A Persian rug is a work of art and is meant to be preserved in its original state. If your rug is an heirloom, it may have already fallen into a state of disrepair. But in any case, you can still care for it better to protect it from falling apart. Here are some tips to care for your Persian rug.

1. Consistent Vacuuming

Just like in the case of carpet cleaning, vacuuming is an important part of maintenance, but it is not going to keep the floor covering clean. Additional cleaning will be required, but this step is a basic necessity for caring for a Persian rug. There are a few things to know about properly vacuuming Persian rugs.

You do not want your vacuum set on a powerful setting. Something low is good for the pile, and an upholstery attachment should be used to go over the fringe. This is necessary to keep the fibers from packing down or becoming permanently matted. But for delicate braided or hand-hooked rugs, it may be better to use a soft bristle brush rather than a vacuum.

2. Don’t Comb The Fringe

If there is fringe on your Persian rug, it will likely get tangled from time to time. When this happens, you do not want to comb it out to straighten it. A hair comb is going to pull out fibers. And after some time, you will be able to notice that there is less and less material for your fringe.

With any rug cleaning, you do not want to negatively affect or degrade the fabric. So pulling out fibers little by little with a comb is not acceptable. A gentler way to straighten out the fringe of a Persian rug is to shake the rug (not too vigorously), or purchase a styling brush that will be non-destructive.

3. Dry All Moisture

You don’t want a Persian rug to remain wet for any extended period of time. Water or any liquid provides a necessary component to mold growth. It is not a sure thing that your moist Persian rug will start growing mold, but if your Persian rug is going to have mold growing on it, it will be because of excess moisture.

Unlike upholstery cleaning for large pieces of furniture, even a large Persian rug is relatively easy to move and, therefore, easier to place in a location where it can dry faster. You do not want to clean a Persian rug with a lot of water unless you know you can dry it quickly.

4. Limit Direct Sunlight

Any Carson carpet cleaning service worth their salt will be sure your rug does not fade as a result of the washing, but Persian rugs can fade without you having done anything to them. Prolonged or protracted exposure to sunlight is enough to fade your rug’s once-vibrant colors.

If you have ever heard the phrase, “sunlight is the best disinfectant,” it comes from the fact that ultraviolet rays are destructive. The same thing that causes your skin to burn also damages dyes and even paint. You can keep your Persian rug out of the sun or even tint your windows, so less direct sunlight hits the floor covering.

5. Clean Quickly & Professionally

When there is an issue with a spill or any type of stain (especially pet stains), a Persian rug needs to be cleaned as soon as possible. The longer the substance stays on the rug, the more difficult it will be to remove. Ideally, you should call immediately call for Persian rug cleaning.

For a Persian rug, you most likely cannot use the standard steam cleaning services. Instead, a carpet cleaning technician is probably going to take the rug to a secondary location where it can be cleaned with a specialty rug cleaning machine.