Do you have an antique wool rug in your home? Are you concerned about how to properly maintain your antique rugs?
If so, then you are not alone. Most people don’t know how to preserve their antique rugs, which often leads to them getting damaged more easily. Unless you have experience with rug maintenance, you should always follow professional rug maintenance tips to preserve your Kafkazi rugs.
So, what rug maintenance works well for handmade wool rugs and what should you avoid? Read on to find out!
Why do Wool Rugs Require Special Care?
Antique wool rugs like Kafkazi rugs come in unique designs and blend in with any home décor setting. These rugs are made with 100% natural sheep wool, which makes them more durable than rugs made from cotton or synthetic materials.
You may have heard that many handmade rugs can last more than 100 years. However, to make your rugs last that long, you’ll need to follow the right maintenance procedures.
The best thing about Kafkazi rugs is that they don’t require much maintenance at all. So, next time you are looking for a rug that requires little to no maintenance, you should choose from online Kafkazi rugs for sale.
Kafkazi rugs and other wool rugs are both expensive and difficult to repair, which is why taking proper care of them should be a priority.
Don’ts of Wool Rug Maintenance
Before buying Kafkazi rugs online, you should be aware of how to properly take care of them. Some of these common maintenance mistakes can ruin your precious rug.
Here are some of the things that you should absolutely avoid when it comes to rug maintenance:
1. Don’t Walk on It with Shoes
This may be obvious, but you’ll be surprised at how many people trample over their rugs with dirty shoes. Wool rugs do not stain or get dirty quite easily, but they may still retain a lot of dirt in the fibers.
Trampling over your rugs with dirty shoes may reduce its lifetime. You’ll also have to clean it more often. In this case, prevention is better than cure.
2. Don’t Leave Spills to Set In
Wool is naturally water-resistant and will not soak up liquid quite easily. Handmade wool rugs like Kafkazi rugs do not stain easily. However, if you leave a spill on the rug for too long, then the stain may become permanent.
You’ll likely have to incur significant cleaning and repair costs. All for something that could have been cleaned with water had you acted in time.
If you want to keep your handmade wool rugs for longer, prevent spill damage as soon as you can.
3. Don’t Vacuum with a Beater Bar
Caring for your rugs may require you to vacuum them often. However, avoid vacuuming the rug with a beater bar. This will damage the rug's fibers and cause more dirt to get trapped inside the rug.
If you are going to vacuum your rug, always use the vacuum suction directly.
4, Don’t Use Dry Powder on Your Rug
Many people like to use dry powder to clean rugs, but you should avoid it if you have a handmade rug. Not only will the powder cause the rug to become messy, but it will also damage the fibers.
A better method is to vacuum or dust out your rugs every once in a while. The last thing you want is to start vacuuming the dry powder of your rugs!
5. Never Steam Clean Your Rug
One thing you should never do with large wool rugs is steam clean. Steam cleaning makes your rugs wet and moldy and can damage the natural fibers. It is also difficult to completely dry larger rugs using this method.
If you have chosen to buy a Kafkazi rug, then steam cleaning is a big no!
Do’s of Wool Rug Maintenance
Now that you know what to avoid when it comes to rug maintenance, it’s time to look at good rug maintenance tips. Here are some pro tips for keeping your wool rug in optimal condition:
1. Vacuum Your Rugs Often
Maintaining a handmade rug is not that difficult. Many of these rugs are made using genuine sheep wool, which is made to last for decades. As such, you won’t have to vacuum your rugs every day (unless you are a clean freak!).
In fact, experts recommend vacuuming wool rugs only twice a year.
When vacuuming your Kafkazi or other wool rugs, always use a dry vacuum as moisture will damage the rug.
2. Clean any Spills Immediately
So, you are hosting a party and suddenly one of the guests spills some juice onto the rug. What do you do? In such cases, always use a cloth or paper towel to soak up the liquid immediately.
Wool rugs don’t stain easily and it takes time for the stains to set in. If you clean up the liquid immediately, you’ll be able to preserve the rug for much longer.
3. Shake or Beat Your Rug
While it may sound primitive, beating your rug can remove more dust and dirt than vacuuming. When using this method to clean your rug, always may sure that you have it hanging on a string line and the weather is dry.
If you have a smaller wool rug, you can take it outside regularly to shake it.
4. Rotate Your Rugs Frequently
Do you want to know the secret to keeping Kafkazi and other cotton rugs last more than 100 years? The answer is to rotate the rug often. Most rugs will have certain areas that receive more foot traffic than others. These areas may create an imbalance in the rug’s shape.
When you rotate a new rug, you’ll help preserve the rug for much longer.
It’s often the simplest of methods that work best!
5. Use Professional Rug Cleaning
If you really want to preserve your rug for a lifetime, then you should have it cleaned once a year by professional carpet cleaners. Not only will they leave your rug looking brand new, but they will also help preserve the rug for longer.
Kafkazi rugs can be an expensive choice for your home. However, with quality care and by following the right maintenance tips, it is money well spent!
