We adore our ready-made, low-cost rugs and carpets, but nothing compares to the allure of a vintage or antique carpet.
Such complex items have a beauty that no one in the retail industry seems to be able to match. Vintage carpets can instantly warm up a room while also adding a lot of charm.
A vintage rug is a perfect way to add personality to the table (sorry, floor).
How frustrating would it be to discover that your prized rugs, which have been meticulously made, have been damaged?
It would most likely be terrifying!
You’ll undoubtedly want to keep your carpets in good shape so that they last a long time, but cleaning them using household cleaners or other methods might cause more harm than good.
Don’t worry; we’ll cover the dos and don’ts of maintaining and extending the life of your carpets in this blog.
Let us get started
The Do’s
Learn The History Of Your Rug
We are often passed down rugs from our parents or grandparents, so if you have any questions about rugs you inherited, it’s best to ask the people who had maintained them. They will most likely advise you on the best approach to care for it.
If you chanced upon to gain a vintage rug, it is essential to question the dealer when the carpet was last properly cleaned, as well as the era the rug is from or the sort of rug it is.
This way, you can make a concise plan on how to go about the cleaning process, and you can even do your research on google on the different ways to maintain it.
Vacuum Both Sides
We frequently make the mistake of cleaning only the front side of the carpet and ignoring the backside. But why are we doing this? If dust and dirt settle, they will inevitably penetrate the rug’s fibres and reach even the deepest creaks.
As a result, every time you clean it, make sure to turn it over and vacuum all sides.
Also, instead of using a high suction setting on a vacuum, use a moderate to low suction setting to avoid harming the fibres of the rug.
The Don’ts
Skip The DIY
Deep cleaning your carpets takes a significant amount of time and understanding. To clean a rug effectively, for example, you’ll need just the appropriate amount of PH-balanced lather, and you should also make sure that the brushes you use aren’t too abrasive since this might harm the rug’s fibres.
Unless you are a DIY specialist, you should always leave the deep cleaning to the experts.
Don’t Let Stain Settle
You cannot keep beautiful and intricate rugs hidden in a closet somewhere because you fear ruining it. Beautiful vintage rugs need to be out in the open.
However, once they are out in the open, you do have the risk of the occasional splash of beer or wine. You cannot stop such human errors but what you can do is be quick to take action.
You see a splash in your rug. Grab a paper towel pour a little water, and blot.
Blot and Rinse is the mantra to follow. However, there is a catch in this; if you have oily spills in the rug, use a heavy paper towel and blot, whereas if it’s a non-oily spill like from a wine, use a lightweight paper towel that can soak and blot it.
Remember that you should never scrub the surface for any rug stain removal, however much you want to, as it can damage the rug to the point of no return.
Bottom line
These tips will help you maintain your delicate vintage rugs and help you use them to their full potential, and who knows, you can even pass it down to your children as most rugs that are vintage are made to withstand the test of time.
