Care and Cleaning of Rugs

With proper care, a hand-made carpet will last a long time. Protect it from dampness and direct sunlight. Avoid letting heavy furniture stand for long periods of time on the same part of the rug. The use of suitable underlays will prevent problems such as wear on uneven floors or rugs "creeping" on fitted carpets.
The fringes and edges are the most vulnerable parts of any carpet. Care must be taken particularly when vacuum cleaning. If the edges or fringes begin to unravel, get a professional to repair them immediately.
If spills occur, prompt action must be taken. If mopped up immediately and throoughly, tea and coffee will not leave a permanent mark. For sugary liquids use a damp cloth and a detergent solution, whild for fatty liquids and wine use a solution of household ammonia. Always make sure that afterwards the affected area is treated with clean water and allowed to dry thoroughly. Every so often, and depending on the type of wear the carpet has been getting, it will need professional cleaning.

There are a few steps that you can take at home. We recommend that you print out this page and keep it handy for quick reference if any spills occur.

SPOT REMOVAL CHART: The very first step should always to be scoop up or blot excess - Then blot and if necessary, rub only in direction of pile keeping stain localised
SPOT Order of Treatment Other Treatments
  Step 1 Step 2 Step 3  
Alcoholic beverages 1 2 -  
Bleach 1 3 -  
Blood 1 2 -  
Butter 4 2 -  
Candle wax - - - absorbent paper and hot iron
Chewing gum 5 4 -  
Chocolate 2 3 6  
Coffee 1 2 4  
Colas & soft drinks 7 2 -  
Cooking oils 4 2 -  
Cream 2 4 -  
Egg 2 - -  
Felt tip pen 7 2 8  
Floor wax 4 - -  
Fruit juice 1 2 -  
Furniture polish 4 2 3  
Gravy and sauces 7 2 -  
Ink (fountain pen) 1 2 -  
Ink (ball point) 4 9 2  
Ketchup 7 2 -  
Lipstick 4 2 -  
Mercurochrome 2 3 6 repeat step 2 (advanced)
Milk 7 4 2  
Mustard 2 - -  
Nail polish 8 4 - Advanced - care!
Oil & grease 4 2 -  
Paint (laxtex) 2 3 4 carefully scrape old paint
Paint (oil) 9 4 2 Advanced - check colour fastness
Rust 4 2 10  
Salad dressing 2 4 -  
Shoe Polish 4 2 -  
Soot 4 2 3 Advanced - check colour fastness
Tar 4 - 2  
Tea 1 2 4  
Urine (fresh) 1 2 - may require vinegar/water solution
Urine (old) 2 3 6 repeat if necessary
Vomit 2 - - rinse with cool water, repeat
Wine 11 1 2  
Unknown material 4 12 2  

Type of Treatment

  1. Cool  to lukewarm tap water
  2. Detergent solution (neutral PH shampoo)
  3. ammonia solution
  4. Solvent (isopropyl alcohol or rubbing alcohol)
  5. Chill with aerosol freezing agent or ice cubes in a plastic bag. Pick or scrape off gum.
  6. Vinegar solution
  7. Warm water
  8. Clear nail polish remover ADVANCED! check colour fastness first
  9. Alcohol of methylated spirits (mineral turpentine) ADVANCED! check colour fastness first
  10. Rust remover
  11. Salt for absorbency
  12. Absorbent cleaner - Powders such as "Host" or "Capture"