Needlepoint Rug Cleaning
Needlepoint rugs brighten a room. They are attractive and delicate. Spilling something on a needlepoint rug makes one want to use a wet cloth to clean it. It requires different care than other rugs. A wet cloth will not clean a needlepoint rug. In fact, the stained area may be increased. Professional cleaners will make the rug look good as new.
Needlepoint rugs come in store bought and homemade varieties. The high pile of many needlepoint rugs, make cleaning difficult. Fibers used to make these rugs, make cleaning difficult. Fibers used to make these rugs include silk, wool, acrylic, and various other materials. Being unsure of the content poses a problem if someone were to try cleaning at home. Each fiber type is treated differently. That is another reason to let experts take care of the rugs.
Needlepoint Rug Cleaning Process
•Inspection – A thorough inspection is conducted to find stains and damaged areas. Some stains require a special cleaning process. Any damage and the proper process are noted during the inspection.
•Vacuum – Special equipment is used to vacuum both sides of the rug. The process is repeatedly done until there is a dust-free rug. All debris and dry dirt are removed. Processing can take from several minutes to more than a couple of hours.
•Dye Check – A dye run is conducted to determine if the washing process will cause dye transfer. Adjustments are made in accordance with the test results.
•Wash – The washing method appropriate for the needlepoint rug is used. Soaking duration depends on the nature of stains. Smoke damaged, or vomit or urine stains may have to soak for hours.
•Rinse – Residue is rinsed from the rug. It is then hung on a beam that travels through air conditioned by heat and circulating fans to dry.
•Grooming – Hand grooming is the final cleaning process step. The rug is thoroughly brushed.
Professionals provide all of these steps with extreme care and delicacy.
In-Home Care
Cleaning should be left to professionals, but some preventative measures and cleaning need to be carried out by the owner. If a spill does occur, use dry towels to absorb as much moisture as possible. Let the rug dry completely.
Regular vacuuming lifts dirt and dust from the rug and extends its life. Because of the cleaning requirements, the rugs are considered delicate. They are durable, however. People have used them in high traffic areas. Some owners have pets, partying adults, or grandkids with food travel over their needlepoint rugs.
Needlepoint rugs without high pile are considered “flat weave” rugs. Needlepoint rugs of good quality are quite thin. The erroneous conclusion that they are too fragile for high traffic rooms is sometimes drawn.
How Needlepoint Rugs Are Made
Needlepoint rugs are made entirely by hand. Using a sewing needle and rug fiber stitches are done on an open grid canvas made of cotton fabric. The pattern is painted on the canvas. Artisans use dyed yarns to cover the canvas with stitches that follow the details of the painted pattern.The entire canvas surface is covered when making the rug. The most durable rugs have millions of stitches. A quality 9’ x 12’ needlepoint rug may contain a million and a half stitches. That number of stitches is responsible for the durability of the rug.