How to Clean an Oriental Rug
Regular Oriental Rug Care and Cleaning: Handmade rugs can be cleaned just fine with a regular broom. With a vacuum cleaner you should use only the suction extension (no rotor vacuum or beater bar / brush) and always work in the direction of the pile (similar to stroking a pet). A traditional carpet cleaning method in Europe is to hang or lay your rug outside and beat them with a broomstick on the rear side. But when your rug has become really dirty, it should be hand-washed by a professional oriental rug cleaner. Don't try to wash it yourself - especially if you have an older / antique oriental rug with natural dyes - as the colors could bleed. (Note: The colors of a wool rug can fade over time if it is exposed to direct sun light.) A no-no are also steam-cleaners, chemical-cleaners, dry cleaners, or washing machines. Let at an expert in oriental rug cleaning do the job, he will take good care of your valuable persian rug.
Removing wet spills / spots / pet urine from your oriental carpet: Rule number one is to act quickly, the sooner you remove the spilled liquids, dog or cat urine, etc., the better are your chances that you don't get permanent stains or odors. The best way to remove fresh spills is to soak them up with a white paper towel - colored (paper) towels are not recommended. After that you can dilute the remainder with cold (!) water and dry again with a towel. Repeat the procedure as necessary. Should some traces remain, you may also use a mild wool detergent with cold water. Do NOT brush, scrub, use a knife, spot removal agents with enzyms or chemicals. When you are finished with cleaning, let your rug dry in a well-vented area to avoid rot. If you are not able to completely remove all spills / odors from your wool rug with the methods described above, let an professional oriental carpet cleaner hand-wash it.
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