Recently we sat down with one of Safe-Dry® Carpet Cleaning of Germantown’s Rug Cleaning Specialist and asked him a few questions. See what he had to say!
Q. Oriental-style rugs are sold everywhere. How do you know it’s a good rug?
A. I get that question a lot. If you can see the same design on the back as on the front, that’s a woven rug. Buy that, not a tufted rug which has a canvas or burlap material on the back. Those are typically made in India and China, where they use a lot of glue and sometimes cheaper latex. It looks like a pile rug but may last only 5 or 10 years. Woven wool rugs last centuries. Wool is more expensive, but the best in my opinion; it’s practically indestructible and sustainable. Hand-woven is the most valuable. It’s a piece of the weaver’s soul.If your going to buy a machine-woven rug, I would recommend a Karastan, they make very good rugs.
Q. I’ve heard of artificial or “art silk.” What does that mean?
A. I had a decorator come by with a rug and say, “It’s a wool and silk rug.” I had to say, “It’s a wool and viscose rug.” It was labeled “manmade silk.” You’d think that means silkworm silk, not machine-made viscose. Viscose rayon is weaker. It yellows, doesn’t hold colors. It sheds. If you buy a room-size silk rug, and it’s under $1,000, it may not be real silk.
Q. Can you vacuum too much?
A. Today’s vacuums may be too aggressive, especially if there is hard floor underneath. You need to sweep a wool rug with a carpet sweeper. When you vacuum, once a week or two, use a canister vacuum, and set the beater bar high for less abrasion. Vacuum from side to side, not end-to-end, so you don’t grab the fringe. Once a year, take the rug outside and vacuum the back to get embedded dirt out that causes fiber wear. Then vacuum the top again. If you whack a corner and see a dust poof, it needs to be professionally cleaned.
Q. You say rugs should be cleaned every year or two. Why?
A. Even if a rug doesn’t look dirty, it slowly gets duller and the fringe starts to look bad. If you wait, dust, especially silica, sinks down. Whether the base is cotton or wool, when it’s walked on, those pieces saw away at the fiber. That’s what makes a rug go bare, not foot traffic. It’s foot traffic on a rug that hasn’t been swept, beaten and cleaned — even if it has a good rubber rug pad underneath, which cushions compression.
Q. What are common mistakes?
A. Putting a plant on a rug. Years later, you take the rug up, and a perfect circle drops out. The pad doesn’t allow air to circulate. A wool rug may feel dry, but moisture has seeped to the bottom. First mildew, then dry rot, and you have to repair.
Q. Do you handle all kinds of rugs?
A. Yes we do. We can professionally clean your everyday area rugs, all the way up to priceless Navajo rugs, which are similar to Afghani rugs in that they can bleed when they get wet. We wouldn’t let that happen though.
Call Safe-Dry® Carpet & Rug Cleaning of Germantown Today For The Very Best In Oriental & Area Rug Cleaning! 901-530-8370.
