Handmade Care

Rug Care Guide

Practical care for handmade, hand-knotted rugs. Use these steps to protect fiber quality, preserve color, and extend the life of both wool and silk pieces.

At-a-Glance Routine

Vacuum gently once a week in normal-traffic spaces, 2 times weekly in high-traffic spaces.
Rotate the rug every 6 months so wear and sunlight exposure stay even.
Use a quality rug pad to reduce friction, movement, and fiber stress.
Keep direct sun exposure limited with shades or UV-filtering window film.

Wool vs Silk: Key Differences

Care Attribute	Wool Hand-Knotted	Silk Hand-Knotted
Traffic tolerance	Better for daily-use rooms and moderate-to-heavy traffic.	Best for low-traffic or display-oriented spaces.
Texture and finish	Matte, resilient, forgiving underfoot.	Lustrous, soft, and more delicate to abrasion.
Moisture sensitivity	More forgiving, but still should never be saturated.	Highly sensitive to moisture; fast, minimal-contact response is critical.
Vacuum method	Low-to-medium suction, no harsh beater-bar contact.	Low suction only, gentle passes, less frequent.
Sunlight sensitivity	Can fade over time in direct sun.	Fades faster than wool; sun protection is essential.
Professional cleaning	Typically every 2 to 4 years.	Typically every 1 to 3 years, specialist only.

Wool Hand-Knotted: Do

Use suction-only vacuuming or a soft head. Avoid aggressive beater bars.
Blot spills immediately with a clean, dry white cloth.
Schedule professional hand-knotted rug cleaning every 2 to 4 years.

Do Not

Do not scrub wet spots. Scrubbing pushes stains deeper.
Do not soak the rug or use high-alkaline carpet shampoos.
Do not store wool rugs in damp or unventilated spaces.

Silk Hand-Knotted: Do

Vacuum lightly and less often than wool, using low suction only.
Address spills immediately by blotting. Keep moisture to a minimum.
Use a specialist cleaner experienced with hand-knotted silk rugs.

Do Not

Do not use rotating brush heads or beater bars.
Do not use household stain removers, vinegar mixes, or steam cleaning.
Do not place silk rugs in heavy-traffic zones or direct long sun exposure.

Spill Emergency Steps

1Lift solids carefully with a spoon or dull edge. Do not press downward.
2Blot from the outer edge toward the center with a white cloth.
3Use small amounts of cool water only if needed, then blot dry again.
4Place a dry towel over the area and apply light weight for 15 to 30 minutes.
5If color transfer or odor remains, stop and call a professional cleaner.

Need Specialist Help?

For valuable hand-knotted rugs, professional cleaning is safest. If you are unsure how to treat a spill or stain, stop and contact us before trying stronger products.

Contact Our Team