Hand Washing

There are so few "one time" purchases in life and when one first sets out with the prospect of acquiring a handmade Oriental carpet it is probably not foremost in the mind of the buyer that this is an object that will in all likelihood, be around long after its owner and will need proper care. We bring this point to prospective clients so that they understand the importance of selecting a piece that is best suited for them and not to be afraid of paying more to get what they want as the return is multi-generational and the difference in price is nominal when factored this way.

With over forty years of cleaning experience, it is our opinion that there are not that many companies capable of treating quality Oriental carpets with the necessary amount of love that we have come to understand is required for a piece to enjoy a longer life span as well as improved retention of its aesthetic and investment value. To better put this in perspective, compare having your automobile detailed versus going to the drive thru at the gas station. The detailer might start by carefully removing dust from the a/c vents and hard to reach places in the dash. This might be followed by a deep cleaning of the mats and upholstery. There could be countless additional steps , from hand washing, scratch removal, window cleaning, chrome polishing, waxing, tire dressing with the final touch of putting the vehicle up on racks and removing the stuck pebbles from the treads. You get the picture, this make take a full day... but at the gas station you're good to go in 10 minutes and it was a good deal, especially if you filled up with gas.

While it may not make sense to take your old Prius to the detailer, there is good reason why you will never see a car enthusiast coming out of the car wash drive thru in a Maserati, even for the occasional cleaning as they know the harsh soaps and brushes can do long term damage to the paint's finish.

The analogies can continue but here are some simple weekly and semianual things you can do to help maintain the "clean look" between cleanings. A question frequently asked is regarding vacuuming: How to and how often? The simple answer is only as often as the piece needs it, although this may not apply to an older or damaged example. It is helpful to vacuum the carpet from side to side so as to not go against the pile. If you do not know the top from the bottom, simply feel the surface, there will always be a smooth direction in a handmade carpet and the smooth direction will always point to the bottom of the carpet where the weaver began.

Another good practice is the annual or semiannual rotation of the carpet. This rotation helps insure a more balanced wear pattern over time. 

There are no set rules but for high traffic and entrance pieces, once a year cleaning is advisable. For larger or room sized carpets, every three to five years, depending on use.

Once you have determined that the time has come for your fine handmade carpet to be professionally cleaned, here are some good questions to ask when evaluating the company for the job:

{ Do they do it themselves or is it a service they farm out to another company?

{ Does their insurance accommodate the value of the piece/ pieces you would be bringing them?

{ What is the pH of the soap used and is the carpet run through a machine?

{ Is there any pre or post wash dusting in the process and how is this done?

{ What are the finishing steps: Is there a process for neutralizing the soap that was used, is there a conditioning treatment and how is the piece dried?

{ And Importantly, can they identify the presence of fugitive dyes and do they have a successful  process for cleaning pieces with fugitive colors?

{ Can they identify and value the pieces that they are cleaning?

A responsible dealer/ cleaner will also advise you at the time of wash if there is any restoration or conservation that should be performed after the wash. Repair and restoration are best performed when the carpet is clean so that the restorer is matching clean materials (wool) to a clean piece. 

Take the extra steps to protect your valuable fine Oriental rugs that give you a visual daily reminder of why your house is your home. COTIC