Rug Buying Tips

Rug Buying Tips
In late 1996 I ended up selling my fine antique Persian rugs to a dealer. With a new baby in the house having that high-end, high-quality, collectible piece was not going to work. My home had become kid central with toys, spilled formula, food and toddlers running amok and would only progress into a mud track, toy filled, kid accessible home. A fine Persian rug did not fit in with that lifestyle. So it went. I still miss those Persian rugs. Now that "the kid" is older and somewhat better behaved, I am starting to look around for another quality rug. Finding that perfect area rug isn't always easy. It's a tough market and doing your homework is essential to knowing when you're looking at a great deal. Quality is important when purchasing a rug. Too low in quality and price and you'll have to replace the rug too quickly. Too high in price or quality and you'll feel guilty about using your expensive rug like I did. I, like many of you, want quality I could use daily. There are machine made and handmade rugs. Obviously handmade is more expensive. Machine made rugs can still be high quality, but won't have the fine artisan feel to it. Often these machine made rugs will copy well-known patterns from Persian, Indian, Israeli and Turkish rugs and be considered reproductions. They are far more affordable than the "one of a kind" antique rugs. The materials that make up area rugs determine its value and longevity. Common materials include wool, cotton, silk, and nylon. You also want to consider the density. How many knots per square meter or square inch. A cheap rug won't be as dense. The more dense a rug is usually the softer it is and the quality tends to be higher. Wool area rugs: Wool is the key element of high-quality pile area rugs. Wool area rugs have greater durability than synthetics and naturally resist dust mites that can promote allergies. The quality of the wool determines the area rug's resistance to wear and tear. Cotton area rugs: Area rug makers often use cotton in conjunction with wool. Cotton-wool area rugs have a nice "foot feel" and typically cost less than all-wool rugs. However, cotton tends to wear more quickly than wool. Silk area rugs: Higher-quality rugs, such as Persian rugs often include silk for luster and shine. Handle silk area rugs with special care and only have them cleaned by professionals. Nylon area rugs: Synthetic nylon area rugs have excellent uniformity, strength, and stain resistance. They usually cost less than rugs made of natural materials, but do not hold their value like quality wool area rugs and silk area rugs. In general, finely knotted rugs command a higher price than coarsely knotted ones. But, the knot density is by no means the sole criteria for quality. It's the combination of workmanship, density, dyes and materials used etc. There is as yet no fully agreed terminology for knot density. But this is a good guide: Up to 500 knots per sq.dm. (30 per sq inch)= very coarse 500-1,000 knots per sq.dm (30-60 per sq inch) = coarse 1000-2000 knots per sq. dm (60-130 per sq. inch)= medium fine 2000-2500 knots per sq. dm (130-160 per sq. inch) = fine 2500-4500 knots per sq. dm (160-290 per sq inch) = very fine Over 4500 knots per sq dm (290 per sq inch plus) = extremely fine Most of us can't be experts on patterns from different regions, but this plays an important role if you are purchasing a rug from the Middle East. But whether you're buying a basic pile rug or an imported piece of art, you should work with a reputable dealer who can share their knowledge with you. If they don't know what they are selling or can't share important facts about the rug, you should walk. Before you shop for a rug, consider the size you need. The most common area rug sizes are 4-by-6 and 6-by-9 feet. They work well under a coffee table, in front of a sofa etc. An 8-by-10-foot area rug or larger can cover an entire room. Smaller area and scatter rugs can be ideal for adorning smaller spaces—a hearth, a bedside, and the area in front of a kitchen sink—with a splash of color and warmth. Fine imported Persian rugs don't follow the same sizing guidelines as machine made rugs do and can be in odd sizes like a 9 ½ by 13 ½. If you are working within an already established color design, do take color swatches with you. A pillow off the sofa, a fabric swatch… something. The brain does not remember colors very accurately. Also consider how the room will be used. A playroom will need a different rug quality than a dining room. Think what the use will be before you head out to purchase. Again as in all shopping, do your homework, don't buy the first thing you see and ask a lot of questions. Suzanne O'Connor

Wool Rug Cleaning

Vacuuming

An area rug receives a lot of abuse from dirt, sand, dust, various spills and foot traffic. Our #1 tip for cleaning wool rugs: Vacuuming area rugs with a quality machine will go a long way towards prolonging the appearance and life of your carpet.

Vacuuming is the best way to remove everyday dirt and dust. In the first year, we recommend vacuuming at least two or three times a week to remove excess fuzz that accumulates on the rug surface. This fuzzing is perfectly normal and in no way shortens the life of your rug. It is merely the result of loose fibers created during the weaving process. "Pilling" (A condition of the carpet face in which fibers from different tufts become entangled with one another, forming hard masses of fibers and tangled tufts. Pills may be cut off with scissors.) can be caused by excessive heavy foot traffic or using powder cleaners or deoderizers that "clump" fibers together. If the beater bar of your vacuum slows down noticebly on the rug, raise the height of the vacuum/beater bar. Constant, heavy beater bars can also cause pilling.

Cut pile area rug:

Our hand-tufted wool area rugs are well constructed and durable. A vacuum with a rotating beater bar to agitate the area rug pile and strong suction to remove loose particles is well tolerated by the area rug. If your vacuum does not have a beater bar, it may remove surface dirt well but may leave embedded soil that can damage the area rug through abrasion. Remember, vacumming is the best tip for cleaning wool rugs.

Vacuum Tips:

• Make sure that the beater bar is actually rotating when in contact with the area rug. A worn belt will reduce rotation when the bar contacts the area rug.
• Adjust the height of the beater bar so that it lightly vibrates the area rug, but will not cause the motor to slow.
• Check the vacuum bag regularly. A vacuum will become less efficient if the debris bag becomes too full (over half full for most machines).
• Vacuum across both directions of the traffic pattern to prevent matting.

Vacuuming removes most dry soil, but street grime, oily soils, and air pollution can build up eventually and your area rug may require cleaning. The accumulation of these particles can cause gradual dulling.

Wool Rug Cleaning Methods

Dry Foam and Absorbent Pad

This is our recommended method. It uses little water to create a light detergent foam that is worked into the pile, then vacuumed out when dry.

Steam Cleaning

This method is most effective when performed by a professional, although many rug cleaning machines may be purchased or rented. The dangers of performing this method on your own involve using too much detergent or water. Some cleaning agents available with rented units leave a heavier residue, so use care or the advice of a professional when choosing a product. Test the product on a small area to check for residue or a sticky feel. Do not use if a residue exists, or if in doubt about a product. Finally, do not use laundry detergents to clean your area rug to avoid possible chemical brighteners.

"Oxy" Cleaners

Synthetic fibers - fine. Wool fibers - No! There are many oxygen cleaners on the market that are environmentally safe and work well for spot cleaning various stains on synthetic fiber area rugs. Most of these cleaners are biodegradable and form oxygen, hydrogen peroxide and soda ash when mixed with water. Soda ash is sodium carbonate and has alkaline properties. Do not use this cleaning method on wool or silk and avoid prolonged skin contact.

Dry Powder

We do not recommend using dry powders with plush or deep pile area rug, as the cleaning residue may be difficult to remove. Powder cleaners and deoderizers can cause "Pilling". If the area rug is heavily soiled, we recommend a different procedure or using a professional.

Area Rug Stain Removal

If an area rug becomes spotted or stained, work quickly. When possible, scoop up solids and blot liquids immediately after a spill occurs. Absorb as much liquid as possible with a white cloth or paper towel without scrubbing the area to prevent matting or fuzzing.

Methods of Cleaning Various Area Rug Fibers

Natural fibers may require additional consideration before cleaning. Do not use oxygen cleaners on wool or silk.

Wool - Excessive agitation and heat should be avoided, but generally wool fibers may be cleaned with most cleaning methods. Wool should be cleaned with neutral detergents and dried quickly. Use special care around household cleaning products, as bleaches and other alkaline products such as bathroom cleaners easily damage wool.

Cotton/Rayon - Cotton and rayon are cellulose fibers and may be cleaned using all cleaning methods. To avoid shrinking and possible browning, avoid excessive drying and agitation. As with wool, take care with alkaline products.

Silk - Silk should be cleaned using a dry cleaning process. These fibers may be damaged by natural and synthetic acids (e.g. lemon juice), and sunlight. Consult a rug cleaning specialist for additional information about cleaning silk.