A luxury rug is an investment. It’s also a beautiful piece of art. Caring for a tapestry is similar to caring for carpet. Although the tapestry resides on the floor, it’s possible to maintain its luster.
Here we provide seven tips to keep your rugs looking like new.
1. Vacuum Regularly
Homeowners can vacuum the carpet twice a week. For luxury rugs, vacuum them once every other week. Although most tapestries consist of wool as the main textile, you want to avoid over-vacuuming the rug’s details.
Antique rugs are more sensitive to the vacuum’s suction power.
2. Sweep Daily
Instead of vacuuming twice a week, sweep the rug daily. Your goal is to remove dust, debris, and pet hair.
If it seems like sweeping is no longer working, take the rug outside. Hang it and hit it with a broom. The action forces dust, debris, and pollutants off the tapestry.
3. Handle Spills Promptly
It’s impossible to prevent spills 100%. When it happens to your tapestry, clean it promptly. The instinct is to rub the spill with a towel. However, rubbing the fibers causes the substance to deepen.
How you clean the rug depends on the material. Some are more delicate than others.
In general, you can safely clean a spill by mixing a solution of water and mild soap. Use a soft bristle brush to gently scrub the spilled substance.
Next, blot the area until it feels dry. If you leave it wet or moist, the area becomes a magnet for dust, debris, and pollutants.
If you need to employ a hairdryer, it’s OK to do so. You can also place a small fan for quicker drying.
4. Trim Snags
When you notice a loose thread hanging from your sweater, pants, or blouse, you trim it. If you pull on the thread, it makes the situation worse. You risk pulling so much thread that it creates a visible hole or damage to the garment.
If you trim it, you save the garment, especially if it’s one of your favorites.
The same logic applies to a rug that has a visible snag. Nip it in the bud.
Trimming the snag allows the rug to continue looking like new. Plus, it prevents the snag from traveling further into the tapestry.
Lawrence of La Brea offers more guidance for those who need help caring for their luxury Persian rug.
5. Hire Professional Cleaners
Sometimes it’s best to leave things to the professionals. Industry insiders recommend professionally cleaning a rug once every 12 to 18 months. If it receives a lot of traffic, opt for an annual professional cleaning.
Professionals remove stains, even those that are not visible because they sink deep into the fibers. Professional cleaning also removes odors, pollutants, and pet hair.
Plus, they can turn the tapestry for you.
Professional cleaning is a great option for oversized rugs. It takes time to clean a space that measures 8’ by 12’. If the professionals deep clean the tapestry annually, you simply need to keep up the maintenance.
6. Use a Rug Pad
One way to protect your high-end rug is to protect it with a rug pad. The pad provides a grip for the tapestry and the floor. Thus it prevents the piece from shifting around.
A great way to keep your rug looking new is to leave it undisturbed. Every time you touch it with your hands, you transfer oils to it. If the rug shifts and remains in its shifted position, it impacts the delicate details.
In addition, a pad absorbs extreme heat and cold temperatures that emanate from a bare flood. The pad also helps soundproof a large living area situated in an open floor plan.
The bonus is that rug pads are budget-friendly. You’ll find them in several thicknesses and materials. Simply ensure that the pad is one inch smaller than the rug all the way around.
7. Place it in Low Traffic Areas
The best way to keep a luxury rug looking new is to place it in low-traffic areas. Some people treat tapestries like works of art. The more delicate the piece, the less traffic it can handle.
When you acquire your rug, take into consideration how you intend to use it. If it lives in the middle of the living room, it will receive less traffic. Those who have an open floor plan and a hallway can consider purchasing two tapestries.
Place the one that you’re OK receiving traffic in the hallway. Then place the more luxurious one as the centerpiece in your living room.
Conclusion
When you acquire a luxury rug, you invest in furnishings that last 50 years. Over 50 years, it’s important to properly care for it. By keeping it free of stains, dust, and debris, you can keep it looking new. Professional cleaning offers several benefits too.
