Noor Rug Doctor’s advice for keeping your newly cleaned/restored rug in good condition:
Enjoy your rug – make it an active part of your daily life. Moderate exposure to air and natural light and stocking feet can help keep it healthy - free of moisture, moth and fungus.
That said, please keep in mind that your rug is a human artifact, created by human hands, and not stamped out by a soulless machine. So it needs some thoughtful care.
Rather than use a standard vacuum cleaner with possibly excessive suction, or a broom with sharp, stiff bristles, please brush off crumbs, soil, pet hair and other debris with a soft-bristle broom or brush. You may find that this hands-on cleaning gives you new appreciation of the beauty and quality of your rug.
Protect your rug from being gouged by anything sharp. Outdoor footwear, heavy furniture, and fashionable shoes with sharp heels can do serious damage. Encourage family and guests to remove their shoes indoors. Don’t deny yourselves the tactile pleasure of walking on the rug in stocking feet!
Rotating your rug as you would do a mattress will help prevent uneven wear and imprint of traffic patterns.
Although indoor plants are attractive and health-enhancing, please don’t set them on or over your rug. An inadvertent spill or unnoticed leak can set in motion rotting of the foundation from fungus or bleeding of the dyes. Blot or mop up spills, but please do not apply any harsh commercial products, which can compound any damage.
Even partially covering your rug with furniture can make it difficult to clean properly and also vulnerable to moths, which thrive in dark locations with little air flow. Consider a new unobstructed location for your woven treasure, where you can appreciate it in the entirety of its glory.
Overexposure of your rug to direct sunlight can cause fading and splotching of the dyes. Move your rug or shield it with blinds or curtains to protect its beautiful colors.
New stains should be dealt with as quickly as possible, blotted or sponged out without excessive use of water, which can cause the stain to spread, or use of harsh commercial products, which can “set” the stain. (For treatment of stains, put Noor on speed-dial!) Old stains, particularly those improperly treated, are a major challenge to remove.
Regular maintenance (like good healthcare) is a good investment, since it can help prevent cumulative damage and the need for expensive remediation/restoration later on.
Finally, having an appraisal certificate with photographs can help you recuperate the replacement value if need should arise.
-- Mo Nooraee
