Care guide

Day-to-Day Care

Regularly vacuum your rug taking great care to avoid the fringes at the ends. They are an integral part of a hand-made rug and can get damaged so vacuum rug ends across the width, steering clear of the fringe. General weekly vacuuming will help prevent small particles from working their way into the pile of the rug and abrading the knots at the base. It’s also a good idea to turn the carpet over completely and repeat the process on the back – a very effective way of getting rid of debris.
  1. Act immediately: Don’t ignore the incident as delays can make things very difficult to deal with later. Any liquid spills should be soaked up immediately using plenty of high absorbency paper towels or undyed cotton towelling. Blot - don’t scrub!
  2. Removing solids: If the accident involves solids, start by stroking the surface of the rug to check which is the smooth, silky direction. Then using a pallet knife or something similar, slide under the solids in the direction of the smooth pile. This will prevent the solids from being forced into the pile and will make removal very easy.
  3. Cleaning:Never use wipes of any description as the components could harm your carpet, often some weeks or months later. They will alter the pH level in the carpet and the colour will start to change.
  4. Spot cleaning: A cleaning solution of 1 part white vinegar to 3 parts cold water is e ective for spot cleaning and will not harm any carpet. Fill a household plant spray/ mister with the solution, spray onto the a ected area and allow to dry. Don’t over saturate the carpet. Once dry, brush through the area with a soft bristle brush in the direction of the pile. To help dry the carpet, place a fan on the floor and allow a strong breeze to pass over the surface.
  5. Surface cleaning: Mix a capful of either Woolite or Sturgene with half a pint of water then agitate the solution to create froth. Using the suds rather than the solution, gently massage into the surface of the carpet with a soft brush or cloth, going from the outer edges of the mark towards the middle. Do not scrub the surface. Keep changing to a clean part of the cloth until the soiling is no longer visible then allow to dry. Once the surface is properly dry, brush softly over it in the direction of the pile. To help dry the carpet thoroughly, place a fan on the floor and allow a strong breeze to pass over the surface.
Common Stains Hints and Tips
Wine, Beer & Spirits Mop up the spill and lightly mist-spray with warm water. Massage in, keep changing the cloth then use surface cleaning method as mentioned previously.
Blood Mop up the spill and lightly mist-spray with warm water. Massage in, keep changing the cloth then use surface cleaning method as mentioned previously.
Candle Wax Make a thick pad of high absorbency paper towel, place it over the affected area and run a hot iron over the paper. As the wax melts the paper will absorb it.
Cola & Soft Drinks Mop up the spill and lightly mist-spray with warm water. Massage in, keep changing the cloth then use surface cleaning method as mentioned previously.
Urine (fresh) Mop up the spill and lightly mist-spray with warm water. Massage in, keep changing the cloth then use surface cleaning method as mentioned previously. Then use a clear household disinfectant.
Tea Mop up the spill and lightly mist-spray with warm water. Massage in, keep changing the cloth then use surface cleaning method as mentioned previously. Then use a solution made up of one third white vinegar and two thirds water.
Vomit Mix 1 teaspoon Woolite and 1 teaspoon of white vinegar with 1 litre of tepid water. Spray onto the surface and work in as per surface cleaning mentioned previously. Repeat as necessary then apply clear household disinfectant.
Ink (ball point) Tease the ink off using a cotton bud dipped in methylated spirits. Do not saturate the carpet with methylated spirits as the ink will bleed into the carpet and the colours may run.
Faeces Mix 1 teaspoon white vinegar and 1 teaspoon Woolite with 1 litre warm water and apply as per surface cleaning above. Then use clear household disinfectant followed by warm water sprayed and worked into the carpet.


Important:

All of the following are suggestions for use in exceptional circumstances when professional services are unavailable. If in doubt, always test a discreet area before taking any action.

  1. It’s absolutely vital to ensure that the carpet is thoroughly dried after any intervention. The best way is to use a fan.
  2. Don’t be tempted to stretch a wet carpet or rug over something to get it dry from underneath. This will cause the structure to stretch resulting in puckering that can’t be rectifed.

When you have decided upon your new rug, we strongly recommend that if the rug is placed upon wooden flooring (tiled and flagstones) you purchase an underlay. This is essential if the floor is uneven or has gaps between the boards, under such circumstance a felt underlay will be required. This will substantially improve the life of the rug, preventing premature ware. For carpeted floors and at hard floors (Karndean or composite flooring) you may find that your new rug might slip or move. For this we supply the brand leading product Foxi®. This product has been designed for use on either surface type depending on which way up it is laid. For additional advice on your underlay and our recommendations please ask a member of the team for more details.

Carpet Protection: General Soiling

Dealing with general soiling is easy to get wrong and needs to be done with great care. The natural oil content of the wool protects your rug and cleaning will remove some of that protection so stick to regular household care and maintenance as long as you can. Don’t hire any kind of do-it-yourself equipment. You have invested in a rug that could give you a lifetime of service so don’t run any risks.

Most good Oriental rug and carpet suppliers will offer a tailored cleaning service. We have been using the same highly skilled specialist contractor for more than 20 years, who collects the rugs from us then tests them before deciding on an appropriate cleaning method. Once they have been cleaned and dried, they are returned to us, often dramatically improved. The cost of our cleaning service depends on a number of factors, including the degree of soiling and size. Please email us the measurements and any relevant information and we’ll provide a quote. It’s always best to thoroughly vacuum your rug, front and back, before bringing it in to our Tewkesbury shop for cleaning. This allows you to check it over thoroughly and avoid extra cleaning charges. We don’t offer a home collection service, however if you can’t drop your rug off at the shop, you could send by courier (insured)..

Carpet Protection: General Notes & Warnings

Colour transfer

As these rugs are handmade and hand dyed in certain circumstances deep colours may transfer to the flooring underneath. (Dye Transfer) We therefore recommend the use of a suitable underlay to prevent expensive carpet or flooring being affected.
Long threads keep appearing

This is perfectly normal and is not to the detriment of the rug. The surface of your carpet has been clipped short during manufacture. The wool used is often very curly and can settle within the surface of the carpet and be missed when initial clipping takes place. ‘Use’ and ‘warmth’ will result in these rogue tufts appearing, simply cut them off as they appear. This phenomena is known as sprouting in the trade.
Photograph your rug

You have invested in a unique hand made product, it cannot be replaced with an identical piece. It is worth photographing the rug and keeping a digital record for your insurers. Hopefully it will never be needed however, it may be well worth the time taken.
Additional services available

TAKE A LOOK AT THE WIDE RANGE OF TRADITIONAL AND ORIENTAL RUGS

TAKE A LOOK AT THE WIDE RANGE OF TRADITIONAL AND ORIENTAL RUGS

on our website or come and visit us at our period Tudor shop in the medieval town of Tewkesbury, only a stone’s throw from Tewkesbury Abbey.

on our website or come and visit us at our period Tudor shop in the medieval town of Tewkesbury, only a stone’s throw from Tewkesbury Abbey.

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