Braided Rugs Cleaning And Maintenance

With a little care and maintenance your braided rug can last a lifetime. Just follow these basic steps for a trouble free rug:

Unrolling
When first unrolled, a new braided rug may have a wrinkle or bulge that prevents it from laying flat on
the floor. This is a common problem when the rug is first unpacked after shipment.

To rectify this problem lay the rug as flat as possible. Use a broom handle or similar pole and, starting in the center using a sweeping motion, push one half of the wrinkle to the left. Then push the remaining half of the wrinkle to the right side of the rug. Never push the entire wrinkle to one side or end of the rug as this only stretches the rug.

Reverse And Rotate
Reverse and rotate braided rugs as they soil. This process will prolong the life of the rug by evenly distributing the traffic to both sides.

Sprouting
During initial use, excess sprouts of yarn may work their way to the surface of the rug. This is to be expected, and in no way lessens its durability These sprouts should be clipped off at the base with scissors. Do not pull the yarn out as this may result in damage to the rug.

Repair
Should the stitching become broken and cause braids to separate, the rug should be repaired immediately to prevent further separation. The rug can be restored to its original strength by using a simple whip stitch.

Start just before the damaged area and stitch the braids together. Extend the stitches just beyond the damaged area and then secure them with a knot. Try to duplicate the thread color and use the same size stitch originally used in sewing the braid.

Cleaning
Vacuum regularly. Do not shake or beat the rug since this treatment could damage the stitching. Clean spills immediately by blotting with a cloth or sponge. Remove any grease spots with ordinary dry cleaning solvents. Professional or "in home" periodic cleanings using the power spray-extraction carpet cleaning method are recommended. Allow to dry flat on the floor. Clean one side at a time and allow it to dry before reversing to clean the other side.


Tags: area rugs, braided rugs, cleaning, repair, sprouting,