How to Clean and Care for a Vintage Rug
At Merak, all of our rugs are professionally inspected and cleaned before they are shipped to you to ensure the highest level of quality. You can help keep the rug as beautiful as the day you received it by taking simple steps to clean and care for it.
It is best to use the following methods regularly rather than waiting until the rug needs to be cleaned and is showing visible dirt and debris.
The main draw of these vintage carpets is that they don’t require intensive care and upkeep. They are designed to be long-lasting, highly durable, and withstand the rigors of daily traffic. The following steps are simple and easy to follow and will protect your investment for decades.
Vacuum Both Sides of the Rug: An often-overlooked element of rug care is the bottom side of the rug. It is equally important to care for the side of the rug that touches the floor. We may only see dirt and debris on the rug's top side. However, over time, that dirt and debris settle into the rug's fibers and can get trapped between the rug and the floor, where it cannot be reached if only one side of the rug is vacuumed. If left there, it can do permanent damage to the rug.
To prevent this, vacuum both sides of the rug thoroughly about 1-2 times per month, and vacuum the floor space below the rug, as well. Depending on how much traffic the carpet is subject to, it may take several passes of the vacuum to reach all of the dirt and dust. If you have pets in your home, you may want to increase this vacuuming process to once a week.
Clean Stains Right Away: If wine, food, or other substances are spilled on the rug, it is essential to treat them immediately. Do not wait, as this could allow the stain to set permanently.
The best thing to do is dilute the stain with water, then blot gently with a paper towel. Generally, this will lift the stain out of the wool quickly and even remove it altogether after a few repetitions. Remember to be gentle and patient.
At all costs, avoid scrubbing or using any stiff or wiry bristles or brushes. These can scratch the carpet, opening up the rug's fibers and allowing the stain to penetrate even deeper. Be sure also to avoid harsh chemicals, as these can have damaging effects and will do a lot more harm than good.
If the stain does not come out with gentle blotting and dilution, or if you are uncomfortable trying these steps alone, consult a vintage rug cleaning professional.
Other Cleaning Techniques to Avoid
Here are a few cleaning techniques to avoid when caring for your vintage carpet.
Avoid Chemicals and Bleach: While it may be tempting to “deep clean” the rug with chemicals regularly, counterintuitively, this can damage the rug beyond repair. For this reason, it is imperative to avoid any bleach, acids, or other harsh cleaning chemicals.
Avoid the Dry Cleaners: Taking your rug to the dry cleaner can seem like a cheap and easy fix, but it may lead to costly or irreparable damage. Be sure to only bring your rug to certified professionals experienced in handling and caring for vintage carpets.
Caring for a Kilim Rug
One of the varieties of rug we sell at Merak is a Kilim rug. Because of the weaving technique and materials used, it requires different care than what is mentioned above. Unlike other rugs, Kilim rugs can be cleaned with a brush, cleaning solution, and gentle scrubbing.
After sweeping the rug to remove surface debris, mix a solution of 4.5 cups of water, a .5 cup gentle carpet shampoo, and a tablespoon of vinegar. Use a gentle brush to lightly scrub the solution into the carpet using vertical strokes across the length of the rug. Then, repeat the process with horizontal strokes. Finally, repeat both the horizontal and vertical strokes on the other side of the rug, and gently rinse clean with water. The rug can be laid flat to dry either indoors or outdoors.
Other Disclaimers
It is also important to note that there are many kinds of vintage carpets and rugs. Because each is made of a different material or has a different weaving style, many subtle intricacies vary from rug to rug. Be sure to pay careful attention to what your rug is made of and follow the specific cleaning methods that come with it. While the information above is good general advice, there is no one-size-fits-all method.
Caring for Your Vintage Rug or Carpet
Following these steps consistently will ensure that your rug lasts as long as possible.
Again, for the most intense stains, if you aren’t comfortable performing some of the deep cleaning methods on your own, it may be advisable to hire a professional to take care of the deep cleaning for you.
