| Cleaniness is the first
and major step towards the preservation of a hand-made carpet and it
is the best care of to damage. There are no hard or fast rules to
stipulate when and how often to clean a carpet since every had-made
carpet is different and every hosehold exposes a carpet to different
amounts of wear and dirt. There are many professional books on the
care and cleaning of carpets that one may consult if one is
interested in doing a professional cleaning. However, the following
advice and information are basic general instructions that the
average home owner may exercise in the care and cleaning of an
Oriented carpet. The best recommendation is regular brushing with an
old fashioned handbroom with natural bristles or the use of an
electric carpet sweeper. Remember that it is just as important to
brush the underlay of the carpet and floor beneath. One caution, the
regular use of a vacuum cleaner will eventually start to loosen the
knots andpull the fibers out of the pile, also never use the
revolving brush attachment on a carpet for it will actually pull the
fibers apart. The nozzle attachment is the best and may be used once
a month.
Hand Cleaning at Home Prepare a
mixture of the following proportions; half a cup of carpet shampoo
to four and a half cups of warm water and add one tablespoon of
vinegar to prevent the colour from running. Lay the carpet with the
pile up on a hard flat surface. Dip the brush in the liquid and
apply it in gentle even vertical strokes. Vigorous brushing or
scrubbing will not clean throughly and is likely to damage the
carpet in its wet vulnerable state. Start in one corner, brushing up
and down, with and against the pile with even overlapping movements.
The amount of shampoo applied and the pressure of the bruh should be
as constant as possible over the entire carpet surface. Once the
carpet is brushed vertically (lengthvise) then brush horizontally or
from side to side across the pile, with the same gentle overlapping
strokes. The pile should be throughly cleaned by now. Finally, brush
gently in the direction of the pile as the carpet dries, so that the
pile is lying in the right direction.
Drying Preferably use a room where
there is a warm air current heating system. Do not drape the carpet,
it must be allowed to dry flat, and don't walk, or place anything on
it until it is completely dry. The warp, weft and pile of a
completely dried carpet should feel soft and pliable. Remove the
dried dirt and shampoo powder by gently brushing with a soft dry
brushing.
Blotting and Stain Removing
When spills occur, dilute with plenty
of water. Next, blot from the edge of the spill toward the center.
Avoid rubbing the area. For solid spills, take a spoon and carefully
scoop up the material. It is always best to attack the spill
immediately. The following information will help you eliminate most
stains. For further advice, contact us. We will be glad to
Things to Avoid
Washing machines and spin dryers
should never be used for any delicate hand-made item. With carpets
the vibration, water temperature and harsh detergents will cause
irreparable damage; posibble colour-run from the hot water and the
detergents and a cement-like wool once dry. It may even reduce the
carpet to shreads. Again dry cleaners sometimes advertise themselves
as carpet cleaners. Their services may be useful for machine-made
carpets, but an Orientel Hand-made masterpiece should never be
subjected to the strong chemicals that these firms use. The damage
may become apparant only after several months and the damage is
irreparable.
Moth Damage Wool carpets and kilims
are subject to moth damage. The dark areas of the carpet should be
inspected for signs of moth damage, which will result in a weakened
foundation or in the knots eventually pulling out where the nap has
been eaten away. New carpet and kilims are treated with insecticides
before exportations and onces in a dealer's shop they are frequently
moved about to avoid this problem. |
