute to wear and tear, it is more important to remove the contaminants that could otherwise settle into its fibers.

Reach Out to Our Oriental Rug Cleaning Experts

Ensure your rug is cleaned by knowledgeable experts who can protect its integrity and its longevity. Learn more by contacting our oriental rug cleaning technicians at Chem-Dry today! Simply call (800) CHEM-DRY for details.