How to Clean an Oriental Rug at Home

Cleaning oriental rugs can be daunting if you don’t know the materials’ characteristics and don’t have the necessary tools to clean them thoroughly! Additionally, oriental rug cleaning can be complex and expensive because of the specific manufacturing and production characteristics, which can vary depending on the manufacturer. 

Overall, you don’t want to damage your oriental rug and, thus your whole living, dining, or bedroom! However, once you master cleaning oriental rugs, you won’t have a problem repeating the procedure daily or weekly for every carpet you can imagine! 

Here, you’ll learn the basics: necessary tools, supplies, and professional services you can hire to make your oriental rug look new!

Tools & Supplies Needed for Cleaning Oriental Rug

If you’re determined to clean oriental rugs at your home, first, you should purchase all the necessary tools and supplies. On top of that, you should be careful in choosing the right cleaning solutions because of the touchy and sensitive materials, like sheep’s wool, silk, camel hair, or cotton.

For instance, many DIY-ers use popular and affordable tools and supplies, such as rug shampoos, vacuum cleaners, rubber gloves, sponges, garden hoses, or soft-bristle brushes. However, the most essential element of the whole process is water! 

If you don’t know how to use the water properly, you won’t be able to thoroughly clean oriental rugs without damaging them. You need to know how to rub, clean, dry, rinse, and remove the excess water from your oriental rug to avoid damaging it. 

Following are the essential tools & supplies needed for making a natural solution for applying on your oriental rug:

• A plastic bucket – for watering, rinsing, and removing excess water;
• Rubber gloves – to protect your skin from chemicals and other substances;
• A vacuum cleaner – to remove the debris and other particles stuck into the material;
• Sponges & soft brushes – you’ll need these to avoid damaging the oriental carpet materials;
• Rug shampooers – for removing the dirt and possible stains on your oriental rug;
• A garden hose – it’s an option tool because you can also use poly tubbing. Nonetheless, you can use any of your garden hoses – a vinyl, a metal, or a rubber backyard hose!

The trick of oriental rug cleaning is to use the tools properly to apply the cleaning solution and to remove it in due time. Following is our ultimate guide on oriental rug cleaning and the various steps to take to clean it thoroughly!

The Ultimate Guide to Oriental Rug Cleaning

As we’ve said, oriental rug cleaning can be a time-consuming and complex venture because of the high-quality and sensitive materials, which, unlike other rugs, require a more delicate approach. Nevertheless, we’ve made for you a guide in which you can find all the answers on how to begin and end this venture without damaging your oriental rug and making it look brand new!

Remove All The Furniture Away From Your Rug

Before cleaning oriental rugs, you must remove all the furniture from the rug. Cleaning professionals and DIY-ers will prompt you to remove all the room’s furniture outside to avoid damaging it and making a bigger mess. If you can’t do this, you can always wrap your furniture in dry cloths or other materials to protect them from the cleaning solution and the chemicals.

Debris Removal

The first thing you should do is remove the debris from your carpet. If you forget to remove it, it’ll additionally stick inside the materials and ultimately damage your carpet. The best way to remove all the debris from your oriental carpet is to use a wet-dry vacuum cleaner and thoroughly clean all the particles off the rug. You should start the process by flipping the oriental rug and vacuum the back first. Then, you can vacuum the upper part of your oriental rug.

However, the most crucial aspect of not damaging the oriental rug is to vacuum in the same direction as the carpet’s fibers. Repeat the process twice and then proceed to apply the cleaning solution.

Applying the Cleaning Solution

You can use either a natural or a store-bought cleaning solution for oriental rug cleaning. Nonetheless, DIY experts and professional services will prompt you to use natural cleaning solutions that won’t damage the fibers or the basis of your oriental carpet. For example, if your oriental rug is made from sheep’s wool, you can apply a mixture of lukewarm water and a neutral Ph liquid cleaner.

On the other hand, if your rug is made of pure silk or camel’s hair, you can use a 50-50 mixture of warm water and vinegar. However, before you apply the solution, you should test the coloring and the chemical interaction between the materials and the particular cleaning solution.

Test the Colors & Materials

Before you wash and rinse your carpet, we suggest you test how the colors and materials react to the specific cleaning solution. The best way to do this is to apply a few drops of the cleaning solution at the edge of the sponge or the brush. Then, you can rub it slowly and smoothly on a small patch to see if the color comes off before cleaning the whole carpet. 

Washing & Rinsing The Rug

Once you’ve tested the natural cleaning solution, you can proceed to the main phase of cleaning oriental rugs. Now, dip the whole soft-bristle brush or the sponge into the cleaning mixture and start rubbing the oriental rug from head to toe! You should let the cleaning mixture (vinegar/neutral Ph liquid/manufacture chemical and mild water) for 5 to 10 minutes before rinsing it off!

When you rinse the solution, the best tool you can use is the backyard hose. Moreover, you can use a clean cloth or sponge with a plastic bucket full of clean water. You should rinse all the solution out of the fibers until the rug looks as good as new. Make sure you repeat the process multiple times for certainty that you’ve cleaned every part of the oriental rug.

Let it Dry Off & Vacuum It Once Again

If you have a garden or a balcony, leave the rug there and let it dry. If not, you can always use a wet-dry vacuum cleaner to remove the excess water. The last step is to vacuum the dry rug and place it back in its place. Then, you can move all the furniture and other elements back to their place and create a captivating atmosphere with your cleaned oriental rug.

Oriental Rugs: DIY vs. Professional Cleaning

Sometimes is better to avoid cleaning oriental rugs by yourself and hire professional services to do it for you! This is because you’ll spend a lot of money purchasing all the necessary tools and supplies if you don’t have them! 

Another reason to hire professional services would be the subtlety and touchiness of the oriental rug materials and the risk of damaging them. On top of that, the process is time-consuming, and some people simply don’t have enough time for this. On the contrary, professional services may induce some costs, but you’ll save time and effort and thoroughly avoid damage to the fibers.

That’s why if you’re asking yourself where to find services that provide oriental rug cleaning near me, Steamy Concepts is always at your disposal! You can contact us and get professional, dedicated, time and cost-efficient services for all oriental rug types and materials. We’ll save you time, effort, and money while dumping out all the allergens, dirt, debris, and stains! 

Final Words on Cleaning an Oriental Rug

Oriental rug cleaning can be a tricky process because of the sensitivity and touchiness of the materials. Nonetheless, if you have all the necessary tools and supplies, know the process from A to Z, and stick to its phases, you won’t have a problem cleaning almost any oriental rug! 

On the other hand, you can always type into the search box “Oriental rug cleaning near me,” and dedicated and professional companies like Streamy Concepts will pop up! These companies can save you time, money, and effort while ensuring quality and minimizing all the risks associated with oriental rug cleaning!

FAQ

Can I clean my Oriental rug myself?

Yes, you can clean your oriental rug by yourself if you follow the subsequent steps: remove all furniture away, remove the debris and dirt, apply the solution, test it, wash and rinse the rug, let it dry off, and vacuum it again.

Can I put baking soda on Oriental rugs?

Yes, you can put baking soda on your oriental rugs if you know the right mixture.

Should you steam-clean Oriental rugs?

You should never steam-clean your oriental rugs because you’ll damage the fibers and the basis.

Can you wash an Oriental rug with a hose?

Yes, you can use a backyard and garden hose to wash your oriental rugs. You can use metal, vinyl, or any other hose to rinse away the applied cleaning mixture.

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