Cleaning and caring for antique rugs and carpets

While of course cleanliness is always of the utmost importance in all aspects of the home and business, for those who invest huge sums of money in buying antiques rugs and carpets then keeping them in tip-top condition should be a top priority. Not only do you have to ensure that they are kept in tip-top condition you also have to ensure that they are repaired immediately should anything cause them to require mending. Antique rugs are not only a thing of beauty and something which should be admired but they are also something of extreme value and an investment for your future.

The three main things that you have to determine are what can cause the damage to your valuable rugs and carpets, how you can minimize the damage that has been done and how to prevent accidents from happening that can destroy their beauty and value.

There are many possibilities that can cause damage to antique rugs and carpets, the most common causes are improper handling and storing and unwrapping of the rugs and carpets. This can cause the rug or carpet to badly crease and creases can be very hard to get out if at all. Where you are going to position the rug or carpet should be another main consideration, if the carpets are in areas that are affected by high humidity, dust and above all pets then these can all have adverse effects on the value and beauty of the carpet.

When it comes to minimizing the damage to carpets and rugs then you have to take certain factors into consideration when unwrapping them. It is essential of course and goes without saying that great care should be taken when taking off the wrappings so as not to accidentally cut the rug. If the rug is very creased then stretch the rug out as much as possible while taking care not to over stretch it, then place heavy books around the edges of the rugs to keep it flat. Great care should be taken when positioning rugs, they shouldn’t be in areas of great traffic or put in sunlight, and sunlight will fade them rapidly and cause discoloration. Where possible move the rug around and at the very least turn it every so often this will help to stop discolouration and ensure that the rug gets even depression due to walking on it.

In order to ensure that the rug gets good air flow beneath it you should put rug padding or underlay down before placing the rug or carpet on the floor. This will not only prevent wear and tear on the rug but will also ensure that the rug has the longest longevity possible or course this is imperative if the rug is an investment for your future and not just something that is admired for its beauty.

If you are at all in doubt about cleaning and caring for your antique rugs or carpets then it is essential that you take the advice and use the expertise of a professional rug and carpet cleaner.