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It doesn’t end with the purchase...

When given the right amount of proper care, a handknotted carpet can last for generations and will age beautifully, looking almost better than when you first got it.

 

Underlay 

Consider using a protective underlay to fix the carpet in place and keep it from sliding around. Think of it as the foundation for your carpet, as a basic protection that not only seeks to prevent accidents from happening, but also protects your carpet from unnecessary wear.

 

Dents

If you place furniture on top of your carpet, use protectors on the feet and be sure to move the furniture a few cm every few months in order to prevent permanent dents from forming in the carpet pile. When you move the furniture you might notice some dents, but with a little bit of patience they should disappear on their own in a few days time. Wool has natural tendency to regain its shape and you will notice that the dents get smaller and smaller before they gradually disappear. If the marks are persistent you can try to speed up the process by wetting a white cloth in cold water and laying it over the area. Then take an iron and carefully iron over the cloth a few times, always in the direction of the carpet pile.

 

Vacuuming

Keep your carpet clean by vacuuming it regularly. Always be extra careful with the fringes and avoid vacuuming them. The fringe is an extension of the warp threads and if they are vacuumed there is a risk they can unravel and damage your carpet.

It is recommended to vacuum your carpet once a week, and no more than twice if your carpet is in a high traffic area, or unless deemed necessary. Any dirt and grit that is not vacuumed away is like sandpaper that stays stuck in the carpet pile and slowly makes its way down to the warp where it starts grinding and wearing at the knots. 

When you vacuum be sure to always vacuum in the direction of the pile. If you are unsure, take your hand and stroke it carefully over the carpet, almost as if you were stroking a cat or a dog. If it feels smooth and goes along with the fibres this is the right direction. If you feel resistance, you are going against the direction of the pile.

 

Shedding

When you first get your carpet you might notice that it sheds. Rest assured that this is not a sign of a faulty or inferior quality carpet. The fluff that you are seeing is in fact excess wool fibres that were caught and trapped in the carpet pile during production, at the time when the pile was trimmed down to it’s height. These fibres are now making their way up and out of the carpet pile. It is a natural process and with some patience and vacuuming you will notice that it gradually stops. If you wish to speed it up you can vacuum your carpet a little more often, always in the direction of the pile, but be sure not to excessively vacuum as this will only cause unnecessary wear to your carpet. 

 

Cleaning 

If you regularly clean and properly take care of your handknotted carpet it will not need extra cleaning for quite some time.

In case your carpet starts looking soiled, you might want it professionally cleaned, on average we suggest this is done every 3 – 5 years, depending on appearance. 

Be sure to always use a qualified and experienced professional that specializes in carpet cleaning of handknotted carpets. 



Stains

Rule number one is to act quickly. If a stain is allowed to dry there is always a chance the damage won’t be completely reversed.

Carefully scoop up solids with a spoon and blot liquids immediately after a spill occurs. Absorb as much liquid as possible with a wet white cloth or paper towel and a small amount of mild soap. Never use any chemicals or detergents on a handknotted carpet. Detergents usually contain aggressive surfactants that can attack the wool fibers and the color. They can also wash out the grease in the wool fibres and thus remove the natural protective coating of the carpet.

Wipe carefully, without scrubbing the area, otherwise you might rub the stain deeper into the carpet and risk ruining the carpet fibers, or let the spill soak through the carpet to the floor.

Always start from the outside of the stain and work your way inwards, dabbing some luke warm water on it and finishing off with a dry cloth. 

If the stain persists, contact a professional carpet cleaner for advice and never try any stain remover that is not specifically appropriate for handknotted carpets and the materials in your carpet (wool, silk, and/or cotton).

For further information, please visit our Wash & Repair section.

 

 

 

 

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