Maintenance Tips & Recommendations

Stain Removal General Procedure

Always rub or brush lightly from the outer edge towards the center of stain to prevent spreading or causing “the ring” when using solvents, especially on twist rugs and pile carpets. On old, dry, or stubborn stains, saturate, blot, and brush. Repeat this operation as often as necessary to remove the stain completely.

Rug Care Tips Rug Care MUST HAVES:

√ White cotton towels
√ Small bowl & Sponge
√ Club soda
√ Soft brush (not too stiff)
√ Corn starch (or Morton’s Salt)
√ Hair dryer
√ PET OWNERS – White vinegar & cool water (50/50)

Rug Care MUST NEVER DO:

(Risk of color loss, discoloration, permanent yellowing, fiber damage and dye bleeding.) Do NOT use on oriental and area rugs (wool/silk/cotton): → Folex, Resolve, Oxyclean, Simple Green, Woolite, Baking Soda, or Bleach.

Rug Care “Fugitive” Dye Test:

1) Run HOT WATER from the faucet, and wet a portion of a white TOWEL.
2) Wring the excess out so it is DAMP but not dripping wet. 3) BEND open an area of the rug with “suspect” colors that
may be fugitive.
4) Press the damp towel INSIDE the fibers (not just on the
surface tips).
5) HOLD STILL for 10-15 seconds. (If you move you may
move dye.)
6) Remove towel and see if there has been any color transfer. 7) If there has been color transfer – the dyes are FUGITIVE.

Food & Drink Spills (Dyes are colorfast):

♦ SPOON up solids, or VACUUM up dry pieces.
♦ If stain remains, use sponge to dampen the spill are
with CLUB SODA.
♦ BLOT area with cotton TOWEL (do not rub).
♦ BLOT until spill stops transferring to the TOWEL.
♦ Place a folded towel UNDER and OVER the spill area
to sandwich it.
♦ Stand on the sandwich to help excess moisture to wick out. ♦ If the spill appears to be gone, then use HAIR DRYER
(on cool) to dry and groom the nap with the BRUSH. Prop area up for several hours so that the inside fibers dry completely.
♦ If the spill still looks to be there, pack the damp area with CORN STARCH and leave to completely dry (this may take 24 hrs – it will be hard to the touch). Chip away dry starch with a spoon and vacuum away. The corn starch will absorb whatever can be removed.

Food & Drink Spills (Dyes are fugitive):

♦ Same steps as above EXCEPT substitute VINEGAR & WATER for the CLUB SODA. If the rug is SILK or you are afraid to work on the rug, just blot and pack with CORN STARCH and follow instructions given above. Corn starch is very absorbent and safe to use.

Pet Puddles

♦ Pick up solids. If stain remains, or if it is urine, dampen area with VINEGAR + WATER.
♦ Bend open the fibers and be sure to dampen full fibers (not just the top tips of them).
♦ BLOT area with cotton TOWEL (do not rub). (Attn: If you see DYES transferring to the towel, immediately stop getting the area damp and just pack with CORN STARCH.
♦ BLOT until yellow urea from urine stops transferring to the TOWEL
♦ Use HAIR DRYER (on cool setting) to dry and groom the nap with the BRUSH.
♦ Prop area up for several hours so that the inside fibers dry completely.

FYI: Pet urine goes on hot and acidic, so it penetrates the fibers completely. Because rug dyes are acid dyes this means urine essentially “red-dyes” the fibers yellow and sets itself. If it is not dealt with immediately, stains can be permanent. You can lessen or remove the odor causing elements with the mentioned steps above.

OLD pet stains (7+ days) go from acidic to strongly alkaline in pH. Being the opposite of acid, this actually “dissolves” the rug dyes and can lead to color loss and dye migration in these specific areas. Repeated urine contamination not only devalues oriental rugs, it is also a health concern for the indoor living environment (i.e. sewage contamination).

Candle Wax

(Supplies needed: BROWN PAPER BAG and IRON)
♦ Break off any large pieces before applying any heat.
♦ Cut piece of PAPER BAG larger than the wax spill and
place over the area.
♦ With IRON on high setting, run the iron over the bag
with short strokes.
♦ As the wax melts into the paper rotate the bag to continue
absorbing the wax.
♦ Continue until no more wax melts into the bag.

Spot Removal Recipe