The charm and enchanting appeal that a handmade rug adds to spaces is unmatchable in the eyes of many interior decorators. Exquisite artifacts such as handmade Khal Mohammadi rugs are crafted over a time period of multiple months and only the best professional weavers do the job.
But, as they say, with beauty comes pain.
Handmade rugs are often thought of as hard to clean and maintain. That’s because the fibers of a wool rug can trap dust and dirt particles in it. But the real question is:
Can your rug become a death trap during the current COVID-19 pandemic?
The Lifespan of COVID-19 on Rugs and Carpets
Covid-19 and other such infectious viruses are spread majorly through sneezing, coughing, or via physical contact with an infected person. The lifespan of these viruses on objects and surfaces depends majorly on the environmental temperature, humidity, and the porosity of the said object.
If you’re living in a state that has a dry, cold environment, the germs of COVID-12 would have an extended lifespan as compared to their lifespan in hot climatic regions. Moreover, on porous surfaces, the lifespan of COVID-19 virus is low than on non-porous surfaces.
Hence, if you have a wool handmade rug on your living room floor, the chances of you contracting the deadly COVID-19 virus from the rug are really low.
But still you need to keep in mind that COVID-19 and other such viruses can survive on a surface from 2 hours to a few days, depending on the factors discussed above.
Should You Disinfect Your Rugs?
YES!
After you’ve purchased an expensive Khal Mohammadi rug online, or any other Oriental rug, keeping it in a good condition might be on the top of your mind until the deadly COVID-19 erupted. Now, you must be thinking about keeping the rug free of germs more than just cleaning it.
Even if you use a vacuum cleaner on your rug regularly, know that cleaning, sanitizing, and disinfecting are all different procedures with different results.
While a Khal Mohammadi rug or any other carpet cannot be disinfected, it can surely be sanitized. That’s because the term disinfecting means all germs, bacteria and microbial contaminated droplets are killed or removed from the surface, and that is only possible in the case of non-porous surfaces.
Since handmade Oriental rugs are all non-porous, they cannot be disinfected because the wool fibers and small holes in a rug’s surface continue collecting dirt, germs, and bacteria even after you’ve used a disinfectant.
But the good news is the lifespan of bacteria and infectious germs is relatively low on porous surfaces than the non-porous ones. So, you’re better off with an area rug covering the majority of your living room floor than hard wood flooring or tiles, because on these non-porous surfaces the virus can actually survive for days.
Nevertheless, when a virus outbreak starts risking the lives of people in the way COVID-19 is doing now, the only thing you can do to stay safe is maintain a good personal hygiene and try to keep your home free of germs. Sanitizing your carpets or rugs comes as a part of this process.
How to sanitize a handmade wool or silk rug at home?
Wear a pair of disposable gloves that could be discarded immediately after the sanitizing process is complete. Now get a disinfectant or sanitizer that is effective against COVID-19 and start sanitizing your rug.
Remember that substances such as vinegar or baking soda aren’t effective in killing harmful bacteria and germs. These ingredients can only aid in cleaning stains from your Khal Mohammadi rug or for getting rid of bad odor.
After you’ve sanitized the rug, leave it to dry out properly and make sure there’s good ventilation around the room. Wet rugs can start growing bacteria, producing bad odor, and may even become home to mold or insects.
Cleaning and Maintenance Tips by Rug Experts
Cleaning handmade rugs, such as Khal Mohammadi rugs, is a must for various reasons. Majorly, the rugs need to be cleaned on a regular basis to avoid germ spread and growth of bacteria in the wool fibers. Additionally, keeping your rug clean would also increase its life and make it stay fresh all year round.
Here are some tips by rug experts that you might be interested in following:
- Use a vacuum cleaner with an HEPA filter to clean your rug at least 2-3 times every week
- Don’t walk over the rug with muddy shoes on. It’s best to go bare feet or use indoor slippers
- If the rug isn’t too big, pick it up and take the rug outdoors to shake the excessive dirt and dust out of it
- Try the popular baking soda and vinegar hack in case of bad odor, pet urine, or to refresh the vibrant colors of your rug
- Avoid washing a handmade wool rug, such as an expensive Khal Mohammadi at home by yourself. Leave this task to the professional rug cleaners
- Keep your rug out of direct sunlight as UV rays can make the rug colors fade away
- Don’t leave the stains unattended for too long. Dried out and old stains are harder to clean and can even damage your rug for life
- In case of liquid spills, dab the affected area immediately with a clean hand towel, or use paper towels to soak up the excess liquid. Then clean with a wet cloth by dabbing on the rug
To sum it up, rugs are not a health hazard during the times of COVID-19. In fact, viruses and germs have a shorter lifespan on porous surfaces such as rugs. So, whether it’s a Khal Mohammadi rug that you bought online, a tribal rug, or a Pakistani carpet adoring your living room floors, the likelihood of COVID-19 spreading because of the floor covering is very low!
