How to Clean a Persian Rug

Posted On November 17, 2020

Cleaning and maintaining your Persian area rug offers lots of benefits. A pristine carpet looks more aesthetically pleasing—it brings a space together and makes it tidier. Moreover, cleaning your Persian rug can prolong its life. A long-lasting piece gives you more value.

Clean Persian carpets are also important to a healthy environment. You can save money when you remove dirt and bacteria from your rug. But how do you go about cleaning Persian rugs at home? Here are some helpful steps and tips for Persian carpet cleaning.

Check the rug’s label

Make sure to do this step before cleaning your area rug. Lift your carpet’s corners so they show the label. The label will typically guide you on the safest way to clean your rug. Cleaning silk, wool, cotton, or synthetic carpets takes a certain degree of skill, which is why checking the label first is essential.

Cotton and wool area rugs are sturdier and easier to clean than other types of carpets. Meanwhile, you should have a silk Persian rug professionally cleaned if it has severe stains.

Vacuum your Persian carpet

Vacuuming your Persian rug lets you get rid of dirt and debris. Let’s look at how to vacuum your carpet:

Place your rug on the ground.
Vacuum it slowly to remove excess abrasives, pet hair, and dirt.
Repeat the steps above at least thrice on both sides of the rug. This step helps you get rid of all the dust within your carpet.

You’d also want to consider the following while you’re vacuuming your handmade rug:

Don’t use a vacuum cleaner on the fringes. It can get them stuck in the sweeper.
Vacuum towards the rug fibers and not against them.

However, vacuuming won’t work on all types of Persian carpets. A dedicated tool is your best option if you’re cleaning an antique or costly piece. But if you still want to vacuum your rug, we recommend turning off the beater bar. The bar can grip loose fibers and worsen the damage.

Sweep your area rug

People will beat their carpets until they’re clean. But gently wiping the dirt off your rug is much better as it helps avoid damage—prolonging your carpet’s life. Sweep a straw broom from one end of your Persian rug to another, but don’t move it back and forth. You might damage the carpet if you do back-and-forth sweeps over it.

Check the carpet for dust & dirt

Hand-knotted carpets skillfully collect dirt, grime, and soil. You can look for these types of unwanted debris in your carpet with the following methods:

Rub your hand across the wool fibers repeatedly for several seconds.
Separate the pile and examine each fiber’s base.

Once you’ve seen dirt, you can clean your area rug. Removing dust from your carpet is easy: take your rug outside and shake the dirt out.

Wash & rinse your Persian rug

Washing your carpet on a sunny day is great since you can dry it with the sun’s heat. Here’s how to wash your Persian area rug:

Bring your carpet outside.
Hose your rug down on both sides until it’s completely wet.
Massage detergent for delicate clothes into the wool.
Kneel down and wash the area rug with your hands.
Turn your carpet over and wash the reverse side.

After washing your area rug, rinsing it comes next. A hose with an adjustable nozzle is excellent at removing the soapy water. Follow the steps below to rinse your carpet:

Keep removing the soap from your rug until all the suds disappear.
Repeat the step above on the reverse side.
Turn the reverse side over, then rinse the nap side once again. Remove as much water as possible with a squeegee facing towards the nap.

Dry your Persian carpet completely

Before drying your handmade rug, deciding when to place it on your driveway or patio and letting it absorb the sun’s rays is important. Drying the carpet might take a day or two for it to dry completely.

Your area rug can get less morning fog and dew when you hang it over a rail or on a clothesline. But this tip will work if you’re drying the carpet for more than a day. Also, make sure to dry the reverse side in the sun.

However, your area rug’s colors might fade when you expose the carpet to direct sunlight. Remember to rotate your rug at least once a month so that its colors fade evenly.

Once a day or two has passed, check your carpet if it’s dry by creasing the nap and feeling the base of the fibers. Then, separate the fringe with your hands until it fully straightens.

Remove odors from your rug

A variety of solutions can help you get rid of strong, funky smells from your Persian rug. The vinegar, water, and detergent combination is one solution you can use. Applying this mixture removes odors and stains from your carpet and refreshes it.

Talcum powder is an easier option for eliminating area rug smells. Sprinkle some powder over your carpet and let it stay overnight. The powder absorbs all strong odors—vacuuming your rug gives it a refreshed scent.

Frequently asked questions about Persian carpet cleaning

How often should I clean my Persian carpet?

Typically, you should vacuum your Persian rug at least once every two weeks. But this timeframe can change. Setting a schedule for cleaning your carpet isn’t necessary—you can clean the rug if it’s dirty or smelly.

Moreover, Persian rugs in dark, closed spaces without tracks don’t require frequent cleaning. But you might need to clean a carpet more if children and pets wobble around it.

Can you steam clean a Persian rug?

The answer depends on your carpet’s material. Rug artisans produce most pieces from wool, silk, cotton, nylon, or synthetic materials. Natural materials need more care, so steam cleaning a whole thick wool carpet won’t clean it completely. Additionally, excess moisture can stretch or shrink your rug’s natural fibers. It can even permanently damage your carpet.

Can you put a rug in the washer?

You can put a cotton or polyester area rug in your washing machine. But cleaning a wool or silk carpet in your washer can give you some issues. For one, your rug colors can bleed or fade if you clean your carpet in the washing machine. Mechanical Persian rug washing can also decrease your area rug’s lifespan.

Can you use a carpet cleaner on area rugs?

Yes, but you’ll need to test the cleaner before using it. Apply a little shampoo to a small corner or patch, mix it with some water, and let the cleaner stay for a few hours. Then, rinse the spot and check it for any worn colors or fibers. Finding a suitable cleaner for your carpet’s material is an excellent idea.

How can I keep my Persian carpet in mint condition?

Clean spills on your rug right away. White vinegar and clean water can help remove pet, grease, or coffee stains.
Never walk on a carpet while you’re wearing shoes.
Always clean your Persian rug for dust.
Rotate your carpet every now and then.
Don’t wash your rug frequently.
Don’t leave your carpet in direct sunlight.

Avail of professional Persian rug cleaning services

If do-it-yourself handmade rug cleaning doesn’t work for your Persian carpet, experts can help you make your rug look fresh again. Your carpet needs professional rug cleaning at least once a year to keep it pristine and spotless. Area rug cleaning services help clear bacteria and allergens, save time and money, and ensure your rug lasts longer.

Persian carpet cleaning professionals from Cyrus Artisan Rugs have handled new and antique pieces for decades. Their expertise will help refresh your area rug’s look. Learn more about our handmade rug cleaning service on our website, or contact our showroom for any inquiries.