Cleaning

Polypropylene and Polyester  

Polypropylene is a synthetic material with the raw material being plastic with the addition of a polymer.  With it being a synthetic fiber, it makes the rug stain-resistant, fade resistant and extremely durable (almost outlasting some wool rugs).  

Good to Know: Polypropylene and some polyester is the material indoor/outdoor rugs are made out of. Polypropylene is also a smart choice under a dining table because it is so easy to clean. Less bulky than nylon, sometimes polypropylene fibers get crushed over time. Our outdoor rugs are woven of the finest all-weather yarns to resist fading, mold and mildew. Offering exceptional performance outdoors or in, they feel luxurious underfoot.  

CARE INSTRUCTIONS:  

• Avoid exposure to heavy rain or standing water. 
• Clean the rug monthly with a solution of mild dish soap and water, scrubbing with a soft nylon brush. Make sure to clean both sides of the rug. 
• Dry in sunlight. Hang the rug or lay it out in the sun, then flip it over to make sure both sides dry thoroughly. 
• If placed outside, store the rug in winter months when not in use and during inclement weather. Roll up the rug with the front side out and place it indoors in a dry, well-ventilated area. 
• To preserve the life of the rug, we recommend using our indoor/outdoor rug pad.

 

Viscose Silk 

Viscose Silk/Polyester Benefits: Feels soft to the touch, generally fade resistant, can withstand everyday use  

Good to Know: Made of wood pulp, these semi-synthetic fiber rugs are created to mimic the look of silk and high-quality fibre rugs at a lower price-point. Because they are not made to be heirloom, investment pieces, they can be replaced more frequently with updated styles or swapped out for the seasons. They make brilliant choices for bedrooms, living rooms, great rooms, or even a library. The downside is that if there was to be a spill, it must be attended to immediately. Never clean a viscose rug with water – instead, use a citric or acetic acid solution. We like Resolve cleaning solution. First, remove any liquids by blotting with a clean microfibre cloth. Next, use a very small amount of solution for spot cleaning – viscose is a very absorbent fiber, and you want to ensure it gets the least wet as possible. Remove any excess liquid, let dry and repeat if stain is still visible. If the stain is difficult to remove, we recommend sending the rug out for professional cleaning. Please note, this fibre will shed a lot the first several times of vacuuming and will reduce going forward. This is a natural property of viscose silk. Viscose rugs are characterized by tonal variations that may be affected by the light in a room as well as the angle from which the rug is viewed. Shifting highlights and lowlights in the surface colour of the rug are to be expected and are inherent to the design. Viscose rugs should be placed in areas where there is less potential for staining, excess moisture or excess wear.  

CARE INSTRUCTIONS:

• Rotate the rug every 3 months to avoid uneven fading and wear.
• Vacuum as needed in one direction (not back and forth) using suction only, no bristles.
• No spot cleaning; never use liquids on viscose rugs. Avoid rubbing stains, which causes them to settle more deeply.
• If cleaning is needed, send the rug to a professional service with experience cleaning fine rugs.
• To preserve the life of the rug, we recommend using a rug pad.
• One can clean it with clear laundry detergent, but it is strongly recommended to have a professional cleaning done.  

  

Wool 

Wool Benefits: Sturdy pile, repels water and stains, good heat insulation, feels pleasant.

Good to Know: Wool rugs are a prime choice for high traffic areas, such as living rooms and hallways, or spill-prone spaces, such as dining rooms. Wool tends to shed fuzz for a period of time. Wool rugs are not a smart choice for damp rooms because they soak up humidity. 

Wool rugs are extremely durable, making them well suited to entries, hallways and dining rooms. Lanolin, a naturally occurring oil in wool, makes wool rugs more resistant to stains than other materials. Any looped wool rug is not recommended for these areas as picking up dirt and spilled from between the loops can be difficult.  Shedding is inherent to wool rugs and occurs primarily within the first 3-6 months. All our wool rugs use long-fiber wool, which is less prone to shedding than shorter fibers. Looped wool rugs are not recommended for high traffic areas as  

 CARE INSTRUCTIONS:  

• Rotate the rug every 3 months to avoid uneven fading and wear. 
• Vacuum regularly in one direction (not back and forth) using suction only, no bristles. Regular vacuuming will reduce shedding over time. 
• Avoid pulling loose yarns. If necessary, clip them to be even with the pile height. 
• Spot clean as needed using a damp (not wet) cloth with plain water; don’t use soap or cleaning products, as they could damage or fade the rug. 
• For larger, deeper stains, send the rug to a professional service with experience cleaning fine rugs.
• To preserve the life of the rug, we recommend using a rug pad.

 

Jute and Burlap 

A vegetable fiber that is long, soft and shiny.  Jute is very cheap to produce, and its production levels are similar to that of cotton. In its raw form it comes from a variety of plants in the genus Corchorus family. Many of these plants are within the tropical regions of the world.  It is a bast fiber, like hemp, and flax. Coarse fabrics made of jute are called hessian, or burlap in America. Like all natural fibers like Jute are biodegradable.  

Cautionary Items: Since it can be biodegradable it must be kept dry and away from humid environments.  Rooms like mud rooms, bathrooms and front entry ways are not areas that ARS encourages the use of these rugs.  Burlap is made from the same raw plant material but spun differently and therefore can be more course.  Given their handwoven nature, slight variations in shading are inherent to each rug’s design.  

 CARE INSTRUCTIONS:  

• Rotate the rug every 3 months to avoid uneven fading and wear. 
• Avoid exposure to direct sunlight, as it will fade the color of the rug. 
• Vacuum often, using a low-powered vacuum cleaner, preferably one without a beater brush. 
• Blot liquid spills immediately. Spot clean as needed with a damp white cloth only; avoid excess water and cleaning products, as they could damage or fade the rug.
• For larger, deeper stains, send the rug to a professional service with experience cleaning natural fiber rugs. 
• To preserve the life of the rug, we recommend using a rug pad.

 

Bamboo Silk   

Bamboo silk is a composition of both the natural fibers from Bamboo and artificial fibers from Viscose silk.   The Bamboo fiber are from the stalk that are refined to have the same consistency and texture as the viscose silk.  The materials are mixed to have the shine and consistency of natural silk from silkworms.  As Bamboo is considered a renewable material, it would be good for those be cautious of their environmental footprint.  

Cautionary Notes and Cleaning:  Substances such as red wine, blood and gum will need to be professionally cleaned.  We recommend keeping this material out of direct sunlight for long periods of time as fading can happen from long exposure.  Bamboo silk is a porous so we recommend that one blots at the stain and doesn’t rub at the stain.  If the stain is liquid and coloured it is highly recommended to take the rug for professional cleaning.  

 

Shrink Acrylic  

Much like polypropylene this is a refined synthetic material with a high durability.  Used in high density rugs like our heirloom collection it is safe to use within a high traffic areas. As fibers will be compressed together tightly  

Features: This product does not expand when it comes into contact with a sustained exposure to heat, it will shrink and therefore distort the rugs appearance.  

Cleaning: Using mild soap and water will remove most stains from the rug.  Soaps like as a chemical free laundry soap will remove most stains. Any highly dyed liquids that spill it is recommended to get a professional cleaning.   

 

Recycled Plastic   

The recycled plastic that we have within our collections is only the Pet Dhurry.  These are machine washable up to a 4x6. They are very malleable and very easy to clean.   

Cleaning: For the Dhurry Collection one can put the rug into the laundry machine up to a 4x6 size. For all other sizes using a mild soap and water will remove most stains.    

 

Cotton Chenille 

The exceptionally dense pile of cashmere feels sumptuous underfoot and shimmers with the natural luster of this legendary wool. Slight shedding will occur the first several times the rug is vacuumed. Shedding is inherent to cashmere rugs and occurs primarily within the first 3-6 months. All our cashmere rugs use long-fiber wool, which is less prone to shedding than shorter fibers.  

 

CARE INSTRUCTIONS: 

• Rotate the rug every 6 months to avoid uneven fading and wear.
• Vacuum regularly in one direction (not back and forth) using suction only, no bristles. Regular vacuuming will reduce shedding over time. 
• Avoid pulling loose yarns. If necessary, clip them to be even with the pile height. 
• Blot spills immediately with dry cloth. 
• No spot cleaning; never use liquids on cashmere rugs. Avoid rubbing stains, which causes them to settle more deeply. 
• If cleaning is needed, send the rug to a professional service with experience cleaning fine rugs. 
• To preserve the life of the rug, we recommend using a rug pad.

 

Cowhide   

Our soft, richly textured rugs are made of the highest-quality hides, selected and pieced by hand.

 

CARE INSTRUCTIONS:  

• Rotate the rug every 6 months to avoid uneven fading and wear. 
• Vacuum as needed using suction only, no bristles orbeaterbar 
• Most stains can be lifted with a damp cloth. Avoid cleaning products as they could damage or fade the rug. 
• For larger, deeper stains that penetrate to the backing, send the rug to a professional service with experience cleaning hides and leather goods. 
• To preserve the life of the rug, we recommend using a rug pad.

 

Microfibre   

Microfibre rugs are the ideal material for bathrooms.  The fibre has a high absorption rate and dries with no colour change.  Being soft and fluffy will mean that they will compress over time with constant use but when maintained consistently it will keep its "fluffy" characteristic.   

Cleaning: Spot treatment and you can put the small 2x3's into the washing machine. They are naturally stain resistant because of the micro fibre properties.  

 

Shag Rugs   

Deep shag makes a sumptuous focal point. The dense piles will catch crumbs and dirt easily.  Materials such as polypropylene and yarn will be the composition of these rugs.  Most of the shag rugs from Area Rug Shop will be machine made and require regular vacuuming. As the rugs are extremely dense using a bristle head without the beater bar is recommended.  

  

CARE INSTRUCTIONS:  

• After unpacking the rug, vacuum it in the opposite direction of the flattened pile to fluff up the fibres.
• Rotate the rug every 2 months to avoid uneven fading and wear. 
• Vacuum regularly to prevent dust and crumbs from settling into the roots of the fibres, and to help control excessive shedding. Caution: Use a vacuum cleaner without a beater brush, as it may damage the pile. 
• Avoid direct sunlight to prevent UV damage or fading. 
• Use rug protectors under heavy furniture to avoid flattening the pile. 
• Do not pull loose ends; use scissors to trim. 
• Remove spills immediately by blotting with a clean, undyed cloth; press firmly around the spill to absorb as much as possible.
• For larger, deeper stains, send the rug to a professional service with experience cleaning fine rugs. 
• Place in a dry, well-ventilated area. 
• To preserve the life of the rug, we recommend using a rug pad.