Rugs are more than just a floor-covering. They’re that one décor item that can turn a cold, dull, and boring-looking living room into a lively, cosy, and welcoming space. And they don’t just look great, they feel amazing too!
All these factors and many more are the reason why intricate handmade rugs tend to be quite pricy. But, let’s face it, a custom handmade rug would last way longer than a machine-made carpet.
However, there are some things that can ruin a durable wool rug to the extent where you can’t get it repaired.
Wondering what?
Read on to find out!
- Water and Moisture
Ever heard a rug owner complaining about bad rug odour?
If yes, then water is the culprit.
If your rug gets wet or moist, and you leave it that way for days without drying it out, it would most likely start smelling bad.
And beware! This is just the first step towards permanent rug damage. If you don’t look into the problem and address it right away, your valuable rug would soon become home to mould, and from here onwards, things would only get worse.
Also, once mould starts growing, you can’t really do anything for your rug apart from rolling it up and replacing it with a new one.
So, avoid washing an expensive handmade rug, such as a custom Ziegler rug, at home. If you do, make sure to dry it out properly before you put the rug back in its place.
- Mites, Moths, and Carpet Beetles
Yes! you read it right.
If your custom rug is made of wool, it can get infested with insects and mites that can eat the fibres of your rug and damage it completely in no time.
Carpet beetles are small and reddish-brown or blackish in colour. They can develop in the wool fibres from wool-eating larvae. And while it’s not really the moths and beetles that cause damage to a rug, their larvae would feed on the fibres of a wool, silk, or any other rug made using natural materials.
What causes a rug to become infested?
Dirt, debris, moisture, and uncleanliness.
- Your Pet Cat or Dog
Although pets are really adorable, they can sometimes be a nuisance, especially if it’s an expensive custom handmade rug that we’re talking about.
While dogs have a habit of chewing and biting things, cats can scratch your rug fibres with their claws and cause unrepairable wear and tear.
Pet urine, vomit, and excrement can also leave permanent stains if not cleaned properly and on time. The odour can linger on for a really long time period and can be quite difficult to get rid of. In case of such accidents, its best to treat the affected area right away with a solution of baking soda and white vinegar.
Apart from this, both cats and dogs shed a lot of hair that can stick to your rug, making it appear dirty and old. Use a brush, window squeegee, or rubber gloves to remove stray pet hair from your rug.
- Too Much Dirt, Dust, and Debris
Dirt, dust, grime, mud, and debris can reduce the life of your rug. If not cleaned properly and on a regular routine basis, the dirt particles can damage a wool rug’s fibres, causing wear and tear to start sooner than expected.
To avoid this, clean your rug using a vacuum cleaner at least 2-3 times per week, place it in a low foot traffic area, and don’t walk over it with muddy shoes.
- Ultraviolet Rays
Whether its dyed using natural pigments or synthetic dyes, the colours of a handmade rug can fade if placed in direct sunlight. Although the naturally dyed ones may not fade too much, their fibres would soften over-time if exposed to intense sunlight for days on end.
Try not to place your rug near windows where it may receive direct sunlight daily. Or, if you do, replace glass with UV reduction panels or apply a UV reduction film to the windows.
- Spill Accidents and Stubborn Stains
With a rug covering your living room floor, spills are bound to happen. But the challenge is not to let your rug get scarred for life.
How?
By tending to spills and stains ASAP!
In case something edible such as juice, wine, or coffee gets spilled on the rug, soak it up with clean paper towels and treat the affected area with a good rug shampoo or detergent until the stain fades or goes away completely.
Letting the stains dry out before cleaning them can be the biggest mistake of a rug owner. That’s because dried stains are extremely hard to clean and may not even go away.
Lastly, when cleaning a stain, remember not to rub the spot, ever. Doing so can lead to the stain spreading further and damaging a larger portion of your custom area rug.
