NEVER allow a carpet cleaning company to "clean" your Oriental rug... Hand-knotted Oriental rugs are highly sought after additions to any home. Many of these rugs are unique and handmade, making them one-of-a-kind accents to your homes décor. Oriental rugs can last for generations with proper care and upkeep and many increase in value over time. Never allow a carpet cleaning company the opportunity to “clean” your beautiful Oriental rug because, in most instances, they are not certified and do not have the facilities to properly care for them.  Take pride in your investment by choosing a professional and certified Oriental rug cleaner such as Oriental Rug Salon of SW Florida. For more information about the proper care of Oriental area rugs please visit www.OrientalRugSalon.com Most Oriental rugs are hand-knotted [...]

Hand Knotted Persian Sarouk rugs are very attractive and are considered as one of the highest quality rugs originating from the well-established Arak weaving district in central Iran. These rugs are made in village as well as workshop settings in and around the village of Sarouk. They are woven on a cotton foundation and can be curvilinear or geometric in pattern. The most characteristic features of Hand Knotted Sarouk Persian rugs are its weft threads in blue, salmon color mixed with blues and ivory and brightly colored, disconnected floral sprays that may or may not have a central medallion. Hand Knotted Sarouk Construction & Color Hand Knotted Sarouk rugs have a cotton foundation are very closely woven using fine quality wool and very fine knots. Most rugs are large sized. [...]

When most people think of Oriental carpets, Israel doesn’t come to mind. Yet there is a distinctly Jewish style of Oriental rug, developed by the arts-and-crafts-inspired Bezalel Academy in early 20th century Jerusalem. The Bezalel Academy operated from 1906 to 1929, aiming to create a distinctly Jewish art form — one that fused European and Middle Eastern influences in a way that uniquely expressed the Jewish experience. The resulting body of work included paintings, etchings, metal, wood and leather-work, and some very interesting carpets. The Bezalel rugs focus on Holy Land themes, and often depict sites with religious significance. Perhaps the most iconic carpet design of the movement is a pictorial rendition of Rachel’s Tomb. Although classic Israeli carpets are very expensive and hard to come by, a small batch [...]

  Act Fast To Save Your Oriental Rug From A Water Intrusion Water from flooding can be disastrous to an Oriental rug unless immediate precautions are taken to preserve and protect it.  Water intrusion can cause Oriental rugs to separate, twist and bleed not to mention infect them with mold spores or cause dry rot. In SW Florida, and in particular the causes we most often see as the root of water intrusions is either weekend “plumbers” installing water lines or filters to their refrigerator, the installation of garbage disposals, sinks and bathtubs left to over flow or the notorious water intrusion from a neighbor for those living in a condo or townhouse. If the rug is still wet, it is going to be VERY heavy.  You need to remove [...]

Question:  I have several Oriental area rugs and would like to know how to tell if they are hand-made or machine made... This article is intended to help you tell the difference between a handmade (or hand knotted) rug and a machine made rug. This will help you when you are in the market to purchase a rug. The more you know about rugs before purchasing one, then the less chance you have of getting ripped off during the process.  There are also differences in the cleaning of a synthetic rug vs. a natural fiber. So knowing what type of rug you have can help you when it comes time to take your rugs to the rug cleaning plant. Few, if any, hand knotted rugs have a "rug tag" on the [...]

NEVER allow a traditional carpet cleaning company the opportunity to clean your beautiful Oriental, wool or silk area rugs; especially in your home.  In most cases the company is not certified in Oriental rugs, they do not carry the appropriate insurance in case something goes wrong and in most cases, they cannot tell the difference between a Bokhara and a Kilim rug.  The facts are carpet cleaning companies do not have the experience to deliver a quality cleaning and you’re placing your trust in someone who can damage your heirloom beyond repair. Traditional carpet cleaning methods may damage Oriental rugs.                   If your home features both area rugs, such as Persian or Oriental, and regular carpet as floor coverings, you should never clean your area rugs like you would your carpet. [...]

Persian Rugs Come From Only ONE Country.  Can You Name It? As important as the construction is to the rug, its origin is just as integral to the design, history and workmanship of the rug. Often Oriental and Persian rugs are referred to interchangeably. However, there is actually a difference and rug collectors are of the opinion that it is a very big one. Most people who are not as concerned with the geography and politics of rugs, tend to lump Persian and Oriental area rugs together. But it’s good to know the difference so you understand what sales people are referring to while you're shopping, particularly if you are looking to buy an antique rug. Knowing the distinctions between Persian and Oriental rugs will help you test sales people’s [...]

Persian Rugs Come From Only ONE Country.  Can You Name It? As important as the construction is to the rug, its origin is just as integral to the design, history and workmanship of the rug. Often Oriental and Persian rugs are referred to interchangeably. However, there is actually a difference and rug collectors are of the opinion that it is a very big one. Most people who are not as concerned with the geography and politics of rugs, tend to lump Persian and Oriental area rugs together. But it’s good to know the difference so you understand what sales people are referring to while you're shopping, particularly if you are looking to buy an antique rug. Knowing the distinctions between Persian and Oriental rugs will help you test sales people’s [...]

Oriental Wool Area Rug Construction Hand-made rugs have a certain built-in value that ranks them above machine made products.  Hand-made labor is more costly and carries with it a certain expectation of care and quality.  Hand-made rugs involve an endless series of choices and decisions, twists and turns, that collectively give the piece its personality and presence, something that the finest machine made rugs lack. Oftentimes clients will ask why a hand-made rug costs so much.  The answer is the time it takes to make the rug and the quality of the wool involved.  As an example a hand-knotted 8X10 Persian wool rug could take up to 18 months to make while the same rug can be made by machine in a few hours.  The hand-knotted rug is a work [...]

As more people make the switch to hardwood and tile flooring, many still rely on stylish area rugs to bring warmth and ambiance to their homes. From woven heirlooms to modern day luxury rugs, these accents can become a central part of any room, adding color and meaning to the mundane. Because luxury rugs are made from high-end fibers like silk and wool, maintenance for these woven works of art vary from how you clean the average area rug or carpet. Just like you wouldn’t throw a cashmere sweater into the washer or dryer, luxury rugs require specialty care from experienced hands. With years of experience cleaning residential and commercial rugs, carpets, upholstery and more, coupled with some of the industries certifications in wool and silk rug care, Oriental Rug [...]