It’s easy to understand why Persian rugs are so prized and sought-after. They enjoy a rich history and cultural heritage, and their beautiful, detailed craftsmanship and use of high-quality materials makes them an investment piece that can last for many generations. A basic Persian rug can cost as little as £100, but you could end up paying thousands for some types of Persian rugs. Either way, once you’ve introduced a Persian rug to your home, it will quickly take pride of place. Keeping a Persian rug clean can help to enhance its beauty, and prolong its durability, so get to know a reputable Persian rug cleaning London company you can trust to assist with this task.
When it comes to looking after your beautiful Persian rug, one of the most frequently asked questions relates to how often the rug should be cleaned. Here’s everything you need to know.
1. Hidden dirt
Many people assume that you should only get your rugs cleaned once they start to look a bit grubby, grimy and dirty. This shouldn’t be the case with a Persian rug, however, because, if it looks unclean, you probably should have sent it to a Persian rug cleaning spa a while ago. This is because the way Persian rugs are made, with their thick weave and hand-knotted fibres, they are very good at hiding dirt.
Moreover, lots of Persian rugs consist of rich colours and bold patterns, which are fantastic at concealing any dirt in the rug. Whilst you might regard this as a positive thing, it shouldn’t be seen as an excuse to avoid cleaning your Persian rug, because abrasive dirt, dry soil and grit in the rug could build up and start to damage its fabrics over time.
A lot depends…
So to come back to the question of exactly how often you should be seeking the services of a professional Persian rug cleaning spa, there really isn’t one single answer. A lot depends on factors such as where the rug is situated in your premises, and how much footfall it receives.
If your Persian rug is located in a high-traffic area, or frequently used by kids and pets, you should probably look at getting it professionally cleaned every 12 months on average, or even as little as every six months. If you notice dirt or stains in the rug in-between getting it cleaned, don’t leave it until it’s due for its next maintenance clean, otherwise the dirt and stains could become ground-into the rug and will be much harder to remove.
On the other end of the scale, if you have a seldom-used Persian rug that’s kept in a spare bedroom or a part of a room that doesn’t get much footfall, for example, you could leave cleaning it for 18 months to two years. But do keep checking on the rug, especially if it’s kept in a dark room or stored away, in case moths swoop in on it.
Don’t forget that dust can be an enemy to any rug, not only encouraging dust mites but harming the integrity of a rug’s fibres, so even if a Persian rug isn’t regularly walked on, it can still trap airborne dust particles inside it, which will need removing.
If you’re still unsure how often you should get your Persian rug cleaned, speak with a professional Persian rug cleaning London company or other locally-based experts. They’ll be able to assess the condition of your Persian rugs, and let you know how often you should look at getting them cleaned.
In particular, if your Persian rug is an antique or heirloom rug passed down through the generations or it was very expensive, it’s a good idea to speak to Persian rug cleaning experts to find out how often they recommend your specific type of Persian rugs should be cleaned.
It’s also worth considering if your Persian rug is still under warranty, if it was recently purchased. Manufacturers will often state that in order to keep a warranty valid, you’ll need to get your rug professionally cleaned, so check your purchase details to see how often that should be.
2. What about vacuuming?
Vacuuming your Persian rug is a key part of its maintenance routine, but don’t be fooled into thinking that’s all you need to do to look after your Persian rugs. Vacuuming only removes some of the loose surface dirt and dust from a rug, and rarely reaches deep into the pile of the Persian rug. This means that even after you’ve put your vacuum cleaner away, there’s still likely to be lots of sneaky dirt and grime particles hiding inside it.
Vacuuming also doesn’t tackle or destroy other dirt in a rug, such as bacteria or germs, and neither will it eliminate stains or odours, so that’s why a Persian rug still needs to be professionally cleaned in conjunction with regular vacuuming.
A Persian rug that gets used a lot, by kids and pets, in particular, should ideally be vacuumed daily, but for less frequently-used rugs, you could get away with vacuuming them once or twice per week.
3. Is DIY cleaning recommended?
There are lots of tips online on how to clean a Persian rug yourself, but we don’t recommend you try these. You might save money, but you could end up causing damage to your Persian rug.
Many Persian rugs require specialist cleaning and careful handling, so you could be taking a big risk by trying to clean it yourself.
Importantly, without professional equipment or in-depth knowledge and training of cleaning Persian rugs, you’re not likely to get rid of all of the dirt and stains in the rug, and you could even leave sticky residues in fabrics, making it become dirty again in just a short space of time.
Carpet Bright UK offers fully insured Persian rug cleaning London services to homes and businesses who need their Persian rugs refreshed. We’ll assess each rug individually, and tailor our cleaning accordingly. We’ll make sure your Persian rugs are cleaned using natural, safe solutions and effective cleaning systems, so the maximum amount of dirt is removed from the rug, and it can grace your premises looking beautiful for many years to come.
