Persian rugs are excellent for elevating the look of any room, but like all rugs, they also wear over time even if you get high-quality rugs. Although, at some point, you will have to buy a new Persian rug or a Persian antique rug, you can improve the lifespan of your existing Persian rug by following these tips.
Extend The Life Of Your Persian Rug
Vacuum The Rug Regularly
This first tip should go without saying, but yes, vacuuming your Persian rugs regularly will ensure that they last longer. Area rugs won’t only look clean, but they will need to be washed less frequently and vigorously, so they won’t tear or fray from the weirdest of places.
Moreover, vacuuming isn’t all that hard and you can get it done in a couple of minutes. You want to ensure that there isn’t any dirt build-up on the surface of the rugs because that makes them look very dirty and it’s really hard to remove. Hence, you have no choice but to be a little rough with them, during washing. So, save yourself from the hassle and just clean the rug regularly every day and you will see the difference.
Go For Patterns
Another thing that automatically makes washing less frequent, therefore less damage and thinning of an area rug, is choosing the right color and pattern. Solid-colored Persian rugs are great, but they can be hard to maintain and they also show stains and smudges very prominently.
This is why you need to select patterned rugs because these designs kill two birds with one stone. Patterned Persian rugs look unique and pleasing to the eye and they also camouflage the dirt and spills on the rug. So, that’s perfect if you really can’t find the time to clean the rugs. Be smart with the pattern selection and everything else will fall into place for you.
Try To Avoid Light Colors
This tip ties in with the previous one, but it does help you in the long run. We all love light and neutral colors, but these colors can also be pretty hard to maintain and look after because they’re light and they show stains and smudges very easily.
Darker colors, on the other hand, don’t show dirt and stains like that and you can get away with it. This is why you should choose Persian rugs that are a bit darker in color. Don’t worry because there are a lot of neutral colors out there that are dark, so you can sate your inner minimalist with a lot of color options.
The goal is to agitate the rug as little as you possibly can because if you wash or get a rug dry cleaned frequently, then it will get frayed and damaged and you’ll have to buy another one.
Change The Position Of Your Area Rugs
Rotating your area rugs will do wonders in improving the longevity of your rug. The reason behind it is the same as rotating the tires of your car. It ensures equal wear.
Furthermore, if your area rug is in a place where there is a lot of sunlight, then it can be damaged by the heat and it’s irreversible, so you want to rotate the rug every couple of weeks to ensure that it’s not getting damaged. Sometimes, rugs that are in one position for too long can accumulate bugs and those pesky critters can lead to holes in the rugs that are not pretty to look at.
So, always rotate your Persian rugs after two weeks or so, to keep them aerated and you’ll thank yourself in the future. Rotating the rugs is truly a game changer and since you’re working with area rugs, you’ll be able to do this without breaking a sweat.
Use Outdoor Rugs
You may already that there are indoor rugs and then there are outdoor rugs. Outdoor rugs have better durability than their indoor counterparts and you can use these rugs indoors to make them last longer. This is a genius tip and you won’t even have to worry about the rug budging, because it’s practically designed for the outdoors, so these area rugs have greater endurance than indoor rugs.
Granted, they will be a bit on the expensive side, but think of the longevity. That’s the goal in the end; to ensure that the rugs are long-lasting and damage-free. There is so much variety available in outdoor rugs that you can have a creative field day and you’ll find something that fits your personality and taste, and that too, in the long-lasting category. How cool is that?
Don’t Let Spills Sit
Avoiding spills is the goal here, but that’s not always the case. So, the next best thing you can do is to prevent spills from becoming ugly stains on your Persian rugs. Dried spills are bad because this means that you’ll have to have the rug professionally cleaned and the chemicals used on the rugs are anything but gentle on the fibers. This can ultimately lead to the rug getting damaged and it won’t last long at all.
This is why you need to be very careful when dealing with spills. As soon as you see one, grab a wet washcloth and dab the stain away. It will go away if you’re quick.
Invest In A Rug Pad
Another thing that can damage the rugs is the unnecessary dragging of the rug with foot traffic. To stop this, you’ll need to invest in thick rug pads. This is also a two-for-one. Sitting and walking on the rug with a rug pad underneath will be very comfortable and soft. Secondly, the rug pad will anchor the rug in place, so it won’t be dragged around. This will make your Persian rugs last long. So, it’s worth giving a shot.
Keep Furry Friends At Bay
You know what can damage your Persian rugs to no end? Pets. Cats and dogs who are naturally playful and adventurous will have a field day with your area rug. So, if you don’t want your rugs to be at the mercy of your four-legged companion, then you need to keep them away. Pets can use their paws, and their teeth and even yank the rug with force that could damage and tear them.
So, if you have pets, then keep the room with Persian rugs off-limits for them and you’ll save your rugs from becoming a mess of fibers.
Have Your Rugs Professionally Cleaned
The tag on the rugs doesn’t lie. If it says that a rug needs to be dry cleaned only, then throwing it in the washing machine will only ruin it. So, even though your wallet might protest, get your Persian rugs professionally cleaned. This doesn’t mean that you need to have your rugs dry-cleaned every single week. Having them cleaned once a month depending on how dirty they are in the first place is good enough. Your area rugs won’t only look spotless, but they will also last for years to come.
Conclusion
Persian rugs are amazing for the décor and with these tips, you will make them last for years to come. If you’re looking to buy new Persian or handmade rugs VA, make sure to choose wool rugs instead of silk if you want the rugs to be comparatively low-maintenance.