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Copied from the DIY Website...below is the
feature article from Episode DQOC-104 - Talking Dirty With The
Queen of Clean, Linda Cobb
- Cleaning Oriental Carpets - Aired on July 6, 2006 Host,
Linda Cobb interviews Bob Carr, graduate of Auserehlian
Oriental Cleaning School.
Trends
in floor coverings change, just like everything else, but if you
are lucky enough to own an oriental rug, you have artwork for
the floor (figure A). Some are inexpensive and machine
made, but others are genuine
oriental or Persian rugs, kaleidoscopes of wool knotted by hand.
These rugs are so durable they can last for generations -- and
when something is on the floor for that long, it can get really
dirty, so proper care and cleaning is essential. In fact,
according to rug expert Bob Carr, a recent study shows that a
9-by-12 oriental rug can hold up to 87 pounds of dry soil
without ever looking dirty!
The best way to preserve an
heirloom rug is a thorough cleaning. And good rug cleaning,
according to Carr -- a certified rug specialist and the owner of
Carr's Rug Cleaning -- should incorporate the following steps:
- Very aggressive dry soil
removal. Getting rid of the dry soil is a multistep process,
starting with compressed air. This process sucks up the dirt
and blows it away. For a normal cleaning this is done three
times front and back.
- Thorough washing. Carr's
company uses the Auserehlian cleaning system, named after the
Colorado man who designed the system. It consists of a wash
pit that holds 300-400 gallons of soft water, enough so that
each rug floats when it's put into the pit (figure B).
Hoses on one end fill the pit, and filters on the other end
help drain the dirty water away from the rug.
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The first step
after the rug is placed in the pit is to rinse it.
Next, the rug is
shampooed. With the water as a buffer, the agitation is mild.
A neutral-pH shampoo is best since a high pH can damage the
fibers. When the top is clean, the rug is flipped over, and
the process is repeated on the back.
The rug is
rinsed and at the same time a 30-gallon lawn-roller is rolled
over the rug to force out leftover soap and dirty water (figure
C). Any remaining dirt is forced out of the back of the
rug using more compressed air.
The rug is then
draped over a beam and hoisted above the pit, where it is
again rinsed while hanging in the vertical position (figure
D). At this point, the rug is checked for cleanliness, and
if evidence of dirt remains, the rug is then rewashed.
The pile is
brushed so it will dry correctly; the fringe is inspected and,
if necessary, washed with a special tool. Finally the rug is
allowed to dry, a process that takes at least 24 hours.
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Expert Home-Care Rug Tips
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Don't clean the rug yourself,
especially if you live in a humid
area.
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Blot spills thoroughly.
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If the colors bleed, take the rug to
a professional.
Oriental Rug Tips
Bob Carr offers these tips if you are
in the market for a real oriental rug.
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The real clue is on the back of the
rug. Scrim cloth indicates that a
rug is handmade but not
hand-knotted. These rugs are made
with tufting guns and have a layer
of latex applied to hold all
elements of the rug in place.
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For rugs without cloth on the back,
there is still a way to tell the
genuine article from an imitation:
white lines that run up and down on
the back of the rug indicate it is a
machine-made rug, not a hand-knotted
one (figure E).
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Hand-knotted rugs have lines that
run in a horizontal pattern, left to
right (figure F).
Whether your rug is handmade or
machine-made, it will get dirty. A
deep cleaning is the best way to bring
the patterns and colors back to their
original glory.
If you are looking for a qualified rug
cleaner in your area, look for someone
who is a certified member of the
National Institute of Rug Cleaners
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