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carpetc a r e g u i d e

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1. What should I know about rugs?

You have just bought a new rug and you can’t wait to get home and roll it out!

One of the first things you need to do is sweep any dirt off the floor before you

roll it out. Also you should consider taking your shoes off before you walk on it,

as dirt grinds itself into the fibre of the rug eventually weakening it over many

years of use.

For those of us that have pets it is very important to avoid any biological acci-

dents as pet stains are highly alkaline and will damage the rug.

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ConstructionHand-woven

Hand-woven area rugs are made on a cottage loom that is operated by hand.

The warps are set on the loom frame and the weft is physically woven over the

warp using shuttles. It is further enhanced by utilizing handlooms, which has

limitations, but is faster.

Hand-tufted

A hand-tufted rug is created without tying knots into the foundation, but rather

by pushing wool or acrylic yarn through a primary backing, creating a ‘tuft’. Then,

using a latex glue to hold the ‘tufts’ in place, a rug maker will apply a secondary

foundation, or ‘scrim’, which is then covered by a third and final cloth backing to

protect your floor. The final step involves shearing the tops of the looped tufts to

create the pile. The height of the pile is determined by how much yarn is cut off,

and how far the initial loop was pushed up.

Machine-made

Machine-made rugs are woven on power looms operated either by machine or

computer. Once design and colours are determined, a computer card is created

which tells the computer which size and colour rug it needs to produce. The loom

is strung with a warp of jute, or sometimes cotton. The rug is then woven using

wool, nylon, polypropylene, olefin, or another suitable yarn.

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Hand-knotted

Knotted weaves refer to the method of weaving used in most rugs. In this tech-

nique the rug is woven by creation of knots. A short piece of yarn is tied around

two neighboring warp strands creating a knot on the surface of the rug. After

each row of knots is created, one or more strands of weft are passed through a

complete set of warp strands. The weaving process begins at the bottom of the

loom and moves upward as the horizontal rows of knots and wefts are added.

Flat Weave

Flat weave refers to a technique of weaving where no knots are used in the

weave. The warp strands are used as the foundation and the weft stands are

used as both part of the foundation and is creating the patterns.

FibersCotton – Natural

• Durable

• Soft feel

• Wide range of colours

• Ideal for high-traffic areas

Jute – Natural

• Beautiful natural colouring

• Suited for low-traffic areas

• Soft feel

• Should not be placed under furniture

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Polyester – Synthetic

• Retains colour clarity

• Easy to clean

• Provides a plush feel

• Ideal for living areas

Polypropylene – Synthetic

• Easy to clean

• Resists moisture and mildew

• Best for low-traffic areas

• Colourfast

• May be used outdoors

Silk – Natural

• May provide highlights in wool rugs

• High lustre

• Soft feel

• Best for low-traffic areas

Sea Grass – Natural

• Easy to clean

• Should not be placed under furniture

• Natural colouring provides a rustic look

• Well suited to high-traffic areas

Wool – Natural

• Provides a luxurious feel

• Soft and thick

• Strong, resilient and static-resistant

• Perfect for high-traffic areas

• May shed when new

Sisal – Natural

• Strong

• Ideal for high-traffic areas

• Best for indoor use

• Coarse texture

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2. How can I keep the rug beautiful?

Rugs need very little attention:

All that has to be done for it to retain its appearance over years is to follow these

three basic rules:

• Vacuum regularly, at least once a week and preferably more often in places that

are subject to a lot of wear. Always use the flat nozzle when you vacuum.

For pile rugs, always finish by vacuuming in the direction of the pile.

• Remove stains immediately.

• Clean the rug about every three years; should be done by a professional

cleaner.

With a little love, regular cleaning and attention to spills and accidents, your rug

can live a long and happy life. A rug that is properly looked after will give many

years of pleasure.

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Quality care is an important factor in the preservation of your investment. Regular

vacuuming is a carpet’s best friend. In most cases, a suction only canister

vacuum is best to prevent excess pilling and fuzzing for loop pile carpets. How-

ever, if this type is not available, set the vacuum so that the brush is farthest away

from the surface of the carpet.

One of the most crucial areas of carpet maintenance is removal of spots and

spills. Acting quickly when anything is spilled or dropped and always having the

necessary cleaning materials on hand are of the utmost importance.

Steps for spot removal:

1. Immediately blot spills with white paper towels or with a clean absorbent cloth.

Scoop up solids. Do not rub.

2. Pre-test spot removal in an inconspicuous area.

3. Apply the cleaning agent listed below to an absorbent towel and begin to blot

up the spill.

4. Do not over saturate with water.

5. Work inward from the edge of the spot to prevent excess spreading.

6. Wait a few minutes for the cleaning agent to work on the spot. Follow recom-

mended directions.

7. Once the cleaning agent has removed the spot, blot excess moisture by

applying pressure with paper towels or a dry absorbent cloth.

8. Rinse with clear water on a clean cloth.

9. Remove excess moisture by applying pressure with paper towels.

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Stain Treatment Chart:

1. Add water and blot.

2. Detergent solution or Dry Spot Remover

3. Methylated mineral spirits, turpentine, Dry Spot Remover

4. Chill with an aerosol freezing agent or ice cubes in a plastic bag;

follow by picking or scraping off gum

5. Warm Water

6. Nail polish remover (preferably acetone)

7. Isopropyl alcohol

8. Rust remover

9. Absorbent powder (salt, talc)

10. Absorbent cleaner

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Step 1Spot

• Alcoholic beverage• Blood• Soft drink• Fresh urine• Ink (fountain pen)

• Butter• Lipstick• Shoe Polish• Oil and grease

• Candle wax• Chewing gum• Coffee• Paint (latex)• Cream• Salad dressing• Floor wax• Gravy and sauces• Ink (ball point pen)• Mercurochrome• Milk• Nail polish• Paint (oil)• Rust• Urine (old)• Vomit• Wine

Step 2 Step 3

1 2

3 2

6 4

4 3

1 2 3

5 2 34 7 22 105 3 26 39 3 23 2 81 2 102

9 1 2

2 3

3 2