Silk rugs are one of the most unique rugs. Many of them are handmade rugs, and they’re somehow the liaison between a wool and cotton rug and the appearance is just amazing. If you have a handmade silk rug and don’t know anything about maintaining it, then here is everything you need to know.

Vacuum Frequently

The first and most important tip for maintaining a silk rug is to vacuum it regularly. Dust particles can make the rug look downright filthy and if you let the debris sit for too long, then the dirt can penetrate inside the soft silk and it can permanently stain the rug or carpet.

Silk is a very soft and slippery material and it needs to be cleaned with care. If you’re using a vacuum cleaner, then it’s best to use a thinner nozzle on a low setting to gently suck all of the dirt and debris without it crumbling, because those specks, if left on the rug, will be a nightmare to clean.

If you think that you can wipe the dirt away with your hand, then think again because the speckles will distribute throughout the rug and it will end up looking dirtier than before. So, whenever you feel like your rug is getting a bit too worn out, then it may be time to power up the vacuum cleaner.

Clean Regularly

This is a tip that can’t be stressed enough. Rugs are supposed to be cleaned every single day. This doesn’t necessarily mean that you need to dry clean it all day every day, but it does imply that it’s your job to keep the rug clean and free from dirt and debris.

Because if you let the rug collect dust for days on end, it’s going to be a pain in the neck to clean, and when you eventually do it, it’s not going to be spotless as before.

Avoid Spills

This one is a no-brainer, but you need to understand the problem that’s associated with spills. Silk is characterized as a very fragile material, unlike wool and cotton, and it can be stained very easily by high-concentration liquids, like juices, syrups, and other things. The liquid, once spilled, can penetrate the rug. And once this happens, the spill can very difficult to clean.

It’s a fact that stains, even if they are removed, are never truly gone and you can see a subtle outline of it on your silk rug and that’s not a pleasant sight at all. So, try to be as careful as you can and prevent any spills on the rug, in the first place.

Keep Away From Pets

Those little furry critters may be adorable, but their favorite plaything is a rug and they love to play with their mouths and teeth, so you better believe that your rug is not in safe paws.

If you have pets, then make sure that the rug isn’t accessible to them. You can make certain spaces off-limits for your pets. The best thing to do is to not let pets, the fur, or their excrement anywhere near the rug because it will be ruined.

Avoid Harsh Cleaners

Silk is a fragile and soft material and unlike wool and cotton, you can’t just use cleaners blindly to deal with pesky stains. Acids, harsh chemicals like ammonia and bleach make up a recipe for disaster, and silk rugs won’t fit into the equation.

If you want to clean your silk rugs, then try to look for store-bought cleaners that are safe for use on silk rugs and that have a neutral pH. This little bit of care is going to ensure that your silk Persian rug Virginia stays in pristine condition for longer, with zero stains, smudges, and weird splotches.

Use Baking Soda

If store-bought cleaners aren’t your thing and you want to save some money, then there are a lot of things around the house that you can use to clean up a silk rug, and that too, with no damage.

Baking soda has amazing stain-removing properties and it’s very gentle on almost all types of rug materials. If you see a stain on the rug that’s fresh and want to remove it, then mix in a bit of water in baking soda and as soon as it fizzes up, you’ll need to work quickly and apply it over the stain. Let it sit for 5 minutes and if you want, you can take a slightly wet towel and dab it on the rug. This will get rid of the stain.

Use White Cleaning Cloths

Speaking of using cloths for dabbing away stains or cleaning up spills, this tip is really important to keep in the back of your mind. You need to use a white washcloth at all times. Anything darker in color as compared to the silk rug, will transfer color, especially when the cloth is wet and that’s a disaster waiting to happen. So, whatever you do, when you use a cloth to clean a stain, make sure that it’s barely wet and is lighter in color.

Have The Rug Dry Cleaned

This is something that you’ll need to get done every few months or so. Depending on how dirty the silk rug can get, you’ll need to get it dry-cleaned. Dry cleaning is a very nifty way of cleaning the rug, without using a drop of water.

There are specific chemicals that are applied on the rug, in powdered form, that clean it effectively and it’s amazing how the rug can go from a scrap of filth and dirt to a spotless article of décor in no time.

Avoid Water/Moisture

Silk is a very absorbent material, especially where rugs are concerned. You need to ensure that you’re not putting the rug anywhere near water or moisture, so kitchens and bathrooms are not the places where you’d want to put a luxurious silk rug.

Also, when cleaning the rug, make sure that you wring out all of the water from the washcloth so that it’s barely wet to the touch. It will do the trick just fine and you’ll end up removing the stain or cleaning the spill, without any additional problems.

Use An Upholstery Brush

If there’s a bit of fuzz on your silk rug or dust has collected in a patch, then something better than a vacuum cleaner is an upholstery brush. You can either use it on its own or in combination with a vacuum cleaner.

The brush bristles will break up the hardened dirt and then you can use the vacuum cleaner to suck each and every speck from the surface of the rug. This tip will also make the rug look so much cleaner and brighter in appearance, especially if you have a light-colored one.

Conclusion

Silk rugs need a lot of care and looking after. If your implement these tips, your rug will last for years to come. And when it’s time to buy new silk rugs VA, you have some great online stores to buy from.