Why Choosing to Professionally Clean an Oriental Rug is a Great Decision

Why Choosing to Professionally Clean an Oriental Rug is a Great Decision

Rugs should be regularly cleaned. But cleaning them at home is not only risky, it’s usually a recipe for disaster. You are probably asking “why?” After all, your neighbor cleaned his/her oriental rug and had great results. Did they? Was your neighbor certain they didn’t just improve the immediate appearance of their rug, but in fact, they shortened its life?

There are two main reasons why self-cleaning your oriental rug should be reconsidered.

First, you are not getting the rug thoroughly cleaned. Wow, that sounds like an indictment on my ability to clean something thoroughly! Not at all. The fact is, store bought cleaners and home cleaning solutions treat your oriental rug no differently than synthetic wall-to-wall carpet fibers. More rug disasters occur from consumer brand cleaners deteriorating natural fiber woven rugs than anything else. They are the wrong choice for wool, silk, cotton or rayon rugs and will leave a “permanent impression” so to speak.

Second, a lack of professional knowledge about the rugs being cleaned and how to clean them properly results in poor decision making that can permanently change the appearance, feel and even size of your rug. Again, it sounds like I’m saying, “you just don’t know what you are doing.” This is not a criticism. Unless you are a professional with understanding  of the diversity of textiles and natural fibers, the truth is, the average consumer really does not know what’s best for their oriental rug.

You wouldn’t go to the airport and try to get copies of your TSA security body scan so you can determine whether or not you need surgery. It’s the wrong tool- the wrong decision to make for your health and would likely prove to be catastrophic. The same goes for making uncertain decisions about how to treat an expensive investment such as an oriental rug.

But before you run off and select a company to come in and clean your oriental rugs, or choose the nearest corner cleaner to get the job done, be sure the “professionals” you select, are in fact, truly qualified and experts in the field. Here’s why…

Let’s talk about some of the issues that are overlooked by consumers and even some professionals out there, claiming to know rug cleaning. In our next installment, we will dive into some of the issues that are overlooked by consumers and even some professionals out there, claiming to know rug cleaning.