How to Protect and Preserve Your Persian and Oriental Rugs

Persian and Oriental rugs epitomize beauty and sophistication. Perhaps surprisingly for many first-time owners, they’re also remarkably durable. Oriental and Persian rugs admittedly aren’t cheap, but they can be a worthy investment. In fact, if they're cared for properly, high-quality Persian and Oriental rugs can last for centuries. The key phrase there is "if cared for properly." Although they’re hand-woven from the finest materials and made to last, owners still need to be mindful of the things that could undermine their long-term integrity and value, which is more challenging than many antique rug buyers may realize.

At Steve's Carpet Care & Restoration, we’ve been helping Colorado homeowners care for their Persian rugs for more than 45 years. With decades of experience as certified cleaning and restoration specialists, we’ve learned everything there is to know about the ways Persian and Oriental rugs get damaged - and the right ways to clean and maintain them to prevent stains and degradation. Review our guide to learn the top sources of Persian and Oriental rug damage, and the cleaning process our professionals follow to protect your rugs from needless damage and preserve their lasting quality.

How Do Oriental and Persian Rugs Get Dirty and Damaged?

Whether they be Persian, Bokhara, Ikat, or Chobi Oriental rugs are, unfortunately, dirt magnets. In fact, by the time your Oriental rug looks dirty, there are often several pounds of dirt and other contaminants in the fabric. That kind of dirt load is hard on the carpet, and it's a source of major damage to the integrity of the fabric. Many people damage their Persian and Oriental rugs in this way and others without meaning to - not knowing that their actions reduce their rugs’ value and longevity over time.

How do Persian and Oriental rugs typically get so dirty and damaged? Well-meaning rug owners can accidentally cause damage in the following ways.

• Direct Sunlight - The power of the sun should never be underestimated. And just as you would never hang a Rembrandt in direct sunlight so too you should never lay a Persian carpet in a place where it will be exposed to direct sunlight. UV rays are incredibly powerful and over time, they’ll act as bleach on the colors of your beautiful Persian. The problem becomes particularly acute if only one part of the rug is exposed to direct sunlight during the day. In no time you’ll notice that half your rug looks faded while the other half has deep rich colors. And once gone, no amount of rug cleaning will restore those faded colors.
• Air Exposure - Rugs are some of the best passive air filters around. Any dust, pet hair, human hair, or other airborne debris that comes anywhere near them usually winds up being pulled in by the fibers in the carpet and staying until the rug is cleaned. Unlike a hardwood or tile floor with a smooth surface, there is plenty of room within and between the fibers of the carpet to trap and hold contaminants. Lots of contaminants. Professional Persian rug cleaning like you’ll get from Steve's Carpet Care & Restoration gets right down into the base of the pile and removes every last particle of dirt and debris.
• Foot Traffic - Oriental rugs are both extremely beautiful and extremely functional. You don’t buy these stunning rugs to hang them on the wall (at least most people don’t), you get them to lay on the floor. Not only do Oriental and Persian rugs look good, they also feel great underfoot. As a result, they usually wind up in areas that receive lots of foot traffic: the foyer, the living room, and perhaps the dining room. However, if you really want your expensive rug to last you’ll place it in an area where foot traffic is at a minimum. For instance, placing it in the dining room or den instead of the living room or entryway will greatly reduce the damage done to the rug over time. Another way to ensure a long life for your precious rug (and minimize the need for rug cleaning) is to insist that your family and houseguests remove their shoes before walking on your rug whenever possible. And no matter where you place it, you should try and rotate it at least once or twice a year to encourage even wear and tear.

• Outdoor Contaminants - Unless your home is vacuum-sealed against the outdoors (and no house is) every time the front door, back door, garage door, or a window is opened soot, pollen, mold spores and a host of other allergens and pollutants rush in. These pollutants don’t just disappear. They wind up on and in everything. And when they land on the Persian carpet they come to stay. There they join dust mites, dried mud, mold colonies, bacteria, and other contaminants in an Oriental carpet stew. The best way to prevent this from damaging your carpet or potentially causing allergic reactions or illness is to take advantage of the rug cleaning services we offer on an annual or bi-annual basis.
• Pets - We love our dogs and cats but it can’t be denied that they generate a ton of pet hair and dander that winds up in the Persian carpet. Depending on what breed of pet you have (and how many) a majority of the contaminants lodged in the fabric of the carpet may come from them. Especially if they tend to sleep on the carpet. A simple vacuum isn’t going to dislodge pet hair that has been pressed deep into the fabric of the carpet by people walking on it. You need Steve’s deep cleaning services for your carpets and area rugs to reach down to the root of the carpet and pry all that old pet hair loose.

• Shedded Skin - Did you know that the average adult sheds eight pounds of skin (or more) each year? It’s true. So let’s say for the sake of argument that you spend half your life in your home. That means you wind up shedding 4 pounds of skin cells every year in your house. While some of that is shed in the shower and carried away down the drain more than half of it (we’ll say 2 pounds to be conservative) ends up in other places around the house including your Persian carpet. Now multiply that by the number of adults in the house and then add 1 pound for every teenager and another ½ pound for every child under 10 and it should become apparent to you that a lot of the "debris" removed through the process of Oriental rug cleaning is actually dead skin. Ewwww...
• Infrequent Dusting and Vacuuming - Colorado is a beautiful place but with all the dust, dirt, tree pollen, and more in the air it’s also tough on rugs and upholstery. As we mentioned above, dust from the great outdoors inevitably finds its way into all the homes here and ultimately winds up settling into the pile of your carpet or Persian rug. And let's face facts - Oriental rug cleaning will certainly remedy this situation, but you can’t send your Persian off to be cleaned every month. Exposure to varied sources of dust and debris will cause damage over time, regardless of your diligence, but a little maintenance goes a long way. In between cleanings, the rug needs to be dusted and vacuumed on a regular basis. When we say "dusting" we mean gently working the rug using a soft bristle broom. You should do this once a month and then follow up with a light vacuum to collect dust and dirt loosened by the brush.
• Slow Response to Spills - Any time a food or drink is spilled on the rug it must be addressed immediately or you run the risk of the stain settling in. Once that happens it will be devilishly difficult to remove, even for a professional. If you spill something on the rug take a clean, damp cloth and press it into the spill or soiled area. If there is a great deal of liquid to be collected wring the cloth out, rinse it with clean water, wring it again, and apply it again to the spill. Do this as many times as necessary to soak up all the liquid.
• Hanging the Rug to Dry - Sometimes people take Persian rug cleaning upon themselves. This by itself will likely contribute to shortening the life of the rug. But where they really mess up is hanging the rug to dry afterward. A Persian should never be hung to dry for any reason. The weight of the wet rug will cause the fabrics to stretch and can potentially distort the rug in a way you’ll never be able to fix.
• Improper Storing - This is one of the most common ways people damage their beautiful Oriental rugs. They’ll roll them up, wrap them in plastic, and then stand them in the corner of the garage or attic. There are so many things wrong with storing a Persian rug this way it’s hard to know where to begin. But the main problem is that wrapping the rug in plastic is going to seal in any moisture and promote rot and the development of mold. Standing it up (presumably to save space) will cause the weight of the rug to press down on one side, permanently disfiguring the rug and damaging the edge it’s standing on. In a perfect world, the rug will be rolled loosely, not wrapped, and stored lying down in a dry, cool place.

Steve's Carpet Care & Restoration’s Time-Tested Rug Cleaning Method

When you entrust the cleaning of your valuable Persian rug to the pros at Steve's Carpet Care & Restoration you can rest assured it’s in good hands. Our tried and true method of Oriental rug cleaning involves the following six steps:

1. Initial Inspection - The first thing we do is hang the rug up and give it a careful but thorough beating. This removes as much loose dirt and debris as possible and makes the rest of the process easier. We then inspect it. This will tell us how the rug needs to be treated and whether we have to give special TLC to any sections of the rug. This way we ensure the cleaning process does not exacerbate any existing problems. If we notice any areas that need carpet repair, we’ll inform you of that before proceeding.
2. Spot Treatments - Once as much loose dirt and debris as possible has been beaten out of the rug and the border-to-border inspection completed we spot-treat any areas that might need it. Spot treatment is typically reserved for stains or areas where dirt and grime are particularly concentrated. Spot treatment is not usually necessary if your rug is in a low-use area and you have it cleaned on a regular basis.
3. Pet Urine Treatments - This is a particular type of spot treatment that uses different cleaners that are used for say, wine stains. Spot-treating pet stains prior to the full wash will not only remove the stain but help to ensure that your beautiful Persian is completely odor-free when we return it to you.
4. Full Professional Wash - With our full professional wash we get deep down to the base of the carpet to root out dirt, grime, pet hair, and other allergens. We use only the highest quality detergents specially formulated for Oriental rug cleaning. When the wash is complete we rinse the carpet thoroughly, removing every last vestige of detergent.
5. Grooming - After the rug has been thoroughly rinsed we conduct a light grooming to restore its loft and vibrance. This is done by hand using special high-quality grooming brushes. It’s crucial that the rug be properly groomed before it’s allowed to dry so that the pile all winds up going in the right direction. If you let the rug dry without grooming it first it will wind up looking dull and worn when you lay it back down. Once grooming is complete the rug is allowed to air dry in the traditional manner.
6. Post-Wash Inspection - After the rug has dried we lay it out and conduct another comprehensive inspection. We double-check all areas that require spot cleaning to make sure they are thoroughly clean and that they don’t stand out from the rest of the rug. If touchups are necessary we undertake them at this point before returning the rug to you.

Why Isn’t Oriental Rug Cleaning Done in the Home?

The first time people call to have their rug cleaned they’re often surprised that we need to remove it from their house to do the work. We totally understand what they’re thinking. Will they ever see it again? Will the cleaners pull the old switch-a-roo? But while we understand why rug owners are nervous there are some very good reasons why we can’t just clean your Persian carpet where it sits

• The Beating - That beating process we discussed above is absolutely necessary to shake loose as much dirt, pet hair, and debris as possible. In order to do this we need to hang the rug up. Also, beating the rug in this manner tends to raise a pretty substantial cloud of dust. A cloud of dust you don’t want wafting through your home. For those reasons, this part of the process cannot be done in-house.
• The Washing - Oriental rug cleaning cannot be conducted in the home because the washing process itself is different from that used to wash standard wall-to-wall. Persian rug cleaning is a hands-on affair and typically involves far more water and detergent than is used on an everyday wall to wall carpeting.
• The Drying - The last step in Persian rug cleaning is to hang the rug up and let it air dry. If you shampoo the rug and leave it on the floor to dry you’ll damage the integrity of the fibers and invite all kinds of mold and bacteria to take root in the rug.

Each year, there are more than 100 million Americans affected by allergies. Continued exposure to dust mites, pet dander and other common indoor allergens can significantly worsen allergy symptoms. As such, having your wall-to-wall carpets cleaned by Steve’s truck-mounted steam cleaning machine, or enlisting the pros from Steve’s to clean your Oriental rugs, is one of the best ways to rid your home of harmful allergens and reduce the threat of allergies and respiratory illness such as asthma.

To ensure a long life for your Persian and Oriental rugs and reduce your exposure to allergens, it's essential to take the above tips to heart and consistently schedule specialty rug cleaning from professional, certified cleaning teams like ours. By following these tips, your beautiful Persian rug will enhance your lifestyle and add value to your home for decades to come.

Steve's Carpet Care & Restoration is proud to offer professional cleaning services in Boulder, Westminster, and beyond as top-rated local professionals. Contact our team today to learn more about our professional rug cleaning services and restore your beautiful Oriental to its intended, healthy luster.