Best Practices for Cleaning Vintage Wool Rugs

A wool rug can be a valuable addition to your home. These rugs are one of the most common types found in residences. However, if you’ve invested in a vintage wool rug, you need to handle it with care. These rugs are pretty expensive and cleaning them is best left to the professionals. But if you want to clean the rug yourself, it can be a daunting task because you don’t want to damage this prized possession. This post will give you some best practices that you can use for cleaning vintage wool rugs that will make them retain their look and value.

How to Clean a Vintage Wool Rug

We give below some of the best ways to clean a vintage wool rug.

Precleaning Preparation

Before cleaning, you should always inspect the rug for damage or stains. Different stains will require different materials and methods to remove them. You should generally clean it with a mixture of equal parts of distilled white vinegar and cold water. Hot water can damage the fibers of this sensitive item. If this doesn’t work, you can sprinkle some baking soda onto the mix.

The second thing is to test for color fastness. You should pick an inconspicuous area of the rug. Put a white cloth into some cold water and then dab it on this area. If it is colorfast, the color of the carpet should not come out on the cloth.

Gently shake out the rug. This will remove loose dirt and debris and prepare the carpet for further cleaning.

Cleaning Methods and Tips

1.   Vacuum it with a gentle action.

You can vacuum your wool carpet using a soft nozzle attachment. This will ensure that the carpet is not damaged. You should place the nozzle a slight distance away from the rug and let the air just do its work. Or use an open extension for better results. Preferably vacuum both the front and underside of the carpet so that all dirt and debris is removed. Depending on the foot traffic in the room, you should aim to clean your carpet at least once or twice a month.

2.   Shake out the carpet.

This is another way to clean your vintage rug. If the carpet is large in size and you can’t do it yourself, call a friend or another household member to help. You can shake it out in sections if that is more manageable. Just be sure that you don’t do it too vigorously so that the carpet is not damaged. About a minute of doing this is enough to loosen out the dirt on the surface.

3.   Do not steam clean.

You would be committing a grave mistake if you chose to steam clean your carpet. This would make the rug wet. If there is any dirt left inside the fibers, it will turn into mud and become more difficult to dislodge. Just as blow drying your hair makes it all frazzled, it would have the same effect on your carpet. So this is a definite no-no.

4.    Move your rug to a safer area.

If possible, you should try to move your carpet to a location where it won’t have to bear the effects of foot traffic or pets. Keep it away from heavy furniture as it can leave pressure marks on the rug. You can always cover up the more vulnerable areas of the carpet to protect it from damage. Remember to keep it away from direct sunlight as this can fade the rug leading to a discoloration effect. Rotating your rug with one that is less valuable is one way that you can preserve its service life.

5. Cleaning out Spots and Stains.

The most important thing to be remembered in this context is to try to remove the stain immediately. If you wait, the stain will set in and be more difficult to take out. It is best to use the blot-and-treat method to soak up the stain. For a vintage carpet, it is better to use the services of a professional cleaner.

6. Wash with Gentle Detergent and Water.

It is always the best practice to wash the rug with water and a gentle detergent. Be careful to use a clear detergent that does not have color or harsh chemicals or this will spoil the rug. The dye in the detergent could discolor the carpet.

7. Never Wet the Carpet Completely.

If you soak the carpet more than is required, it may lose its shape. The water could soak through the top layer and get trapped between this and the bottom of the rug. If allowed to remain, it could cause mold or mildew in the long run.

8. Always Air Dry.

You should lay out the carpet in an open area that gets some warmth but not too much sunlight.. Do not use a clothes dryer as the heat will destroy the rug. You can also turn on the fans to let it dry. Use a dehumidifier if you want.

9. Other Cleaning Solutions.

You can use white vinegar and water, or baking soda and vinegar with water to clean out your carpet. Oatmeal and chamomile tea should not be used as cleaning agents because they might harm the delicate fibers and ruin the rug. You can also use shampoo to clean your carpet but make sure it does not contain harsh chemicals.

10 . Consider a Professional Cleaning Service.

If you really want to protect your vintage wool rug and extend its life, you should look at sending it to a professional cleaner. This is especially recommended if you have stains that cannot be removed easily. Check for the reviews and reputation of the cleaners before hiring their services. There are cleaners who use green and sustainable products that will clean your carpet without the risk of harsh chemicals.

Conclusion

We have looked at some methods to clean your vintage carpet. You should clean your rug once every two weeks at home and send it to a professional cleaning service once every six months for deep cleaning. They are experts at what they do and will really help preserve the quality of your rug.