Because of their value and rarity, Oriental rugs aren't the kind that you can easily replace at the store once the old one gets wrecked. You have to give them proper care and attention if you want them to last for any length of time. In fact, they're more of an investment than just some mere purchase.

Wear and tear is the major culprit of rugs. For something as special as an Oriental rug, wear and tear should be avoided. Floor coverings are vulnerable especially those positioned in high-traffic areas. The good news - it's not impossible to remedy.

One is to choose a rug with a thicker texture and a durable fabric. Another is to rotate the rug regularly so that no one spot of the rug is totally worn-out. Regular cleaning is of course a necessity. When dirt is left unattended, the dirt particles become rooted in the rug's fabric, accumulating dirt that can affect the appearance of the rug, particularly its color and texture.

Cleaning companies differ in their methods, but they follow procedures that are quite similar. First, dust, dirt and debris are loosened from the fabric of the rug as much as possible. Many companies have a special tumbler dedicated to just this purpose. Once the rugs have been found to be colorfast, they're wetted and then scrubbed by hand. It can't be given to machines because the action would destroy the fabric.

The choice of cleaning agent is a very important one when it comes to cleaning an Oriental rug. Most companies use their own proprietary mix, but experts recommend unformulated or gentle detergents. Denatured vinegar is sometimes added in with the detergent to help keep the colors in place. Conditioners are also added in some cases when the fabric dries.

If your schedule doesn't permit you to regularly bring your Oriental rug to the cleaners, you can still do simple maintenance at home, just to ascertain that your rug is taken care of. Using a broom or vacuum cleaner to clean off the dirt, dust and debris is effective and one that you can easily do for a few minutes every other day. Because vinegar is an effective cleaning agent, you can go the natural way by getting some from your kitchen and applying to your area rug with a sponge. This can help maintain the fabric and color too.

Soapy water can be used for cleaning, but only for the fringe. Even then, you have to use gentler soaps so as not the bleach the fabric. When vacuuming, skip the machine over the fringe part because that could get damaged by the force coming from the vacuum. A lot of care must be taken when cleaning Oriental rugs because they're so easy to damage.

Although they're quite hard to clean and maintain, it's still worth keeping an Oriental rug because of its exotic and unique beauty. Diligence and a little elbow grease are all it takes to get a decor piece that will last for decades.

If you found this information about decorating with rugs beneficial, then you are going to love these oriental area rugs.