How to Restore Oriental Rugs
From a functional floor covering to a display piece that hangs on your wall, Oriental rugs often are as durable as they are beautiful. Unfortunately, nothing will stay in top condition forever. Dirt and dust can easily find their way to your rug, in addition to children and pets. If your Oriental carpet is in need of a little care and attention to restore it to its previously brilliant condition, there are several steps you can do to spruce it up. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- White vinegar
- Clean cloth
- Vacuum cleaner
- Baby shampoo
- Soft bristle brush
- Squeegee
- Tape
- Baking soda
Instructions
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Spot treat small stains with a solution of equal parts white vinegar and water. Dampen a cloth with the solution and gently scrub the area until the stain is gone. If the stain has hardened debris attached, you can gently scrape it loose from the carpet with a plastic utensil before treating the stain.
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Vacuum the carpet, carefully avoiding fringe if your rug has it. Flip the rug over and vacuum the reverse side as well to remove as much dirt and dust as possible.
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Clean your carpet by hand with soapy cold water. Use the mildest soap possible such as baby shampoo. Test a small area of the rug by dipping a soft bristle brush into the solution and gently scrubbing a small area to make sure that the colors don't run. If it's safe to proceed, then gently scrub the rug in the direction of the nap with the brush dipped in the soapy water to clean it.
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Rinse away soapy residue with a clean cloth dampened in a solution of equal parts of white vinegar and cold water. The vinegar will help to cut through soap residue in addition to helping to brighten the colors. Avoid over-saturating the rug as this may damage it.
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Force out excess moisture from the rug with a squeegee before allowing the rug to sit in a cool dry place with good ventilation to dry. If you opt to air dry your rug outside, be sure to keep it out of direct sunlight as this may cause it to fade. Allow the rug to dry undisturbed until it is no longer damp.
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Flip your rug over to patch small tears. Hold the edges of the tear together and place a piece of strong tape such as duct tape of the back to hold it in place.
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Sprinkle baking soda over an Oriental rug holding onto unpleasant odors. Leave the baking soda to sit overnight before vacuuming it up in the morning.
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Tips & Warnings
For stains that cannot be removed by cleaning, large noticeable tears or fringe that's in bad condition, talk to the dealer about having it professionally repaired or cleaned.
Avoid using harsh chemicals on your Oriental rug, as this may damage it.
References
- Photo Credit Hemera Technologies/PhotoObjects.net/Getty Images
