Selection and Care Of Oriental Rugs

Nothing says 'opulence' for your home's floors quite like an oriental rug. Actually, some suggest the correct way to design a room is to decorate a room "around" an oriental rug.

Most commonly the price of an area rug is determined by the amount of labor and art invested into the rug. When considering an oriental rug you will want to consider the quality of the wool and the dyes used in the construction of the rug.

Some carpets that are passed off today as oriental carpets are actually machine made reproductions. Experts can tell the difference by inspecting the nap of the rug. A machine will not able to tie knots as a person would, consequently a machine made oriental area rug will have the nap stuck between the base and the wefts. Another way to determine if a carpet is machine made is to check the backing of the rug. If the nap is made of polypropylene, poly olefin or a synthetic wool it is most likely machine made. Additionally, on the fringe of a machine made rug is usually sewn directly to the carpet backing and is not part of the rug itself as it is with a handmade rug. Be certain that you are dealing with a reputable and knowledgeable carpet dealer who specializes in handmade oriental rugs. This is one of the ways to avoid spending more for an inferior rug.

When you decide to purchase an oriental rug there are a few useful do's and don't's. First, a good quality padding will not only help to protect the rug, it will also help to prevent it from wrinkling or shifting. Typically, oriental rugs are placed over hard flooring. Good quality padding can add many years of life to an area rug. Rotate your rug frequently to help prevent any obvious over-wear on one section of the rug. Try to prevent direct sun exposure to the rug as much as possible to prevent fading. Remember, this oriental rug will probably outlast any other furniture or rugs you have in your home, and twenty or twenty-five years worth of strong sun can fade wool dyes.

Cleaning your rug is also an important consideration. Never have your rug dry cleaned or have an oriental wool rug steam cleaned. Steam cleaning will remove the natural oils from the wool which will make it brittle and cause it to wear more rapidly. If you find your oriental rugs need something more than a mild surface cleaning with water find an expert to do it properly.