Professional cleaning of oriental carpets by hand
Oriental carpets are precious pieces because of their unique beauty and special craftsmanship, which can remain in their original condition for decades or even centuries if cared for properly. However, cleaning oriental carpets requires special methods, which are important to follow in order to ensure that the carpets have a long life and look their best.
It’s important to understand that the material and construction technique of carpets affect the way they are cared for. Hand-made oriental rugs are usually made of wool or silk, with cotton, silk or wool as the weft, while machine-made rugs are usually made of cheaper and easier to clean materials.
Manual cleaning is a gentler and more efficient cleaning method than mechanical cleaning. During machine cleaning, the use of harsh chemicals and high pressure water can damage the fibres and colours of the carpet. Do not use a carpet cleaning machine to clean manually knotted carpets !
Manual cleaning, on the other hand, allows a more targeted and controlled approach, ensuring that the carpet is thoroughly cleaned without causing any damage.
Dedusting oriental carpets is an important part of carpet care, as it helps to preserve the original condition and beauty of the carpet. Carpet dusting not only causes aesthetic problems, but the dust and dirt in the carpet can also cause allergic reactions. The first step in cleaning oriental carpets is to remove dust and dirt from the surface. This is best done with a vacuum cleaner. Vacuuming should be done in the direction of the fibre to smooth the carpet, avoiding the strongest setting.
When dusting oriental carpets, the use of dusting machines can be very effective for deeper cleaning. Dust extractors essentially use a powerful vibration to remove dust from the carpet on the dry floor.
In Eastern classical carpet-making countries, the heavily dusted carpet is laid upside down on the street and the foot traffic generated by trampling is used to remove the deep-seated dirt.
If the surface of the carpet has become discoloured or stained, you should first try to remove the stains using a pH neutral shampoo and water solution with a soft brush. If it is not possible to remove the stain, contact a professional. Removing stubborn stains requires a great deal of skill and experience, stain removers can burn the surface of the carpet, creating an undesirable reflection.
Major carpet cleaning is not necessary unless the carpets are subjected to heavy wear. Frequent rinsing can reduce the lanolin content of wool. You should brush them twice a year with slightly vinegar (20% vinegar) water (you can do this at home). Use a soft brush and make sure it dries quickly. Add about 1-1.5 dl of vinegar to half a bucket of water. The vinegar will brighten colours and kill moths and other unwanted creatures. It is important to follow the smoothing of the carpet when rubbing it with vinegar water, always in the direction of the fibres to get a nice, even surface.
If you need to have your carpet cleaned more thoroughly, leave it to a professional! In this case, the carpet is completely flooded with water on a large concrete surface, using a traditional oriental technique, and then a detergent is dissolved in water and spread over the entire surface of the carpet. Then gently rub the carpet fibres with a soft brush to rub the detergent into them.
Once all areas have been cleaned, the carpet should be rinsed thoroughly with clean water to completely remove any detergent and dirt.
After the carpet has been rinsed, it is advisable to remove the excess water content with a centrifuge. For carpets where there is a likelihood of colour bleeding, centrifuging can be very useful. After centrifuging, a soft brush should be used to adjust the carpet in the direction of the fibres so that the surface looks even after drying.
The drying of the carpet in a drying room or in a shady place in nature is the best way to dry it.
Aside from cleaning and maintaining your oriental carpets, here are some tips that can help extend the life of your oriental carpet. For example, avoid placing the carpet in direct sunlight or in an area with high humidity or moisture, as this can cause colour fading or rotting of the fibres. It is also important to rotate the carpet regularly to avoid uneven wear. Do not place potted plants on the carpet, as they can release moisture and cause the carpet to rot and become brittle! For larger furniture, tables, chairs, cabinets and dressers, please place a weight divider or furniture protection felt under the legs to avoid damage to the carpet later.
Protecting hand-knotted carpets from moths is very important, as these insects can quickly damage the carpet if proper measures are not taken. Worms hatching from moth eggs chew the wool and silk fibres they eat as food before pupation
The first step in protecting carpets is prevention, which includes proper storage and regular cleaning. Keep the carpet in a dry, cool and well-ventilated place, and avoid places that are constantly damp, humid or dark. Regularly vacuum the carpet, paying particular attention to the corners and edges, which are favourite places for moths.
If moths are already present on your carpet, you should take immediate action to prevent their spread. However, it is important to note that moths need to be treated at different stages of their life cycle and may therefore require multiple rounds of treatment. If you see any moth eggs or moth droppings on the carpet, or if you find moth chewing, you will need to wash the carpet completely, after which you will also need to treat the carpet surface with a special moth repellent.
If you can’t see them, you still need protection to prevent them. The most effective chemical we use is BioKill. It is advisable to spray the whole carpet once every six months and let it dry, whether it is in use or not. When storing carpets, a special well-ventilated carpet bag should be used.
Finally, it is important to mention that if you are not sure how to protect hand-knotted carpets from moths, how to clean your carpet, red wine, ink, sugar syrup, wax, chewing gum on your carpet, always seek the advice of a carpet cleaning professional!
When cleaning antique, old and vintage carpets, especially those that have rarely or never been cleaned, old repairs or worn surfaces may appear after cleaning because decades of patina have covered them.
Our gallery undertakes professional cleaning of antique and new hand-knotted carpets, persian carpets and machine-made carpets with 30 years of professional experience.
