Oriental Rug Cleaning in Woodland Hills, CA
A Rug Woven With More Time Than Most Things You Own
Oriental rugs are not normally just floor coverings. Most owners of Oriental rugs know this. These rugs are hand made, often one knot at a time, over weeks or months that cannot be duplicated with any machine. Many of these rugs are woven using techniques that have been passed on through a family or region for many generations. They are often dyed with natural colors from plants, insects and minerals rather than a bottle of synthetic dye.
Some have travelled across continents and into a home in Woodland Hills. Others have been passed down and cared for in families for decades and have moved from house to house as they are not easily replaced. At The Silk and Wool Rug Cleaners we have developed oriental rug cleaning in Woodland Hills process specifically for rugs like these. They cannot be treated the same as other area rugs.
Construction That Deserves Real Understanding
A hand woven Oriental rug is constructed differently than any machine made rug. Individual knots are tied to a warp and weft foundation and the tightness, density and material of the knots will impact the handling of the rug in regards to moisture, heat and cleaning products.
Wool is commonly used but silk, cotton and blends of fibers can also be found throughout different regions and weaving styles and each reacts differently to moisture and agitation. Before we begin oriental rug cleaning in Woodland Hills we take time to understand the construction of each rug. Making wrong assumptions at this point can cause damage that may not become apparent until the cleaning is too far along.
Dye Stability Is Not Something to Guess About
Many Oriental rugs, especially older and more intricately woven rugs use natural dyes. These dyes react differently than the dyes used on most modern rugs. Some are very stable while others can bleed or change when exposed to the wrong combination of water, heat and/or cleaning products. In some cases they can bleed into other colors and this cannot be reversed once it has happened.
This is why we do not assume that the dyes on any rug are stable just because they may appear to be stable. A small test area on each rug is cleaned before the full oriental rug cleaning in Woodland Hills begins so we know how the dye will react before we begin cleaning the entire rug.
Fringe Is Part of the Rug, Not Decoration Added to It
One common misconception about Oriental rugs is the fringe on the ends of the rug. Many people believe this is a decorative piece added to the ends of the rug after the rug is completed. In reality this is an extension of the foundation threads that hold the entire rug together.
The warp, If the fringe is treated as secondary during cleaning and harsh brushing, bleaching or improper drying is used, these threads may be weakened and over time the integrity of the entire rug may be compromised, not just the appearance. The fringe is cleaned and groomed in the same way as the rest of the rug because the integrity of the foundation of the entire rug is being preserved.
What Can Go Wrong in the Wrong Hands
Oriental rugs can often be damaged not from lack of care but from improper cleaning by someone who is not equipped to handle them. Carpet cleaning equipment and steam cleaners can introduce too much moisture into the foundation of a hand woven rug resulting in shrinkage, warping or a musty odor resulting from moisture not being properly dried. Harsh products that are used to clean synthetic carpet can damage or alter natural dyes in ways that cannot be reversed. Even drying a rug too quickly or too slowly can cause damage to the foundation of the rug over time.
This often is not noticeable until months or years after the rug has been cleaned. These are not uncommon problems. These are common when a specialized rug ends up in the hands of someone who is used to cleaning synthetic carpet rather than hand woven wool or silk. Once this type of damage has occurred, there is no amount of oriental rug cleaning in Woodland Hills that can completely reverse it. This is why prevention of this type of damage is so important with these rugs as compared to other rugs in a home.
An Investment Worth Protecting
For many families an Oriental rug is more than its resale value even if this value can be significant and should be protected in its own right. It could be the rug from a childhood home, the rug that was brought back from a trip that changed the way someone views the world or a gift with a story attached to it. Improper cleaning of these rugs does not only put the appearance of the rug at risk. It also puts a piece of history at risk. So contact us for oriental rug cleaning in Woodland Hills.
Once this is damaged it cannot be replaced by simply ordering another rug online. When working with Oriental rugs we keep this in mind and treat them as something that should be preserved rather than simply cleaned. If your rug has been appraised or has documented value we would be happy to take this into consideration as well since preserving the condition of the rug also means preserving the value associated with it.
Our Oriental Rug Cleaning in Woodland Hills Process
All rugs are first given a thorough hands on inspection looking at construction, fibers used, dye reactions and any prior repairs or wear. Soil and dust is removed from within the fibers of the rug before any moisture is added. This is done to prevent gritty particles from being left within the fibers to cause damage during the oriental rug cleaning in Woodland Hills process. A cleaning process is chosen specific to the fibers used and the stability of the dyes on the rug. Following this a thorough rinse is used to remove all cleaning products.
Drying takes place in a controlled environment that allows for adequate airflow through the rug. This helps protect both the foundation and the pile of the rug from the moisture related damage that often occurs with rushed drying. The fringe is cleaned and groomed separately using a method appropriate to this area. All rugs are given a final inspection before being considered ready to be returned to their owners.
Trust Your Rug to People Who Understand What It Is
If you own an Oriental or hand woven rug then you already know that your rug deserves more than just a standard oriental rug cleaning in Woodland Hills. Please contact us and let us walk you through how we would clean your specific rug before any cleaning begins. We are available Monday through Sunday from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM. You may reach us at any time at (323) 638-5635. A rug like yours was not meant to be cleaned in a standard way and with us it will not be.
Ready to Transform Your Rugs?
If you have been hesitating to get your beloved rug cleaned out of fear of something going wrong then that makes complete sense. That is why we exist.