{"id":1726,"date":"2021-06-17T16:19:32","date_gmt":"2021-06-17T20:19:32","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/98.87.68.78\/use-care-storage-and-display\/"},"modified":"2026-06-30T19:11:53","modified_gmt":"2026-06-30T19:11:53","slug":"use-care-storage-and-display","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rugsource.com\/blog\/use-care-storage-and-display\/","title":{"rendered":"USE, CARE, STORAGE, AND DISPLAY"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Oriental rugs, like other textiles, are fragile compared to many domestic objects. Eventually,
oriental rugs are destroyed by reasonable use. They are not \u201cover-engineered\u201d in the manner or a
cast-iron stove that could last an eternity of reasonable use. However, if rugs are viewed more as
art works than floor coverings, then special measures for their preservation are justified.
Many of the measures for the use, care, storage, and display of oriental rugs in this chapter are
merely common sense. But sometimes reminders of common sense are helpful. Some of the
measures are more appropriate for rugs<\/a> as art objects. The measures you use are the true
indicators of your valuation of a rug<\/a>– a valuation somewhere between household expendable and
work of art.

USING ORIENTAL RUGS
Consider the condition, type, and value of a rug in deciding where to place it. A fragile rug or
kilim will not last long in high-traffic areas such as halls and entryways. Rugs in such areas
should be in full pile as the resilience of this surface protects the knots. Knots without pile are
not so effective in protecting the foundation. The rate of wear down to the foundation speeds up
rapidly once the knots are exposed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Do not put oriental rugs<\/a> in the kitchen. This is the wrong location for a rug of any value as food
stains and heavy use will destroy it quickly. Among Near Eastern villagers and nomads, it is
customary to remove shoes or boots when entering houses or tents. Older nomadic, tribal, and
village rugs were never intended to be exposed to footwear. They are not designed to withstand
the constant friction of leather or the tortuous pressures of high heels. Accordingly, they should
not be used in high-traffic areas. Contemporary factory-made oriental rugs are a different matter.
They are constructed to hold up under normal Western usage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can protect oriental rugs from hard friction and crushing wear by placing them on pads or
other carpets. The resiliency of underlying materials allows the rug to flex, which prolongs its
life. As an added benefit, the rug is more comfortable to walk on. Fiber or felt pads are
preferable to foam rubber particles work their way into the back of the rug.

Cut rug pads I inch (2.5 centimeters) smaller than the rug, all the way around the edge. The rug
edge will then conceal the padding. Fiber or felt pads tend to flatten and spread slightly at the
edges, but the I-inch border allows for this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Before cutting a pad, measure the rug carefully and check the corners with a large square. You
may find the rug is not a rectangle but another quadrilateral. To cut fiber pads, use heavy-duty X-
Acto knife. Mark the cut line on the pad with a felt-tip pen. Then use a metal straight edge guide
the knife. Considerable pressure or multiple strokes are needed. A wooden board can be placed
under the cut line and pad to protect work surfaces. Pads can be pieced together using 2- or 3-
inch (5 or 6 centimeters) gaffer tape or duct tape.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


Wear will be more evenly distributed if rugs in high-traffic areas are reversed each year. This
end-to-end reversal is very desirable even though you do not notice annual wear. Once the knots
are exposed in a particular area of the rug, wear will proceed much more rapidly. Reversing the
rug will preserve the pile and delay wear exposure of the knots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Use coasters to protect rugs where furniture rests on the rug. Move the furniture around or
reverse rugs annually so that crushed pile can \u201crelax\u201d. If pile has been crushed by furniture legs,
it can usually be restored by steaming and brushing the area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


CARING FOR RUGS
It is a good idea to vacuum rugs that are in frequent use. Vacuuming prolongs the period between
washes and reduces rug wear. Rugs in high-traffic areas should be vacuumed once a week.
Use a brushless vacuum nozzle for the greatest efficiency. If your vacuum cleaner has a power-
driven rotating brush at the nozzle, never pass the nozzle over rug ends. Rotating brushes loosen
fringes, end wefts, and end knots. How often should a rug be washed? Frequent washing can
weaken a rug. This is offset by the fact that rug fibers are cut by entrapped soil particles. There is
no rule of thumb as to the frequency of washing. Consider these questions in deciding whether a
rug needs a wash:<\/p>\n\n\n\n