Home Care for your Rug Installation

It is imperative that you place a high-quality foam pad under your rugs. A good pad will not only prevent skidding, but will protect the rug from undue wear. Flatweave or short pile rugs need thinner pads; thick pile rugs need thicker pads. At Carol Piper Rugs, we offer the highest quality pads, suited for a variety of rugs.

Weekly cleaning

We highly recommend a thorough vacuuming every week. Dirt works its way into rug fibers and over time acts like a razor blade, gradually destroying the knots deep in your rug.
When vacuuming, remember the following:
- Adjust the machine’s brushes to the pile height of the rug.
- Avoid the rug edges and fringes.
- Vacuum against the pile direction, then finish by vacuuming in the same direction as the pile.
- Shift the position of furniture slightly to relieve prolonged crushing of fibers.

Periodic Maintenance

Rugs should be turned every 6 months to a year, to avoid wear and fading in high-traffic or sunny areas. Inspect your rugs carefully for signs of dry rot, mildew, or infestation by moths. Look for areas of extra wear. In the event of either problem, bring your rug immediately for professional repair to halt the damage.

Emergencies

In the event of a spill, act fast. Scrape or blot up the spill, and use club soda or cold water to soak it. Use as much fluid as necessary to remove the spill, blotting continuously and working to dry it as much as possible. Work from the center to the edges, and work quickly to avoid rings. Do not scrub vigorously, and do not use solvents such as vinegar or ammonia, as they can set a stain permanently.

In the event of a major mishap, your rug will need professional attention.

Professional Carpet and Rug Cleaning

Emergency stains or no, we recommend a professional cleaning every 3-5 years, especially for rugs in high traffic areas, with large families, or where pets or dampness are a concern.

Before the washing process begins, rugs are checked for color-fastness and structural damage. Our experts then hand-wash each piece with a chemical-free soap that is specially derived from prickly pear cactus juice. This natural cleanser preserves the lanolin in the rug fibers, which safeguards the luster and color of the wool. Rugs are carefully allowed to dry at room temperature.

For particular problems, such as pet urine or red wine, we prepare special cleaning solutions in-house to treat stains and odor.

During the cleaning process, each rug is handled with the utmost care, whether it is a rare antique or a new decorative carpet. Our careful cleaning process will restore your rug’s appearance and enhance its value.

Repair

All our repairs are done by hand. The goal of our weavers is to restore carpets to sound condition while preserving the intrinsic character of a fine work of art. The most common repairs to rugs are on the ends and edges, where unraveling can occur over time. Holes or severely worn areas can also be repaired by hand. Colors, wool and knots are carefully matched to the existing structure of the carpet.

At Carol Piper Rugs, we ensure the proper care for your rug so that it will give you and your family decades of pleasure. Call or email us for your cleaning and restoration needs!