Clean a Moroccan hand-woven wool rug Yourself at Home

How to clean your Moroccan hand-woven wool rug so it feels like you bought it yesterday?

Authentic Berber wool Rug designed by one of our clients and made by Moroccan Craft’s team of artisans

One of the best investments you can make in home decor is a hand knotted Moroccan wool rug or carpet. With their unique designs, rich colors, and beautiful textures, and as a natural, renewable fiber that deters bacterial growth, wool contains lanolin(also called wool yolk, wool wax, or wool grease), that naturally protect wool from stains and dust mites. So you should care for your rug correctly to maintain your investment. We understand that it can be daunting to figure out how exactly to clean a Moroccan hand-woven wool rug and maintain these one of a kind creations. But there’s no need to worry! We have put together all the information you need to take care of your favorite rug.

The most straightforward method is the traditional Moroccan technique, we simply asked the artisans who made them. “Well,” they said, “every month or so just take the rug outside and shake it, rinse it off in the river, then place it over a small shrub to let it dry.” This works so amazingly well that artisans have been doing this for centuries. This is the best method for consistent maintenance of your rug, but what do you do if you don’t have a fresh, mountain spring-fed river in your backyard, much less in your apartment in New York? Here are some primary things to consider when caring for your Moroccan rug:

1- Vacuum to remove dirt and debris:

Vacuum your rug regularly. Sand and grit work down to the base of the pile where abrasive action damages the wool and results in loss of pile. Always vacuum your carpet with the suction attachment only (NEVER USE THE BEATER BRUSH) to remove surface dirt. Beater brushes remove a small amount of pile with each use and can destroy fringe in no time. If you have pets, use the brush attachment to remove any stray hairs.

2- Mix your cleaner:

If you purchased a rug shampoo, follow the instructions on the back of the bottle to find out how to use it. You can also use mild dish detergent mixed in a bucket with warm water. The ideal temperature range for carpet cleaning is between 100°F to 150°F. At this temperature, there would be enough heat to accelerate the chemical reaction during cleaning, but it will not be hot enough to shrink the rug or cause fading.

3- Do a color test:

Before you start scrubbing,It’s important to colorfast test carpets and rugs to prevent color changes in carpets and rug. Test the solution on the corner of the rug to make sure it is colorfast. If the color doesn’t bleed, it’s safe to move on to the next step.

4- Wash the rug:

Using a sponge or soft-bristle brush, work the cleaning solution into a lather on the rug. Let the cleaner sit on the rug for a few minutes before rinsing. If your rug is really dirty you can use a gentle soap (Preferably Marseille soap) to clean it. I would be very cautious using soaps on rugs that were dyed as you can never be completely sure how the color dye will react with the soap of choice. If you have certain spots that are dirty, I would try to spot treat vs, using soap on the entire rug

5- Rinse the rug:

Moroccan hand-woven wool rug (s) must be hand rinsed using a blotting method, Blotting puts a small amount of pressure on the stain to soak it up. Use fresh water and apply lightly using clean microfiber towels and the same blotting motion as used to clean the rug.Rinse the soap out of the rug using a garden. Make sure all the cleaning solution is removed from the rug and the runoff water is clear.

6- Remove excess water:

At this point, you’ll want to get rid of as much excess water in the rug as you can, so it will dry faster. You can use a wet-dry vacuum if you have one, or use a squeegee in the direction of the nap.

7- Let the rug dry: 

To eliminate odors and humidity, let it dry in the sun. This step requires patience. Try to wring the rug as much as possible to get rid of all the excess water. A squeegee can help with this step. After that, you’ll need to wait for it to dry completely before moving it back inside your house. This may take longer than a day . Consider moving the rug to the laundry room or garage for more protected drying. Make sure the rug is fully dry before you return it to the room.

8- Vacuum one last time:

Put the Moroccan rug back in its place, and then give it one last vacuuming. The carpet fibers will probably be flattened and odd-looking after a washing. A thorough vacuuming is like combing your rug to restore its proper appearance.

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