There are occasions when the traditional way of doing things outshines any new or modern convenience, and the perfect way to wash a woolen Oriental rug would be to do it as it has been done during the centuries by hand. For centuries, Persian, Turkish and Chinese rugs were scrubbed outside the house, rinsed with buckets of water, and placed in the sun to dry. Even modern rug cleaners revert to aspects of the process when revitalizing a hand-woven carpet. If your carpet is small enough to lift, and you’ve got a patio or driveway along with a hose, then pull on your wellies and get to work. Hand cleaning is the best way to clean and preserve your precious Oriental carpet.
Assess for Dust and Dirt
Turn your carpet over at one corner. Beat the backing with your hand and search for dirt and dust to dash out of the nap. If you’re able to see it, it is time to wash the rug. Rub your hand across the wool fibers for many seconds. If your hand gets dirty, it is time to wash the rug. Separate the pile and examine the foundation of each fiber. If you see dirt, it is time to wash the rug.
Get ready for the Rug Bath
Vacuum the carpet nicely. Raise the brush amount of the machine, if possible, to avoid drawing the fibers. Vacuum in the management of the pile, not against it. Turn the carpet over and vacuum the back too. Do not vacuum the fringe, as it might pull away in the carpet base if it is not part of the primary weave. Use warm water to wash any lingering stains.
Washing the carpeting
It is best to plan to wash out the carpet on a sunny evening, using the sun’s heat to dry the carpet. Bring the carpet outside. Hose it down on both sides until the carpet is totally saturated. With a detergent meant for delicate clothes, massage the soap to the wool. Do not use an ammonia-based alternative, and stay away from tough brushes. Kneeling down, let your hands wash the carpet, as you would when washing your hair. Turn the carpet over and wash the opposite hand.
A Good Rinse
A hose fitted with a flexible nozzle eliminates the soapy water very best. It’ll take a while to get all the soap out, however, do not stop until all of the suds have disappeared. Do the exact same on the reverse side, turn it over again, and rub on the nap side one more time. Use a squeegee, pulled at the direction of the nap, to remove as much water as possible.
Dry Totally
Plan a time to set the carpet on a dry place of the deck or driveway allow it to soak up the heat rays of the sun. This might take all day, or even two days, but it is critical that the carpet get fully dry. Hanging a carpet over a rail or on a clothesline might help lessen morning fog and dew buildup if you need to leave the carpet out to dry for more than a day. Wet wool does not smell great. Be sure the reverse side gets its time in the sun too. Rough the nap and feel that the foundation of the fibers to check for dryness. Separate the fringe with your hand until it is completely straight.
The last Touch
When the carpet is totally dry, rough the fibers together with your hand to bring them erect. Run a vacuum cleaner over the nap side as well as the bottom of the carpet. After you have cleaned the carpet pad and the floor under, bring your newly cleaned carpet back to its property.