Rug Care and Cleaning

Contrary to popular belief, you do not have to wait for the rug to be soiled before cleaning it. Consistent cleaning is the key. Just because dirt is not visible does not mean it is not there. Rug fibers are designed to conceal dirt and reflect shine, creating the impression of ‘newness.’

When vacuuming, use only the low-level suction to gently extract the dust without straining the fibres. Avoid using beater bar vacuums or powerhead attachments. Always remember to vacuum in the same direction of the rug nap.

Rugs that are light and portable are easier to clean, as you can take them outside to shake and hit the dirt off. This is a traditional (and still effective) way to remove excess dust and debris from your rugs.

The UV rays from the sun can cause the colour on your rugs to fade and also the fibres to wear out sooner. The most common issues caused by this phenomenon are inconsistent bright and faded patches on your rug, which is caused when only some parts of the rug are exposed to sunlight coming into the room from certain angles.

To overcome this problem, simply draw the curtains or blinds during the times when your rug is exposed to sunlight. Or, rotate your rug every now and then to ensure even fading and wearing. That way, the fading and wearing becomes gradual and unnoticeable.

Rotate your rug in the opposite direction occasionally to ensure your rug wears evenly. For example, if the rug is easy to handle, rotate once every 2 months. If the rug is heavy or placed beneath heavy furniture, rotate once every 6 months or so.

Rolling is the way to go. Store your rug away properly by rolling it and wrapping it in a plastic sheet or bag with poked holes for air flow.

You may experience creases and wrinkles on the rug and usually this occur due to the packing shape while shipping or staying in the storage for a period of time. Don’t fret! Just simply allow your rug to settle / to sit open for several weeks to regain its original form.

Act fast. Many spills can be treated and removed completely if you act quickly. The more you delay, the more likely it is for the stain to become permanent.

Make sure you are using the cleaning solutions in the right concentration; too much may cause colour fading, while too little may require more rounds of blotting, which increases the likelihood of causing damage to the fibres if you end up scrubbing.

If it’s a wine, blood, or ink emergency, quickly dab these liquid stains with a dry absorbent cloth or a clean paper towel with no prints.

Avoid scrubbing as it can result in pile distortion and worse still; spread the stain around the affected area. Allow detergent to sit on the stain for about 10 to 15 minutes.

Dab the detergent in a single direction with dry paper towels. Then, spray water onto the spot to rinse and dab again. Rinse and dab until the stain is visibly gone.

Do not use solutions that contain bleach or dyes as these will affect the rug’s original colour and damage the delicate fibres on your rug.

The most common semi-solid stains are mud and gravy. In case of a spillage, simply scrape up the spill with a spoon or vacuum the stained spot until no solids remain. Then rinse the area with water. If water cannot dissolve the spill, use a carpet detergent.

Before application, test a few drops of the dissolving agent on an inconspicuous area of your rug. Dab the wet area with a cloth to see if the rug’s dye is transferred onto the cloth. After making sure that the dissolving agent is safe and does not cause visible damage to the rug fibre or dye, you can now apply it onto the stain. Begin dabbing from the edges of the stain and work your way to the centre. Repeat the dabbing until the stain is removed completely.