Never allow a carpet cleaning company an opportunity to ruin your cherished area rug.  This video explains why:  https://orientalrugsalon.com/videos/never-let-carpet-cleaner-clean-rugs-home/ Go With The Experts Persian, Turkish, wool, and silk area rugs, when properly cleaned and maintained, act as in-home air filters.   And just like your air conditioning filter, if your rugs aren’t properly maintained, they will contribute to indoor air pollution, develop wear patterns, and become a haven for dust mites, pollen, moths, and other unwanted pests and allergens. Genuine hand-knotted area rugs will last many generations with the proper care and cleaning.  At our company, Oriental Rug Salon, we have seen museum-quality textiles that are over 100 years old in phenomenal condition, and rugs less than three years old ready for the trash heap. If your area rug is hand-knotted, [...]

Flooded Oriental Area Rugs?  We Can Help! Annually, we receive dozens of rugs that have been involved in a water intrusion, and one constant is evident  The faster a rug receives professional intervention, the better the end result of the cleaning and restoration. Many rugs received are flooded as a result of a client or handyman playing plumber and incorrectly installing an under-sink water treatment system or refrigerator water line for an ice maker.  Other floods are a direct result of a water heater burst, an upstairs neighbors overflowing toilet or bathtub, or a result of a storm, hurricane, or other foul weather events. For whatever reason wool or silk Oriental, Persian, Turkish, etc. rugs is involved in a water intrusion incident, time is of the essence.  Rugs can be [...]

Oriental, Persian, and Turkish Area Rug Appraisals Two of the most influential factors that go into determining an Oriental, Persian, or Turkish rug’s value are its antiquity and where it was made. However, a rug’s quality of workmanship, size, and the materials utilized in its creation also play a significant role. Whether you’ve received your Oriental rug as part of an inheritance, purchased it from a dealer or private individual, or obtained it through other ways, knowing what your rug is worth means more than just knowing its value in terms of a dollar figure. While the actual cost of replacement or value on the market is important, it’s equally important to know the history of your rug, its approximate age, and any other information an expert can provide. Here [...]

Most hand-knotted Turkish, Oriental, Persian, Sarouk, Kilim, Afghan, and other area rugs are made from wool.  Wool is naturally fire-resistant, durable, wrinkle, and soil-resistant, and is the fiber of choice for some of the world’s most beautiful area rugs. Where does wool come from? Wool is a natural fiber grown by sheep that covers most of their body. The fleece protects sheep from the weather, keeping them warm during winter and cool during the hot summer. Woolgrowers genuinely care for their animals and the environment and are committed to doing what is best for their animals and the land. A key responsibility in caring for healthy and happy sheep involves shearing their fleece. Shearing is necessary for the welfare of sheep and if it is not done, the fleece can [...]

Hand-woven carpets made from natural fibers such as wool or silk provide a tasty snack for moths, and a cherished Oriental or Persian rug can be destroyed in a matter of weeks once moths make a feast of it.  Weekly, we receive area rugs from clients around the United States with moth intrusion.  The damage in some of the rugs can be repaired while others are a lost cause.  Wool and silk contain keratin, a fibrous protein that the worm-like larvae of the moth can digest. Moths, especially the Casemaking and Webbing clothes moth, are the worst enemies of any fine rug, especially older and antique rugs. How Did Moths Make Their Way into My Home? You might think that your house is moth-free and your rugs are safe and [...]

As leading industry experts in wool and silk area rug appraisals, cleaning, and repair, Oriental Rug Salon is often a knowledgebase for interior designers, rug retailers, insurance companies, and rug collectors. We're frequently asked for opinions about rug values, identification of area rugs, and the proper care and maintenance cycle for a good rug cleaning.  We also provide area rug appraisals in person and online and help clients negotiate the value of an area rug before purchase, often saving them thousands off of the price of a rug they're interested in at a retailer. Hand-How knotted Area Rugs Versus Machine-made Rugs  What is a hand-woven rug and how are they made?  Click here for a video explanation. Hand-knotted rugs are extremely beautiful, and there are many reasons why buying a [...]

Daily, Oriental Rug Salon receives calls from panicking rug owners on how to deal with pet urine on their wool or silk area rug.  It seems that “Fido” has had an accident on a cherished area rug, and the owners know that if something is not done quickly, the wool or silk fibers may begin to discolor, develop a nauseous odor, or if left untreated, cause dry rot. Wool is naturally resilient, water-repellent, naturally fire retardant, and dirt-resistant, but urine can alter the fibers and the rug dyes if allowed to sit. If the day comes that your usually well-trained dog has an accident on your cherished wool or silk area rug, rapid response is half the battle. Having a “mess kit” of towels and cleaning supplies ready is essential. [...]

Oriental or Persian wool or silk area rugs that have been taken care of will last for generations while maintaining their beauty and value.  Although wool and silk are an extremely durable rug making material, they are not indestructible. Normal wear and tear, household chemicals, improper cleaning, and indoor heating and air conditioning can take a toll. Following these guidelines can help ensure that your cherished area rug looks its best. Use The Correct padding Using the wrong padding or worse, no underlay at all—can damage your cherished wool or silk area rug. When a rug is placed directly on an uncarpeted surface, it gets squeezed between the floor and your feet (or anything you put on top of it), which can damage the rugs fibers. The type of underlay [...]

How We Appraise Oriental And Persian Area Rugs Online Oriental and Persian area rugs have been a worldwide favorite among collectors, interior designers, and homeowners for decades. They are appreciated and enjoyed by royalty and laypeople alike as art and items of beauty, elevated luxury, and status. Daily Oriental Rug Salon receives online rug appraisal requests from clients around the United States curious about the value or history of a rug they inherited, purchased abroad, or from a rug reseller or flea market.  Some clients need appraisals for donation or insurance purposes, while others are curious about their rug's value, history or would like to offer for sale and want top dollar. Appraisal reports by Oriental Rug Salon provide information such as a description of the area rug and historical [...]

Last week we conducted a seminar for a group of insurance adjusters, restoration companies, and interior designers on the proper way to clean Oriental and Persian area rugs.  We discussed the impersonal approach, which is automated batch washing, and the method that has been around for centuries known as handwashing. Most high production rug cleaning companies use the automated batch wash method, which consists of an industrial washtub designed to “clean” many rugs simultaneously.  Production houses also prefer this method because it does not require a certified or experienced technician since all they’re doing is loading a tub and then hitting the start button. At Oriental Rug Salon, we are against the batch washing method based on the following reasons: The approach is impersonal, and no one is controlling what [...]