1.  Never have your rugs cleaned on location in your home unless there are extenuating circumstances such as size, weight or furniture that makes bringing the rug in for cleaning in a plant difficult. In-home cleaning is much cheaper but leaves soap and dirt residue in the rug that causes the rug to re-soil quickly. On location, the fringe cannot be cleaned and the rug may mildew on the floor because of inadequate drying. Always have your area rugs taken out of the home and cleaned by a professional company that specializes in Oriental rug cleaning. Note: If the company does not know what type of rug you have or the fiber content, they probably know very little about cleaning area rugs.

2.  The Oriental Rug Importers of America recommends that hand-made rugs be cleaned every 2-4 years. Rugs used in heavily trafficked areas such as an entry hall, may need to be cleaned every year. Because some rugs are so thick, waiting too long between cleanings makes the deeply embedded soil impossible to remove completely. Moths can be found in rooms that are seldom used, in dark spaces under furniture and are more likely to attack wool rugs that are dirty

3.  Vacuum Rugs Regularly. Eighty percent of soil in rugs is dry particulate matter. It acts as sandpaper and wears out the rug.

4.  Beware of any rug seller who says the rug you have just bought from them should not be cleaned. What this really means is the rug will not withstand cleaning due to condition, foundation "painting," or other hidden defects.

5.  Help Protect Your Wool Rugs from stains and soil. Wool rugs are generally sold without any type of stain protection. Our Supershield® fabric protector is Woolsafe® approved.

6.  Spills and Accidents should be addressed immediately. Over-the-counter spotters found in drug, grocery and home improvement stores are a No-No! These spotters are too aggressive and can leave irreversibly discolored areas. Instead, use cold water or club soda as an emergency measure until the rug can be cleaned by a professional.

7.  Rug Padding provides a protective layer between your rug and the floor. A pad helps minimize slippage, increases the life of the rug, makes the rug feel thicker and more luxurious, smoothes out irregularities in the floor, and absorbs noise. All pads are not created equal. The best pads for hardwood floors are made with a layer of synthetic felted material on the top side with a rubber coating on the bottom. The type of pad we recommend depends on the surface the pad will be laid upon. A proper-sized pad should be cut 2 inches narrower than the width of the rug and 2 inches shorter than the length, not including the fringe.