How To Care For and Clean Your Arts & Crafts Rugs

I was at the website this past week for Aspen Carpet Designs, located outside Chicago in Mokena, Illinois. In addition to their wide selection of Arts & Crafts, Prairie School and Mid-Century style rug designs, they had some great tips for how to care for and clean your wool rugs, some of which I have included here for you:

An area rug receives a lot of abuse from dirt, sand, dust, various spills and foot traffic. Vacuuming area rugs with a quality machine will go a long way towards prolonging the appearance and life of your carpet.

Vacuuming is the best way to remove everyday dirt and dust. In the first year, we recommend vacuuming at least two or three times a week to remove excess fuzz that accumulates on the rug surface. This 'fuzzing' is perfectly normal and in no way shortens the life of your rug. It is merely the result of loose fibers created during the weaving process.

• Make sure that the beater bar is actually rotating when in contact with the area rug. A worn belt will reduce rotation when the bar contacts the area rug.
• Adjust the height of the beater bar so that it lightly vibrates the area rug, but will not cause the motor to slow.
• Check the vacuum bag regularly. A vacuum will become less efficient if the debris bag becomes over half full.
• Vacuum across both directions of the traffic pattern to prevent matting.

Vacuuming removes most dry soil, but street grime, oily soils, and air pollution can build up and cause gradual dulling. In this case your area rug may require cleaning. Here are some tips:

Dry Foam with an Absorbent Pad: This is our recommended method. It uses very little water to create a light detergent foam that is worked into the pile, then vacuumed out when dry.

Steam Cleaning: This method is most effective when performed by a professional, although many rug cleaning machines may be purchased or rented. The dangers of performing this method on your own comes in using too much detergent or water. Some cleaning agents available with rented units leave a heavier residue, so use care or the advice of a professional when choosing a product. Test the product on a small area to check for residue or a sticky feel. Do not use if a residue exists, or if you are in doubt about a product. Finally, do not use laundry detergents to clean your area rug, as they may contain harmful chemical brighteners.

"Oxy" Cleaners: Synthetic fibers - fine. Wool fibers - No! There are many oxygen cleaners on the market that are environmentally safe and work well for spot cleaning various stains on synthetic fiber area rugs. Most of these cleaners are biodegradable and form oxygen, hydrogen peroxide and soda ash when mixed with water. Soda ash is sodium carbonate and has alkaline properties. Do not use this cleaning method on wool or silk and avoid prolonged skin contact.

Dry Powders: We do not recommend using dry powders with plush or deep pile area rugs, as the cleaning residue may be difficult to remove. If the area rug is heavily soiled, we recommend a different procedure or using a professional.

Stain Removal: If an area rug becomes spotted or stained, work quickly. When possible, scoop up solids and blot liquids immediately after a spill occurs. Absorb as much liquid as possible with a white cloth or paper towel without scrubbing the area to prevent matting or fuzzing.

Here are some additional tips:

Wool - Excessive agitation and heat should be avoided, but generally wool fibers may be cleaned with most cleaning methods. Wool should be cleaned with neutral detergents and dried quickly. Use special care around household cleaning products, as bleaches and other alkaline products such as bathroom cleaners easily damage wool.

Cotton/Rayon - Cotton and rayon are cellulose fibers and may be cleaned using all cleaning methods. To avoid shrinking and possible browning, avoid excessive drying and agitation. As with wool, take care with alkaline products.

Silk - Silk should be cleaned using a dry cleaning process. These fibers may be damaged by natural and synthetic acids (e.g. lemon juice) and sunlight. Consult a rug cleaning specialist for additional information about cleaning silk.

Many thanks to our friends at Aspen Carpet Designs. To see their complete line of designs, go to http://www.AspenCarpetDesigns.com.

- Bruce