Frequently Asked Questions
- How often should handmade rugs be washed.
Generally they should be washed every 2 to 4 years. They may look clean with naked eyes, but dust and dirt will gather into the foundation of the rug over time and act like abrasive, and unless it is cleaned properly and professionally, they can cause major damage and create unnecessary expensive repairs.
- When storing my rug, can I fold it?
Do not fold the rug for storage as the wool gets crushed in the folding areas and would be hard and sometimes, depending on the properties of individual rugs, it is impossible to reverse the situation.
- What should I do if someone spills something onto my rug?
Take action immediately. First blot as much of the spill as possible using a clean towel. Next, try to remove the stain by mixture of cold water and liquid soap. Most stains can be removed by applying soap and water applied by a soft brush. Blot the area until all of the moisture is gone. If the stain remains, repeat this procedure until it is gone. Now let the wet area air dry by allowing air to flow on both sides of the treated area. We have a cleaning chart on our maintenance page that you can consult.
- Do oriental rugs need padding?
Proper padding will not only keep your rug from slipping or wrinkling on carpet and any hard surface like tile, stone, concrete or wood, but it also adds to the life of your rug by preventing wrinkles and breakage of the pile. Make sure the padding you use is made of rubber for hard surfaces and specific industry standard padding to lay between the rug and carpet.
- What's the difference between a hand knotted and hand tufted rug?
The tufted rug is a semi handmade rug utilizing a device called a "tufting gun". There is no knotting in the tufted rugs and the wool used to make them are usually cheaper grade wool, therefore, they will never last as long as the hand knotted rug.
We have a lot of information about hand knotted rugs, machine made rugs and hand tufted rugs on our Rug Knowledge page.