Antiques guide: how to clean antique rugs
Keep antique carpets and rugs spick and span with this helpful advice
The rich colours and patterns of handmade rugs add warmth and opulence to interiors and have been treasured by collectors for centuries. Keeping rugs clean isn’t just a question of making them look good – if you don’t remove grit and dust it may become embedded in the structure of the rug and cause damage that will shorten its life. Not cleaning a rug may also encourage moths. Handmade rugs should be vacuumed with extreme caution: never vacuum fringes and bear in mind overzealous use of powerful vacuum cleaners can damage knots. If your rug is made from silk or is a delicate and valuable antique, it’s best to give it to a professional to clean. Other rugs can be cleaned by hand at home. How often you do so depends on how much wear a rug gets, but once every two years would be an average recommended guide.
You Will Need
- Cane beater or vacuum
- White cloth
- Rug shampoo – use a variety without bleach
- Warm water
- White vinegar
- Natural bristle brush (a horse grooming brush is ideal)
