Oriental rugs are beautiful, handcrafted pieces of art, and unfortunately one stain can cause your rug to lose significant value and appeal. But as we all know, spills happen and pets have accidents. If your Oriental rug is located in a high-traffic area where food or pets are common, it’s a good idea to know exactly what to do in case a spill happens, and when to know it’s time for the rug to be cleaned professionally.
Oriental rugs, while usually wool, often have a highly absorbent cotton base. What this means for you when spills happen, is that the spot on the surface may be small but the spill has spread throughout a large area below the surface of your Oriental rug. Moisture in general can lead to mildew and dry rot issues, food spills can attract unwanted bugs, and pet accidents undoubtedly cause unwanted odors to linger.
Cleaning up spills as soon as they happen is the best way to prevent damage from food and drink spills that occur on your Oriental rugs. Most spills of this kind can be blotted up quickly, protecting the innermost fibers of your rug from damage. Some spills, however, especially those that are acidic liquids like juice, soda, coffee or tea, can penetrate and spread within your rug, sometimes causing discoloration or fading.
Further, if spills are not cleaned promptly or the Oriental rug is not allowed to dry thoroughly after cleaning, there is a greater risk of mildew or dry rot damaging your rug. Depending on the size of the spill and the level of damage possible, it may be best to have an Oriental rug cleaning professional at PCS Niagara wash your rug as soon as possible.
If you have a beautiful, hand-woven Oriental rug and pets, be aware that these two things generally do not mix. As every pet owner knows, accidents do sometimes happen, whether a pet is sick, is locked inside too long without a potty break, or if they are just excited by hustle and bustle of a holiday party or event and lose control. All these things are possible, and all can damage your Oriental rug.
Pet soils are highly acidic and almost always lead to staining and discoloration of your Oriental rugs. Pet soils easily penetrate the wool surface of the rug and are absorbed across a much larger area of the cotton foundation. While you can usually blot and dry the area on the surface, it is impossible to clean the interior of the rug without doing a thorough wash at a professional Oriental rug cleaning plant like PCS Niagara.
If you have a spill or accident on your Oriental rug, there are a few things you will need to know before you attempt to clean the stain. If the dyes in your rug are fugitive or will transfer or bleed, you should use a mixture of equal parts white vinegar and cool water to blog out the stain. On colorfast Oriental rugs, club soda should be used. For pet stains always use white vinegar and cool water.
Use a sponge to dampen the area to be cleaned and then blot the area dry using a cotton towel. You may want to place a towel above and beneath the stain on the rug to help wick moisture out of the rug. Always blot, never rug. The Oriental rug should be thoroughly dry after spot cleaning, and you can use a fan, a blow dryer on the lowest setting, or prop up the rug to encourage airflow.
You should never use chemical cleaners on Oriental rugs, as you will run the risk of color loss, bleeding, discoloration, yellowing, and fiber damage. For pet stains, to eliminate the odor you will also need to use an enzyme cleaner safe for use on wool rugs after the stain has been blotted away. If the stains do not come out or odors persist, enlist the help of a professional Oriental rug cleaner at PCS Niagara.
Thanks to www.rugchick.com for contributing information for this article. To learn more about cleaning Oriental rugs please visit www.rugchick.com or call PCS Niagara at 289-271-0163.
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