How To Clean A Persian Rugs? 8 Cleaning Method Tips

Persian Rugs are beautiful pieces of art that add a luxurious touch and presence to your home digging the root deep in history. These rugs have intricate designs and bright colors that can increase the aesthetics of a room. But, like any other objects of beauty, it takes a bit more effort to clean and maintain them. Persian carpets are far different than your everyday run-of-the-mill.

In this blog, we will tackle 8 cleaning tips on how to clean a Persian rug so it looks pretty like new every time. Our seasoned professionals are well-versed in the art of crafting useful Persian-rug-cleaning solutions, no matter if you face widespread dirt or tenacious stains.

How To Prepare Your Persian Rugs for Cleaning

Your lovely Persian rug can be turned into a disaster without the proper preparation for cleaning which would leave it shredded or with its fibers discolored. Hence before you start cleaning, gather all the materials and initiatively do a few steps for best removal.

Tools and Materials You Will Need

To clean Persian rug, you'll need the following items:

• A vacuum with a brush accessory
• A soft-bristle brush or broom
• White cotton towels or cloths
• A bucket of cold water
• Mild rug cleaner
• A sponge
• A squeegee
• Gloves

Initial Steps Before Deep Cleaning

The following are the preliminary steps you should do before actual deep wash.

• Vacuum Thoroughly: To clean the dirt from in between, use a vacuum cleaner with a sponge attachment to softly lift debris and remove them. 
• Check for Stains and Damage: Examine your rug closely to ensure there are no stains, discolorations, or tears. Take care of smaller rips and loose strings or fringe now.
• Colorfastness Test: Before applying any cleaning agent to the entire rug, perform a small section of color test in an inconspicuous area due to colors often bleeding or fading. 
• Dust and Debris: Shake It Out-Bring your rug outside, and shake gently for dirt. This step helps ensure that you are spending your cleaning time removing dirt from the upholstery, rather than simply sweeping away particles on their surface.
• Protect your Floor: When you clean indoors, use a plastic sheet or tarp full width below like an area immediately down a base to prevent cross-moisture and cleaning solution on your rug.

Cleaning Methods for Persian Rugs

To preserve the beauty and life of your Persian rug, you have to treat the existing dirt and stains properly. Choose the cleaning methods that cater to protecting the beauty as well as the lifespan of your Persian rug. Here are the 8 methods you can opt for:

Vacuuming Regularly Your Persian Rugs

Vacuuming is great for cleaning Persian rugs. If you prefer something that offers a bit of texture, opt for placing smaller synthetic rugs on either side and running the vacuum cleaner (once again with its brush attachment) along both exposed edges. Avoid a vacuum with a beater bar; the weave is too fine.

Clean Stains Before They Set

For spills, take action as soon they happen to prevent stains from setting. Dry the stale area over an unused white cloth. Wet cheesecloth in a mild cleaning solution or 50% vinegar and water mix Simply dab it into the particular area. Do not rub the Persian carpets to clean them with a solution. Avoid rubbing the solution to clean Persian rugs.

Shampooing Your Persian Rugs

Persian rug must be shampooed to eliminate the more difficult stains that you can’t easily remove through vacuum cleaning. A mild rug shampoo solution or a homemade natural cleaning solution. Spot clean the rug by scrubbing lightly, rinse with cold water, and blot out dampness using a fresh towel.

Steam Cleaning

When steam cleaning, a setting should be low and the right manner of attachment must be used. Steam clean and do it in partitions so that each part can dry before the other is cleaned. Excessive heat or moisture can damage the fabric of your rug while avoiding these variables could lead to a more expensive cleaning.

Dry Powder Cleaning

The dry powder coating can actually remove dirt without water Use a custom rug dry cleaning powder for the area and lightly brush it on. Allow this to sit for the recommended time, and then deeply vacuum it all up pulling apart both powder and lifted dirt.

Hand Washing

To clean Persian rugs, drop them in cold water with a little detergent. Then drop the rug into that soapy water and give it a gentle shake to loosen any dirt. Now, rinse well with cold water in order to have your rug completely soap-free.  

Use a Rug Beater

For this, take the rug outside, stretch it on a sturdy string, and use the rug beater or broom to beat it. This will increase the speed of the dirt particles so that they are released and in the process, minimize grinding in. Be careful as it can damage rug fibers. Complete by vacuuming the carpet to eliminate any kind of residual gunk.

Machine Wash

Some small Persian rugs can be machine washed without any problem, but take this measure with care. For washing, refer to the care label and it is preferred to be washing in cool water and with mild soap. Do not use bleach or any strong chemicals to clean the fruit/vegetable normally. Rinse the rug, and then spread it for drying with the idea of not fading the colors by exposure to direct sunlight.

Cleaning Tips According To The Size Of Persian Rugs

Here's how you can effectively clean your 8x10 and 9x12 Persian rugs, taking into account their specific needs and dimensions.

Cleaning for 8x10 Persian Rugs

• Vacuum once a week to keep dust and dirt from settling deep into the fibers.
• Take the Persian rugs 8x10 outside and give them a good shake to dislodge embedded dirt and dust. 
• For washing, mix mild rug shampoo with cold water. Apply with a sponge or soft brush, scrubbing gently in a circular motion.
• Plunge your 8x10 Persian rugs over a permanent line and then thrash it with the help of a rug beater or even a normal broom.

Cleaning to 9x12 Persian Rugs

• For 9x12 size larger Persian rugs, vacuum at least twice a week.
• Clean regularly with a good mild rug shampoo or detergent.
• If your Persian rug is 9x12 feet, for example, expect it to be cleaned in segments.
• Now set the  9x12 Persian rug flat with a good airflow and allow it to dry.

How Often to Clean Persian Rugs?

For the beauty and longevity of your Persian rug, you should get it cleaned, as often as is necessary. With that in mind frequency it maybe depends with the flow of traffic, weather conditions, and whether there are kids or pets in the house. Read on to determine how often you need to clean a Persian rug so that it retains its beauty.

• Regular Care: Rotate the rug to even up wear and light exposure. This prevents uneven fading/staining and wear. Deal with spills and spots as soon as you can to prevent them from staining.
• Weekly Care: Vacuum your rug once a week at least to pick up loose dirt and debris. Vacuum with a brush attachment or use the suction on vacuum cleaners without the beater bar to avoid damaging fibers.
• Regular Care: Monthly check your rug for wear and tear, any damages, or moth activity. Small repairs can turn into big problems. Don't let it get to that point.
• Seasonal Care: For routine maintenance and ordinary incidents, every 3-6 months is recommended to deep clean your Persian rug depending on the degree of foot traffic & dirt.
• Professional Cleaning: Particularly if you have high-traffic areas or valuable rugs, plan to have them professionally cleaned every 1-2 years.

Maintaining Your Persian Rugs Post-Cleaning

Maintaining after cleaning a Persian rug is very important to continue giving it promoting color, long life, and maintaining all its beauty. We will give you some tips to clean Persian rugs from the foundation to avoid once it is clean.

• Allow Proper Drying: As soon as you are done cleaning it, be sure to let your choice completely dry before returning back to the floor. Spread it out flat somewhere dry and in the shade so that direct sunlight is not shining on them as this will cause fading.
• Vacuuming: Be sure to vacuum at least once a week helping prevent dirt and debris from embedding into fibers. Vacuum in the pile path, using a vacuum with a brush attachment.
• Spot Cleaning: If something spills or gets on the floor, address it as soon as possible to keep it from truly setting in.
• Use Rug Pads: Place a rug pad under your Persian rug to avoid slipping, cushioning, and less wear. It also allows for air to circulate so as not to mold or mildew.
• Avoid Sunlight Exposure: Don't put your rug where sunlight can get at it or fading will occur. Hang curtains or blinds to protect your rug from the sun's UV rays.
• Clean Before Storage: Make sure your rug is clean and thoroughly dry before you store it. Roll pile side in and store somewhere cool & dry.

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Cleaning Persian Rugs

Persian rugs are some of the finest around, and to ensure their ability not just as a floorcovering but also as an investment for years on end means that they need proper care. By avoiding these common errors and taking the right steps, you should be able to keep your rug looking great for years. These are two major pitfalls to avoid:

• Using Harsh Chemicals
• Over-Wetting the Rug
• Rubbing Stains Vigorously
• Ignoring the Pile Direction
• Ignoring The Bottom And Sides
• Not Utilizing Professional Services When Necessary
• Improper Storage