Cleaning Designer Area Rugs

Buy It Today… Live With it Tomorrow! 

I’m Ruthie here at Arizona Oriental and when I say “buy it today….. Live with it tomorrow” I’m sending out a warning to all the men and woman that fall head over heels for the beautiful rugs they come across.  Some have multiple fibers in the weaving. Anything from wool and cotton to synthetics – some of which are synthetic fibers that really don’t belong in the making of area rugs, simple because there is no proper way to clean these fibers. Long delicate strands of ribbons woven side by side with wool. Others with felt circles barely stitched down and held in place by tucking the felt strands under a big stitch that is so loose, the felt disks can easily be pulled left to right and in fact pulled out of the rug very easily.

We’ve seen shags with designer fibers that are plush. So plush in fact you could lose a small Pekinese dog in the rug. (Just kidding, but these rugs will hold EVERYTHING they can get their little fibers on – from bobby pins to food to coins)

There are also the rugs that are being manufactured with fibers that are known for their low cleaning performance such as jute rugs and mercerized cotton.

This is just a sampling of some of the designer rugs that are absolutely beautiful and unique, however many are very delicate and or have a low performance, meaning before long they look terrible and will require cleaning, and since it is a low performance fiber, it likely will not respond well to cleaning efforts. Unfortunately the manufacturers concern when designing was to provide a product that would catch the consumer’s eye, something unusual and unique… something that would sell! There were no cleaning considerations in the manufacturing of these specialty area rugs and once sold their job is done. 

Unfortunately these special rugs do not fit into any standard cleaning practices. Often they will not withstand proper agitation or the fiber may not be strong enough for the proper cleaning solutions that will allow for soil release.  When cleaning, we must clean to the weakest link, meaning if there is a delicate fiber mixed in with sturdy fibers we can clean to the needs of the delicate fiber, ensuring that no harm is done with our cleaning process.

So before buying (often times at outrageous designer prices) know what you are getting into. Some rugs are manufactured with the manufacturer knowing full well that the rug will last a year or so - not decades; and that’s ok, as long as the consumer understands the limitations and knows what they are buying.

Call us for more information on designer rugs and what to expect  call us at  928-445-1718, visit our website at www.ArizonaOriental.com, or stop by Monday through Friday 10:00 am to 5:00 pm at our rug washing facility at 565 EZ Street, Prescott, AZ 86301 (pick-up and delivery also available)

Arizona Oriental & Specialty Rug Care serves Prescott, Prescott Valley and Sedona, and much of the Northern Arizona areas. We meet the highest standards in professional cleaning of area rugs with rug wash specialists having earned the highest training, including certification as WOOLSAFE FIBRE CARE SPECIALISTS through the WOOLSAFE ORGANISATION. Such extraordinary certification ensures the area rugs of our client’s receive the utmost in care.

Till next time, enjoy your beautiful art for your floor and remember a clean rug is a rug that can last you a lifetime!