SYMPTOMS OF USAGE – CLEANING AND CARE AT HOME

Handmade Rug Guide

HANDMADE RUG IS LIVING ALONG WITH US

Tips for safe and long-term rug usage from EFREMOGLOU COMPANY

SYMPTOMS OF USAGE

Many rugs arrive at you after a series of handmade, traditional, complex and varied processes such as dyeing, weaving, finishing, etc., with various natural or plant materials in their composition.

Tufted, moquette-carpets, but also other yarns such as  viscose, bamboo silk, cotton, sisal, rayon, leather,  or composites, synthetic or artificial fibers used in carpet making and also contemporary carpets, patchwork, vintage, shaggy,  bleached or stamped (printed) carpets that are painted or have been made with special process, have a particular behavior in use but also in cleaning. The “new look” with the use and after the cleaning might  leaves and might change the tonality of the colors. . In case you have not purchased it from us, please provide us with the manufacturer’s cleaning instructions in advance. Stains and color alterations (abrash) due to various causes such as sun or use etc have low success rates with simple cleaning

Therefore, as “newly created”, they didn’t have the opportunity to reveal the expected symptoms of their use depending on the style in which they developed.

So each rug has a different DNA and appears those symptoms that aren’t related to its value, e.g. the appearance of extra threads on the pile (may need finishing), fluff, tonal colour change (excess colour residue fading) wrinkles, odour. These symptoms usually subside gradually over time depending on the use, the quality, the weaving style and after the first cleanings.

Fringes, rails, rug’s edges, strips, seams, substrate are the most “sensitive” points on rugs. With time, maintenance, cleaning but also from frequent usage, they can weaken, wear out and tear out. Gradually from one year to another, maybe even after flickering or cleaning, the fringes will start to be plucked, the rails-edges will be opened or extra threads will be taken out on the pile.

Fringes and rails that are predisposed to be cut or opened at home will most likely to be cut or opened with cleaning. Also, wash fades, or pile inversion is possible. This doesn’t mean that the rug is damaged, but that it may need some treatment.

Also, they wear out or deteriorate more quickly when doors and chairs knock on the fringe-rails. Another reason is that rugs have often been pressed on specific parts, misused, or damaged on continuous flickering with our hands. The same is observed on the pile of the rug when there is the existence of heavy furniture, and the use is more frequent.

Pay close attention to the misuses of your rug because rugs are susceptible to damages.

The points on the rug that have been treated, e.g. repaired, painted, or spots that are worn or prone to decay and haven’t appeared or manifested, may become more visible after cleaning. Because they look better on a clean rug noticing the knots, the warps, the pile wear, the eaten pile, the discolouration, etc.

Rugs are neither indelible nor indestructible over time but more of living organisms that react and mature over time. We usually recommend dry or moisture controlled cleaning by a professional.

Stains such as urine, wine, coffee, inks, blood, oil, paints or some liquids or moisture may not clean up. Rugs and stains that have a long time to be cleaned are challenging. We don’t recommend washing them on your porches because they don’t drain properly and they fade, they turn brownish, and their pile is inverted.

Rugs with woollen or jute warp or weft such as the Ghashgai, Mohammadi, Buhari, may react to moisture or some other factor resulting in some swelling, creasing and warping. This is not the primary concern; the rug will recover with the laying or some further processing.

Laminated rugs that get hit by the sun through doors and windows can change their colours. Rugs wear out when pressed or rubbed in specific areas. Some of these tasks may cost you, so you’ve got to be careful.

Additional Repair Information
CLEANING – STAIN REMOVAL

On handmade rugs, we recommend DRY CONTROL CLEANING for their safety. Every rug can be cleaned in a different way. But remember, don’t try the cleaning at your home.

Avoid washing on terraces because they cause rug fading, brown colour and causes the pile to invert. For local greasy stains, you can use the solution of liquid dish soap. For other stains, a solution would be the use of washing powder combined with water, in a small amount, without ‘soaking’ the carpet. Then rinse with plain water on a cloth. We can also use hypoallergenic cloth wipes without the alcohol substance.

Pure gasoline (diluted with 1-3 water) on a white cotton cloth, with tampon movements always in the direction of the pile, is another valid solution against stains.

We believe that no carpet is indelible, as the colours can come from vegetable dyes and traditional methods, that are affected by the sun and humidity. In case of a liquid accident (leaks, falling water from pots, etc.) for animal or pigment stains (coffee, wine, soft drink, urine, blood, etc.), immediately dab with an absorbent white cloth to remove as much stain as possible. Then applying the procedure that we already know about stains; maybe we try to use a little soda on it. Pay attention to rinsing or spreading the stain. Mature and old stains may not clean thoroughly.

Finally, you can quickly dry with a sterile cloth the rug. By doing this you can save valuable time to call us for more information about your stain problem.

Of course, the best treatment is always prevention, and this also applies to your rugs whereby treating the waterproofing, we completely protect our rugs from moisture, fading from the sun and of course, the stains.

All these procedures may not work 100%, but they will undoubtedly improve your rug situation and are recommended with every scepticism.

STORAGE – MAINTENANCE – CARE

Flickering the rug with your hands is forbidden because its edges suffer after they overflow, the rug rails and chains are opening, and the pluck fringes.

Before storing your rugs, clean them well with your vacuum cleaner, starting first with the backside and then with the front side (in case you’ll leave it out in the open, for better ventilation start cleaning the backside).

For the rug’s caring, use a well-drained white cloth soaked in dilute gasoline (5 parts water to 1 part gasoline), and run the entire surface of the rug in the pile’s direction. Remember that this process can not be done for more than two years.

So when they’re dry and clean, wrap them all in a roll, put them in fabric or nylon cases with holes, in a sealed space horizontally, adding several anti-rusts and insect repellents without them coming into contact with the rug’s pile.

For long-term storage, a regular inspection is suggested. Wool is a living organism and needs some moisture and sunlight. The amount of exposure on these elements varies depending on the “DNA” of each rug.

Congratulations on your purchase and we hope that your new rug fits your house well.