Vintage hand-woven rugs are works of art that add beauty and comfort to living spaces. These rare pieces, when entered from the outside, warm the living space with their warmth, patterns, and colors. Hand-woven rugs, whether in use or stored, require regular maintenance and cleaning. Otherwise, these rare rugs will experience wear and tear, fading, and other undesirable effects. To prevent these rugs from developing negative consequences, it's essential to be knowledgeable about the care and cleaning of vintage hand-woven rugs.
What is a Vintage Handwoven Rug?
Rugs woven by hand, individually knotted, are called vintage hand-knotted rugs. These are precious, rare pieces, not factory-made or machine-made, but handcrafted. They are made from natural materials, with no synthetic fibers used in their production. Wool, silk, or a wool-silk blend are preferred. Compared to machine-made rugs and carpets, they are long-lasting and less prone to wear and tear. They can be repaired if they become torn, punctured, or damaged.
Although repairs are possible, users don't want their vintage hand-knotted rugs to be damaged. On the contrary, they want to use them for a long time without any damage. Vintage rug users are particularly meticulous about hand-knotted rug care. Hand-knotted rugs that are over 100 years old are considered antique rugs. These items, which have been around for over 100 years and are intended to be, require special rug cleaning. Whether hand-knotted or vintage, antique rugs, proper care and cleaning are crucial.
How Should a Vintage Hand-Woven Rug Be Cleaned?
Hand-woven rugs are more expensive than factory-made products. Being handmade from organic materials ensures their high value. Care and cleaning of these highly valuable hand-woven rugs requires meticulous attention. If your hand-woven rug develops stains or other damage, we recommend seeking professional help. Experienced experts will provide you with the most accurate information and guide you to professional cleaning facilities to determine the appropriate care for your valuable hand-woven rugs and rugs.
So, How to Care for and Clean Hand-Woven Rugs at Home?
- Antique or handmade rugs should never be cleaned with a washing machine. Spot cleaning should only be done on specific areas. Washing machines will definitely damage the rug. Stained areas should be cleaned by hand. This is the most important advice, especially for vintage rug care.
- It can be cleaned with a damp cloth using special carpet shampoos, without spreading the stain on the stain.
- You can use a clean cloth or brush.
- Place soap made for delicate rugs in a bucket filled with medium-hot water, wait for it to dissolve, and then gently scrub the stain with a soft-bristled brush. However, be very gentle with delicate hand-woven rugs. Failure to follow these steps carefully can damage the carpet's structure.
- To remove soap from a rug, use a clean cloth and water to remove the soap. Finally, wait for your rug to dry.
- It can only be gently vacuumed a few times a week with a vacuum cleaner.
- Avoid using a vacuum cleaner on the fringes of rugs. Because vacuuming involves vacuuming, the fringes can become irritated over time, begin to separate from the rug, and may even break over time.
- The best care for the fringes of hand-woven rugs is by hand fluffing.
- It is recommended to keep it away from damp and humid environments.
- Keeping it away from direct sunlight is a very important recommendation for the care of vintage rugs, which will prevent their color from fading.
- Avoid placing heavy objects on vintage or hand-woven rugs, as heavy objects leave marks on the rug that are difficult to remove.
- If you don't plan on using your hand-woven rugs regularly, roll them up rather than fold them. This will prevent marks from forming on the rug.
Meet SohoAntiq, a company with over 40 years of experience in vintage carpets, rugs and antiques that continues to provide transparent and fair service at first-class standards.
