A Persian rug is a one-of-a-kind work of art that is known for transforming your home into a sophisticated and beautiful personal area. Persian rugs are made of natural fibers like silk, wool, cotton, etc; they enhance the appearance of your home and trap contaminants in the air to provide occupants with a fresh and healthy environment. To maintain these rugs for as long as possible rug owners should practice Persian rug cleaning. Persian rug maintenance is a delicate and time-consuming task, hence rug owners frequently entrust it to professionals.
Threats of leaving rugs unclean & untreated:
Rugs are like air ducts in your home they collect all the impurities in the air like dust, dirt, germs, pollens, pet dander, etc. Therefore just like an air duct, they require to be treated by qualified Persian rug cleaners every once in a while to avoid these two major threats:
Unhygienic environment- When you don’t clean rugs the dirt, dust, pollens, fungus, bacteria, etc embedded deep inside its fabric start polluting the air. This may lead to the spread of respiratory diseases like asthma, emphysema, sinusitis, etc. Unclean rugs are a playground for microbes like mold & dust mites which are known to spurge chronic diseases making your home unfit for survival.
Rug deterioration- Another major threat that you might have to face if you don’t opt for Persian rug cleaning is rug damage. A dirty rug is likely to have moth influx; moths feed on rugs fiber, and they lay eggs all over the rug and slowly disintegrate the fabric. The dirt & dust makes the rug appear dirty & eventually, you have to replace the rug with a new one.
How do professionals perform Persian rug cleaning?
Professionals are trained & armed with apt resources to clean rugs effectively right at your doorstep. They prefer performing tailor-made processes to clean rugs. The common process Persian rug cleaners follow is as follows:
Inspection- The process begins with experts monitoring the rug carefully from all sides to check for damage. At this point, they determine whether the rug has been damaged by stains, mold development, pests, or tainted water, and then determine which instruments and chemical blends will effectively clean the rug.
Color testing- A patch test is conducted on a corner of the rug to see if colors stay put or not. The solution to be used is applied so as to prevent further damage to the rug. This makes it possible to achieve greater results after a rug cleaning service.
Dry soil extraction- Dry dirt, dust particles, and other impurities are now extracted from the rug’s surface using a motorized vacuum cleaner. Persian rug cleaners are trained to use the dirt extractor without damaging the fabric.
Cleansing agents- To remove the damage, an organic cleansing detergent or stain/mold removal solution is applied all over the rug. For best results, the chemicals are let sit on the rug for a while.
Rinsing- The next step in Persian rug cleaning is rinsing; experts use clean water to rinse the rug thoroughly in the rug cleaning service. This helps get rid of chemical residues and refreshes your old, ugly rug.
Drying- A dehumidifier is used to extract moisture from the rug. This is the most important step in the process hence Persian rug cleaners use high-tech tools to dry the rug.
Conditioning- A conditioner is applied all over the rug to enhance its texture. The conditioner nourishes the fibers of the rug and brings its shine back. At times experts also repair fringe or resize rugs at this stage.
Finally, the rug is delivered to its owners and checked to ensure customer delight. Experts also guide rug owners on rug handling & Persian rug care.
Tips to clean Persian rugs at home:
Shake it off- Dust beating is the good old technique of getting rid of pollutants from your Persian rug. In this method you should hang the rug on a cloth line in a vacant space mostly outdoors and beat it using a stick until a cloud of dust comes out of it. One should be careful while doing this as the stick can ruin the rug if it has sharp edges. This method of Persian rug cleaning can remove dust, dirt & pet dander but remains ineffective for mold removal & stain removal.
Vacuum it- The most popular strategy rug owners rely upon is vacuuming rugs. Vacuuming temporarily extracts pollutants from the rug’s fabric; even though you cannot extract microbes with this method you can keep the rug clean & tidy until you hire qualified & professional Persian rug cleaners. Rugs that face heavy traffic should be vacuumed every alternate day and it should be done gently to prevent further wear & tear.
Shampooing- Shampooing will help you bring the shine back; just make sure you pick chemical-free shampoo so the harsh chemicals won’t ruin the rug’s fibers. Vacuum the rug before, apply shampoo and gently scrub using a brush, rinse the rug with clean water and dry it with a dryer. Persian rug cleaners suggest renting a drying so rugs dry faster so as to prevent mold growth. Make sure you don’t use the rug until it has dried completely.
Persian rugs are known to spruce up your home décor for ages. They are extremely delicate and can be maintained for years only with appropriate care & attention. If you aspire to pass on your favorite Persian rug as a family heirloom practicing Persian rug cleaning routinely is the key.