Congratulations. You are the owner of the finest power-loomed rug in the world. Although there are a few recommendations for maintaining and cleaning your Karastan rug, the very first rule is to enjoy it.
Your Karastan rug may appear somewhat delicate in appearance, but rest assured you have very little to worry about. Karastan gets calls and letters from owners who bought Karastan area rugs as far back as 1928, when Marshall Field’s company first started Karastan, whose rugs have only grown more beautiful with the passing years.
Every single Karastan rug is made of the finest natural and man-made fibers available anywhere. Most are 100% premium worsted wool, which is surprisingly easy to care for and maintain. By following a few general maintenance and cleaning guidelines, you can expect years of enjoyment from your Karastan rug.
NORMAL CARE AND MAINTENANCE SUGGESTIONS
The first thing Karastan recommends is that you purchase a pad to put underneath your rug. A pad will keep your area rug from sliding around, which can cause premature wear and tear, and will help retain its original appearance much longer. Karastan itself makes one of the best rug pads in the market, called Karastan Down Under.
Second, rotate your rug every six months. Over the years, set traffic and sunlight patterns can cause color fading or uneven wear on a rug that isn’t occasionally rotated.
Vacuuming is the best way to remove everyday dust and dirt. If you rug has fringes, special care should be taken in the fringed end as vacuuming with a beater bar can catch and pull the fringe, causing separation. In the first year after bringing home your new rug, it is recommended vacuuming at least two or three times a week to remove the excess fuzz that accumulates on the rug surface. This fuzzing on the surface is perfectly normal and in no way will shorten the life of the rug. It is merely the loose fibers created during the weaving process and it will stop fuzzing after a while.
After a year, how often you should vacuum would depend on how much traffic there is over the rug. In high traffic areas, you may want to vacuum as often as once a day to keep soil and dirt from accumulating.
WHEN TO USE PROFESSIONAL CLEANING
We suggest sending your area rug to a reputable professional rug cleaner who is accustomed to cleaning area rugs of this quality when your Karastan rug appears dirty or has set-in stains. In-home cleaning such as using rental carpet and rug cleaners is not recommended, though we do suggest taking immediate action in the case of spills to remove or lessen stains.
IMMEDIATE ACTION ON SPILLS
Wool fiber naturally repels liquid spills, so a quick action offers the chance of preventing a stain. The following directions will help you prevent stains from setting in your rug.
a. Do NOT rub a spill. You will only force the spill deeper into the pile and possibly ruin the nap (direction of pile) of your rug.
b. Remove any spills using a spoon or blunt knife (except for latex paint). Work from the edge of the stain inward, scraping in the direction of the pile (nap) whenever possible. Latex paint, solidifies on rubbing, therefore, you should rinse it with large amounts of water, then gently blot with white napkins or paper towels.
c. Press absorbent paper towel (or napkins, etc.) gently on the stain and repeat until as much moisture as possible is absorbed and the pile feels almost dry.
d. Try to remove any residual stain with a little lukewarm water (not hot) containing a small amount of carpet shampoo or mild dishwashing liquid and pure white vinegar.
e. If water fails to remove the stain, the next step is using a solvent. ** Before attempting to use a solvent to clean, always test the effect of it by applying a few drops to an unseen area of the rug, then blotting with a clean white paper towel or tissue. Solvents must be used sparingly, and according to manufacturer’s suggestions to reduce the chance of damaging your rug.
f. Apply the solvent directly on the stained area and work gently with a spoon. Blot out gently and quickly with absorbent white paper towel until as much moisture as possible is absorbed and removed from the rug. Repeat the process until the stain is gone, never overwetting the stain area. This can cause rings on your rug, and some solvents can damage the latex-coated backings used on hand-tufted or hand-hooked rugs.
g. If it is not possible to use a solvent, greasy stains may be removed by placing an absorbent white paper towel on the stain and ironing (on low heat) the paper for a few seconds. This will soften the grease, which is then absorbed by the paper towel.
h. Do NOT walk on a moist area of your rug or carpet, as this may distort the pile. It is OK to use a hairdryer to accelerate drying of moist areas.
* Always check the solvent manufacturer’s label for possible toxicity or flammability hazards.
