Maintenance and Cleaning of Your Carpet or Kilim

Your carpet or kilim is made of natural materials, either wool on wool, or wool on cotton, and therefore requires special care and cleaning. With proper handling, you can enjoy your carpet or kilim for many years to come. The following care instructions apply both to carpets and kilims.

Daily Care

You may often hear that moisture is the enemy of your carpet. Indeed, continued exposure to moisture will weaken the carpet fibers and shorten its life. For example, mold and mildew “eats” the warp and weft threads, and will cause your carpet to unravel. If your carpet is kept in a damp environment, it will need frequent airing, preferably in direct sunlight.

Properly maintained, a carpet can be laid on the floor for 10-15 years without professional cleaning. To keep a carpet clean and well-preserved, protect it from the accumulation of dirt. If you walk on a carpet barefoot, it will be cleaner and better preserved than the one you walk on with your shoes. Dust naturally collects in carpet fibers and therefore your piece should be frequently vacuumed, preferably with a brush attachment. Never beat a carpet as this will damage the fibers and weaken the weave. Additionally, through years of use, dust and dirt can collect in the carpet knots. A carpet in an especially high traffic area should be turned face-down for several days each year, and walked over repeatedly. This will loosen the deeply accumulated dust and dirt.

Because carpets are made of wool, they naturally shed short fibers. If you vacuum yours frequently, and after you have owned it for a while, these loose fibers will eventually diminish and disappear.

To avoid permanent furniture marks, you should occasionally rearrange heavy furniture and gently brush the traces it has left on the carpet.

Do not fold fringes under the carpet or kilim itself. Folding them will cause the fringes to break, and as a result, the carpet weave will weaken and eventually loosen, causing the piece to unravel.

When you store your carpet, do not fold it. Instead, roll it right-side-in with mothballs or a natural moth-repellent placed inside, and wrap it in a piece of cloth or newspaper. Then store it in a dry place.

Cleaning

Although humidity and moisture will damage a carpet or kilim, water can and should be used to keep it clean. Washing a carpet will not harm it, provided it is thoroughly dried before being placed on the floor.

Nomads clean their carpets by laying them face-down on the snow, and covering them with a shallow layer of snow. As it melts, the snow filters the dirt and dust through and out of the fibers. While this method is practical for nomads living in rural areas, it is probably not convenient for you.

A carpet or kilim can be washed with Aleppo Soap and water. Aleppo Soap can be purchased in liquid or bar soap form. If the soap is solid, grate it finely with a cheese grater to better dissolve it in water.

First, lay your carpet or kilim flat, wet it and spread the soap lightly over the top. You can also sprinkle a bit of white vinegar over the surface to add shine and strength to the fibers.

Brush the carpet or kilim vertically and horizontally, both with and against the grain.

Use the back of the brush like a squeegee to force soap and excess water from the carpet or kilim.

Rinse the carpet while it is lying flat. If you can still smell the vinegar, it is not thoroughly rinsed.

Wait until most of the water has evaporated before you hang the piece. Never hang a carpet or kilim if water is dripping from it. This will cause your piece to become deformed, not unlike a dripping wet sweater that is hung out to dry.

Finally, wait until your carpet is thoroughly dry before replacing it in your home.

Removing Stains

Stains should be cleaned immediately to prevent them from becoming permanent.

For red wine stains, blot with white wine and then remove it with water.

For other alcoholic beverages stains, lightly dampen the stain with warm water and then remove it with 90% alcohol.

For chocolate stains, dampen a sponge with ammonia and wipe the stain carefully so as not to spread it.

For sugary sweets, lightly wipe with a sponge and warm water.

For mud stains, dry well and vacuum thoroughly.

For fruit stains, mix 3 parts white vinegar or lemon juice and 1 part ammonia. Dampen a sponge with the mixture, and wipe the stain gently.

For egg stains, wipe with a mixture of ammonia and cold water. If that fails, use 90% alcohol mixed with water. Never use hot water on an egg stain.

For ink stains, dampen a sponge with a mixture of water, Aleppo Soap and alcohol. Carefully wipe the stain making sure not to allow the mixture to reach the reverse side of the carpet.

For blood stains, clean the stain well with a damp sponge and then wipe with cold, salty water. If this fails, wipe again with white wine. If the stain has dried, dry brush it and then clean with a small amount of water mixed with ammonia. Never use hot water to clean a blood stain to prevent the stain from becoming permanent.

For make-up and perfume stains, wipe carefully with alcohol.

For pet urine, first wipe with a damp sponge while the stain is wet. After it has dried, wipe again with white wine vinegar. If unsuccessful, wipe again with a mixture of 3 parts alcohol to 1 part ammonia.

A word of caution: Never apply bleach to your carpet. It will not only change the carpet colors; it will also damage its fibers.

If you have additional questions about caring for your carpet or kilim, or if you would like assistance in finding a professional cleaner in your area, please feel free to contact us.