Use and Care Manual
KNOW YOUR RUG
Area rugs can be made from a variety of yarns or a blend of yarns
and materials. Read the label on your rug and follow any special
cleaning instructions and precautions provided by the manufactur-
er of your rug.
PROTECT FROM FURNITURE MARKS
Use rug protectors under the legs of heavy furniture to avoid
flattening of your rug pile. Rotating your rug every few months
will help relieve areas from excessive wear.
Watercolor
WTC696A
Fifth Avenue
FTV112A
Casablanca
CSB725B
FLATTENING AND REMOVING CREASES
Packing and shipping may cause temporary creases in area
rugs. To remove them back-roll/reverse roll your rug and
allow time for the creases to relax.
AVOID DIRECT SUNLIGHT
Direct sunlight will cause the colors in your area rug to fade
over time
.
HUMIDITY
Long term exposure to humid weather can be harmful to
area rugs. The cotton warp and weft foundation of an area
rug can breakdown when exposed to excessive humidity.
Avoid placing plants directly on top of area rugs and immedi-
ately blot dry any water spillage.
SHEDDING
Wool rugs, especially new wool rugs, may shed. To reduce
excessive shedding, vacuum your rug 1-2 times per week in
the direction of the pile. Shedding should diminish within
several weeks. See the ‘Wool’ section of Specialty Care for
more information.
VACUUMING
Routine vacuuming is the most important step in maintain-
ing the life and beauty of your rug. It is recommended that
you have area rugs professionally cleaned every 1-2 years to
remove deep set dirt in high traffic areas. Otherwise, atten-
tive vacuuming will significantly extend the life of area rugs.
BRUSHING/SWEEPING
Brushing is the best way to remove stubborn pet hairs that
the vacuum misses. For short pile area rugs, use a carpet
brush or carpet sweeper. For longer pile a carpet rake
works well. Sweeping works best for outdoor rugs. The
sturdy pile of an indoor-outdoor rug doesn’t trap dirt as
readily as other area rugs.
BEATING
For rugs that are relatively easy to handle, bring them out-
doors and shake vigorously to remove excess debris. Hang
over an outdoor railing and beat with the back of a broom
or a rug beater, varying in vigor based on the construction
and condition of the rug.
ROTATE THE RUG
Area rugs placed in high traffic areas will wear faster than
those in lesser tread-upon locations. Rotating a rug every
few months will help to evenly distribute any wear and
fading.
VIDEOS
For tips on how to clean shag rugs, follow the methods
provided in these videos.
Vacuum thoroughly at least once a week with a canister
vacuum.
Do not engage beater bars.
Rugs placed in high traffic areas of the home, office or
rugs exposed to household pets should be vacuumed
more frequently.
Avoid vacuuming the fringes of your rug, especially
those on hand-knotted rugs. Use a broom to clean
fringes.
Act quickly following a spill to keep a permanent stain from
setting into your rug.
LIQUID SPILLS
Use a clean cloth and press firmly around the spill to
absorb as much as possible. Do not rub! This can set the
stain deeper into the rug, making it harder to remove and
increasing the likelihood that the stain will re-appear.
STAINS
Make a solution of water, white vinegar and mild deter-
gent. Mix and gently apply the foam that rises to the top
of the solution to the stained area with a clean cloth. Fin-
ish by using a damp, clean cloth to absorb any residue.
For lighter stains or spills on synthetic yarns, sponge
clean the area with cold water and mild detergent.
For harder to remove stains, professional rug cleaning
is recommended.
For pet stains, make sure you have absorbed all remain-
ing liquid with a dry paper towel.
Then, sprinkle baking soda over the affected area. After
about five minutes, spray a solution mix on the affected
area. Gently scrub and let sit. Vacuum up the remaining
powder.
See this handy video for another suggested method to
remove pet stains from carpets.
VISCOSE RUGS
Viscose, or art silk, has the same soft, luxurious look and
feel as silk, but at a much more affordable price.
A carpet sweeper is recommended for 100 percent viscose
rugs, but if you do use a vacuum, set the power to low and
disengage the beater bars.
Viscose is extremely absorbent so remove stains using a
damp cloth and a mild cleanser. For tough stains, use the
stain solution suggested above and gently apply the foam
that rises to the top to the stained area. Blot with a clean
damp cloth to finish.
Keeping a viscose rug cool and dry is extremely important.
Excessive moisture will cause the yarns to yellow or the
dyes to bleed out. High heat can cause the rug yarns to
shrink.
WOOL RUGS
Wool rugs shed as a natural consequence of how they are
made. This shedding will gradually diminish.
Vintage
VTG122-2330
Vintage
VTG112-110
Use a high-quality rug pad under your carpet to reduce
surface friction.
Vacuum 1-2 times a week for the first few weeks using
a low pressure vacuum cleaner without beater bars.
Do not pull “stray” loops. Always cut them back with
scissors.
Brush the fur with a sheepskin brush routinely to avoid
matting.
Do not use alkaline laundry detergents. Normal wool
wash will cause the leather backing to stiffen or even
deteriorate.
Keep out of the sunlight. UV rays will cause the wool to
yellow.
If you get a stain, dampen the area and cover it with
cornstarch or potato starch. Once the area dries, shake
the starch out of the fur.
NATURAL SHEEPSKIN RUGS
Sheepskin is naturally dirt repellant, water resistant and
sturdy, but proper maintenance is still necessary to keep
your rug looking its best and feeling soft.
NATURAL FIBER RUGS
Rugs made from jute, sisal and seagrass natural fibers have
a wonderful woven texture that actually allows dirt to fall
through. Vacuuming the rug and underneath the rug is the
easiest way to remove debris. In the case of a stain, natu-
ral fiber rugs can be scrubbed with a soft brush, but avoid
getting these rugs too wet, as water can weaken the fibers
over time.
Sheep Skin
SHS121D
Sheep Skin
SHS211A
Sheep Skin
SHS121D
INDOOR/OUTDOOR RUGS
Indoor-outdoor rugs are made with durable synthetic ma-
terials to help them to withstand high traffic and natural
weather elements.
Outdoor rugs can be cleaned with a bit more vigor than
regular rugs. Rinsing a rug with a garden hose is an excel-
lent way to blast away excessive grime.
Dry indoor-outdoor rugs over a railing in the sunlight on
both sides instead of placing it on a wooden deck or stone
patio, which can encourage the growth of moss or mold on
a damp rug.
Courtyard
CY7062-243A7
Cottage
COT936G
HOW TO CLEAN AN AREA RUG
GENERAL CARE STAIN REMOVAL
SPECIALTY CAREROUTINE MAINTENANCE
ROUTINE MAINTENANCE
Bellagio
BLG506C
Carnegie
CNG621D
Blossom
BLM412B
Florida Shag
SG467-1113
Luxe Shag
SGX160A
Polar Shag
SG951P
Cape Cod
CAP201A
Natural Fiber
NF141B
Cape Cod
CAP202B
GENERAL CARE
STAIN REMOVAL
SPECIALTY CARE