If you take good care of your rug and clean it properly, it will maintain its beauty for many years. Our Rug Care and Maintenance Guide will give you general information on how to ensure that your rug stays in the best possible condition.

We recommend that you use a rug pad for any rug that does not have a rubber backing. A rug pad keeps the area rug flat and makes vacuuming easier. It also reduces wear and tear and extends the life of the rug by reducing the impact of weight on it. Vacuum or shake out rugs regularly. High traffic areas rugs should be vacuumed daily or at least every other day. Other rugs should be vacuumed at least twice weekly, be sure to vacuum across both directions of the traffic pattern to prevent matting. Be careful when vacuuming rugs with fringe; do not get too close, as a powerful vacuum cleaner will easily suck in the fringe and damage it. Avoid direct sunlight. Constant exposure to direct sunlight may cause the colors in rugs to slightly fade. Silk is especially vulnerable to sunlight. Using drapes or blinds to shade the rug during hours of direct daylight and occasionally rotating the rug will help to preserve a rug's color and keep it even. Rotate or reposition your rug every six months to avoid repeated wear and to balance any fading from light. If the rug is reversible, be sure to flip it over regularly.

In case there is an accidental spill, blot it with a clean, white cloth as soon as possible. Work from the outside edge inward to prevent the spill from spreading. Use a spoon or spatula to scoop up large debris and remove excess liquid, but do not rub or scrub at the fibers -- this will cause the pile to mat and clump, and may thus increase the visibility of a potential stain. You can dilute smaller spills with a little bit of water, or you may need to use a mild detergent. (Natural Fiber rugs should not be treated with water, see below for more information on Natural Fiber rug care). Avoid dry cleaning your rug. Harsh chemicals can damage the backing and cause fading.

Your rug can last a lifetime if cleaned properly. We suggest a professional cleaning every 1-3 years, depending on the traffic and location. We recommend professional carpet cleaners that use the hot water extraction method for most rugs. You should not dry clean your rugs, with the exception of silk rugs, and you should not use bleach. Always check to make sure that your rug cleaning service is familiar with your type of rug.

Professionals will know the best way to clean your rug type, but to prepare you with a bit of extra information; here are some methods of cleaning various area rug fibers.

Wool:

Excessive agitation and heat should be avoided, but generally wool fibers may be cleaned with most cleaning methods. Wool should be cleaned with neutral detergents and dried quickly. Use special care around household cleaning products, as bleaches and other alkaline products such as bathroom cleaners easily damage wool.

Cotton/Rayon:

Cotton and rayon are cellulose fibers and may be cleaned using all cleaning methods. To avoid shrinking and possible browning, avoid excessive drying and agitation. As with wool, take care with alkaline products.

Silk:

Silk should be cleaned using a dry cleaning process. These fibers may be damaged by natural and synthetic acids (e.g. lemon juice), and sunlight. Consult a rug cleaning specialist for additional information about cleaning silk.

Flokati:

Flokatis are pure wool, so they naturally resist soil. Shaking your rug is the best cleaning method. To give the rug a softer feel and texture, comb it with a wide �toothed plastic hairbrush or a simple wood or plastic garden rake to fluff it. Comb the pile from the center of the rug outward in four directions. Some wool fibers may come out while combing, however this is normal and will not be harmful to your flokati. If your Flokati needs more thorough cleaning, you may wash it either by hand or in a washing machine. You may wash the rug by hand in a bathtub. Use lukewarm water and a mild solution such as Woolite. Do not use hot water, strong detergents or bleach. Rinse well with running water and hang the rug or lay it flat to dry in the shade. If you choose to machine wash your flokati, choose the gentle circle with cold water and only use a mild detergent such as Woolite. Shake out the rug as soon as the washing machine cycle is done. It is important not to use a dryer, because the flokati will shrink. Either hang dry or lay the rug down flat to dry in the shade. Once the rug is dry, comb it. We do not recommend vacuuming a Flokati (Please note: During the early life of your rug, a small amount of fluff will shed, but this is not detrimental to its appearance and is common on all top-quality carpets. The long wool fibers used to create each flokati shed naturally. With combing, washing and proper care, the shedding will stop. However, you should expect to see tufting from your flokati.)

Bamboo:

Clean Bamboo rugs with a solution of mild detergent and water. Rotate the rug for even wear. Shake the bamboo rug in order to loosen and eliminate dirt particles.

Natural Fibers (Sisal, Jute, Seagrass):

Vacuuming daily or at least weekly is essential. Use a vacuum with strong suction and a brush attachment. These rugs may look clean, but there might be fine dirt particles in the weave. If left, the particles can get lodged in between the fibers causing excessive wear as the rug is walked on. For overall cleaning purposes, it is important to control the amount of moisture used with Natural Fiber rugs. It is not recommended that the natural fiber be steam cleaned, wet shampooed or any other method that involves water saturation. It is recommended that a dry cleaning process be used. Remove any liquid spills immediately or pat dry with a clean cotton cloth. Do not rub the spill area as this can force the liquid further into the fiber. Scrape dry spills with a blunt blade, such as a teaspoon or dull side of a butter knife. Work from the edge of the spill toward the center to contain the spill. Dry with a hairdryer or fan. (Because sisal, seagrass and mountain grass are natural fibers, they can absorb moisture. To avoid watermarks, spills must be cleaned up immediately with an absorbent white cloth.

Leather rug care:

Do not clean leather rugs with household cleaners, these can seriously damage your leather and never use saddle soaps, abrasives, furniture polish, varnish, or ammonia. You may only use special leather cleaner. To clean, apply leather cleaner to a sponge, squeezing to create foam. Apply foam to soiled area in a gentle circular motion. Do not rub the stain, use a gentle circular motion for all applications and apply in light coats. Wait a few minutes, then blot with a soft, clean white lint-free cloth and re-apply the rug cleaner if the area is heavily soiled. In some cases leather can be extremely dry and the leather cleaner will dissipate quickly. If this is the case, add 25% distilled water to the leather cleaner. This gives the dampening effect you need to release the soil for cleaning. Leather will dry naturally, but to speed up drying time, a hair dryer held at a 300 angle can be used. Routine cleaning is recommended to aid in the longevity of your leather products. A complete cleaning twice a year, followed by a conditioner, will maintain the finish and increase durability.