Originating from China, Iran, and India, Oriental rugs are a staple in your home decor. These rugs are woven with traditionally artistic designs, which are as exquisite as they are vibrant. Not only do they elevate a room but they also offer warmth to the overall allure of the space. Most Oriental rugs are made of heavy fabrics such as wool or cotton (and sometimes even silk!) and are largely used for practical and symbolic purposes. The sheer fabrics with which these rugs are made make it vital to be vigilant about cleaning them to prevent the rugs from dust, stains, and grime. So, if you want to maintain the longevity of your Oriental rug, it is imperative to keep it clean and stain-free.

How often should I clean my rug?

It is vital to understand how frequently it is recommended to clean your rug so it doesn’t wear out and get frayed. The most optimum frequency for cleaning your carpets is once every two weeks. This is particularly recommended if your rug covers a wide area and is used regularly. However, if your rug is exposed to toddlers and little kids that can cause it to stain routinely, then vacuuming and steaming your carpet should be your first line of defense every single week or so. It is also advised to get your rugs professionally cleaned at least twice a year to maintain their upkeep and their great appearance.

10 tips on how to clean Oriental Rugs

While cleaning your Oriental rug serves to be a bit challenging, it is totally worth it in the long run! After all, who wants their lovely rugs to be stained with dirt and grime? This is the perfect guidepost for anyone browsing for ways to keep their Oriental rugs well-maintained and clean.

1. Get rid of the dirt

Vacuuming is the perfect solution for getting rid of dirt. Yes, vacuuming, you read that right. While the thought of vacuuming your lovely Oriental rugs invites doubts and skepticism, it is to be noted that it is an essential part of their cleaning process. Unless you own a type of rug that is incredibly unique and antique, it is recommended to simply vacuum it at home instead of getting it cleaned professionally. Begin by vacuuming the upper half of the rug using only the suction hand attachment. Then proceed to turn your rug over and vacuum it completely from top to bottom. This cleaning process will help decrease the amount of dirt that gets stuck in the rug’s fibers.

2. Fip the rug

One of the key concerns of keeping an Oriental rug is that its fringes quickly become knotted, causing your rug’s fibers to harm and significantly ruin the appearance and feel of your carpet. In order to naturally straighten the fringes, turn the rug from end to end and enable the fringes to straighten themselves out naturally and prevent your rug from wearing down.

3. Shake it off

Debris and dust tend to get accumulated on Oriental rugs quite easily, which is why you should consider gently shaking your rug to sweep off all the dust.

4. Avoid exposing your carpet to sunlight

The color in an Oriental rug might fade drastically over time due to exposure to sunshine. To avoid early fading, try to keep the carpet out of direct sunlight as much as possible. However, if your rug occupies more space, moving around might be pretty impossible, which is why it is recommended to rotate your rug as often as possible to ensure more consistent fading.

5. Wipe away

Either make use of a damp cloth or sponge and wipe off the dust and debris from your rug. This is a safer alternative than sweeping it off entirely and accidentally damaging your carpet in the process.

6. Use natural ingredients to clean spills

Remove pet or coffee stains using vinegar, water, and detergent. To remove tough stains, combine 1/4 cup white vinegar and 1/2 teaspoon liquid dishwashing soap in a bucket with 2 cups of room temperature and soak a cloth in this mixture. Additionally, press down the cloth and spot clean the spills to keep your rug clean and ward off any odors.

7. Steaming

Cleaning with steam is a method consisting of two steps: the rug is first sprayed with a solution that removes stains and residue from carpets, and the residue is then extracted with high heat using a steam rug cleaner. If you are equipped with adequate knowledge on thoroughly steaming your rugs and are paired with the appropriate cleansing tools, you may opt for steaming as a do-it-yourself project. However, it is not recommended to do so. Steaming and thoroughly cleaning an Oriental rug is not a delicate method and requires the kind of skill only professional cleaners possess. This is why you should contact any professional cleansers to steam your carpet and restore its appearance.

8. Dust some talcum powder

To get rid of smells, use talcum powder. Once you’re done properly cleaning your rug, sprinkle some talcum powder on the surface and let it sit overnight. The powder will absorb any strong odors reeking from the carpet. The next day, make use of the vacuum to remove the powder from your carpet.

9. Sweep

The easiest method to immediately clean your rug is to sweep it with either a broom or an electric carpet sweeper (which is the safest way for cleaning Oriental rugs). To clean your rug for the first time:

• Use a broom with straw bristles or a carpet sweeper.
• Sweep from end to end in one direction. You should avoid rubbing your broom back and forth since you could damage it.
• When you’ve finished sweeping the entire rug, repeat the process and go over it again.

10. Lemon rinse

Identify the soiled part of your rug and remove it with a lemon rinse. This technique is quite simple since all it requires is cutting a lemon in half and squeezing it over the surface of your Oriental rug for an hour or two before washing away any traces of odor with water and dishwashing soap.