Rug Chick Blog
Search for specific rug care articles using the box above, or narrow your selection of by clicking the categories listed below.
Luster-Washed Wool Rugs: What You Need To Know
Luster-Washed Wool Rugs: What You Need To Know When rugs are woven often there is some additional work done to help create a particular finished...
Cleaning Pros Uncovering the Truth in Rug, Carpet, and Hard Floor Quality
Cleaning Pros Uncovering the Truth in Rug, Carpet, and Hard Floor Quality. I am getting ready to travel to teach at an international gathering of...
Silk Rug Scams (ALL Buyers Beware)
Silk Rug Scams (ALL Buyers Beware) If you are looking at buying a silk rug, and if you are being asked to pay thousands (or tens of thousands),...
How To Fold Big Rugs
How To Fold Big RugsRugChick.com All You Need To Know About RugsLinks Privacy Policy
Moroccan Rugs. What You Need To Know.
The North African country of Morocco has become a very popular tourist destination, and the tribal minimalist and geometric designs of the region...
Rug Chick in Today Home
Today Show article on rug care tips. Honored to be interviewed by the Today Show for an online article on rug care tips. Share with your friends if...
Shedding Rugs. What You Need To Know.
Shedding rug fibers. These pull easily free because the rug is cheaply made.Rugs may shed for a variety of reasons. The shedding may be due to bad...
Viscose, Bamboo Silk, Banana Silk, Art Silk. What you need to know.
If you are thinking about buying a viscose rug, or viscose furniture, please watch this short video to see what you need to know about this fiber...
For Rug Shoppers
There are many different rugs out in the market today. Hand made and machine made. Natural fiber and synthetic fiber. Woven and tufted. New and old....
Moths, Bugs, and Rugs (What you need to know)
Wool rugs are woven to last HUNDREDS of years. In our industry a rug today is not considered to be “antique” unless it is woven before 1900. They...
Fire, smoke damage, and rugs (San Diego update)
Fire seasons in the southwest seem to be getting longer, especially in our area of the country in San Diego.We have had several major wildfires in...
How do I vacuum my wool rug?
One of the most frequent questions I am asked is “Is it safe to vacuum my rug?” The answer is: It depends on your vacuum, and your rug. There is no...
Rug Chick in the New York Times
Hello Rug Chick readers, My mom Kate, our team, and I are super excited that our company (K. Blatchford’s Rug Cleaning in San Diego) made today’s...
Rug Books (A few of my favorites)
A common question I am asked, by both rug cleaners and rug enthusiasts, is: “What are some good rug books to buy?” Since I have been giving similar...
What Is Protector
What Is Protector?Protector is a coating that is applied to clean rugs and textiles. This coating helps prevent permanent staining and makes it...
Viscose Rugs – Artificial or Art Silk
Understanding Viscose RugsMany rugs marketed today as silk, are in fact artificial silk rugs made of viscose fibers. Rugs made of viscose or...
Understanding White Knots in Your Rugs
Understanding White Knots in Your Rugs This Footer Area is a Placeholder for RugChick.comExplore Home Rug Videos About ContactLegal Terms of Service...
Understanding Tufted Rugs
Understanding Tufted RugsExplore Home Services Rug Videos FAQs About Reviews ContactVisit 721 Rye St Unit 7 Peterborough On K9J 6X1 Click for...
Understanding Tea-Washed Rugs
Understanding Tea-Washed RugsRugChick.com All You Need To Know About RugsLinks Privacy Policy Sitemap
Understanding Abrash in Your Rugs
Understanding Abrash In Your RugsExplore Home Services Rug Videos FAQs About Reviews ContactVisit 721 Rye St Unit 7 Peterborough On K9J 6X1 Click...
Protect Your Rugs From Pet Urine Damage
Protect Your Rugs From Pet Urine DamageRugChick.com All You Need To Know About RugsLegal Terms of Service | Privacy Policy
Protect Your Rugs From Moths and Bugs
Protect Your Rugs From Moths and BugsExplore Home Services Rug Videos FAQs About Reviews ContactVisit 721 Rye St Unit 7 Peterborough On K9J 6X1...
Never Let a Carpet Cleaner Clean Your Rugs
Never Let a Carpet Cleaner Clean Your RugsExplore Home Services Rug Videos FAQs About Reviews ContactVisit 721 Rye St Unit 7 Peterborough On K9J 6X1...
Mistakes Rug Owners Make
Mistakes Rug Owners MakeExplore Home Services Rug Videos FAQs About Reviews ContactVisit 721 Rye St Unit 7 Peterborough On K9J 6X1 Click for...
How Should You Vacuum Your Area Rugs?
How Should You Vacuum Your Area Rugs?Explore Home Services Rug Videos FAQs About Reviews ContactVisit 721 Rye St Unit 7 Peterborough On K9J 6X1...
How Often Should I Clean My Wool Rugs?
How Often Should I Clean My Wool Rugs?Explore Home Services Rug Videos FAQs About Reviews ContactVisit 721 Rye St Unit 7 Peterborough On K9J 6X1...
Do You Have Moths or Bugs Damaging Your Rugs?
Do You Have Moths or Bugs Damaging Your Rugs?RugChick.com All You Need To Know About RugsLinks Privacy Policy
Do I Need A Rug Pad?
Do I Need A Rug Pad?RugChick.com All You Need To Know About RugsLinks Privacy Policy Sitemap
Rug Fringe. What You Need To Know
Fringe. People love it. Or they hate it.Bright white BIG fringe!On some rugs, it’s short, so it’s not a bother.Older rugs tend to have short fringe...
Rug White Knots (What You Need To Know)
“My rug has white dots in the field, is this damage?” Three Turkish weavers at their rug loom.(Courtesy of Tempe Rugs & Cultural Tours...
Mold and Dry Rot in Rugs
There is a fungus among us…Water damaged Navajo rug has mildew growing on it.and there is nothing “fun” about it. One of the worst conditions that...
Paper rugs (Seriously?)
In the rug world there are some products that I label as DWT. “Design Without Thought.” Paper rugs are one of these DWT rugs, because obviously not...
Jute Rugs What You Need To Know
Jute is a plant fiber that we used to only see in a small number of older American hand hooked rugs… American hooked rug with wool loops and jute...
Bugs, Rugs, and Storage. What You Need To Know
We’ve recently had several orders with some serious bug problems. Some were rugs that were improperly stored by their owners for years and made a...
Shag Rugs. What You Need To Know
One of the frequent questions I get asked by cleaners and consumers today is “what about SHAG rugs?” My answer to them is this: “Cool idea… BAD...
Rug Dyes. What makes them bleed
The biggest fear most rug cleaners have regarding rugs is that the rug might bleed while in their care.Bled Afghan rugThe fact is, with proper...
Cheap synthetic rugs. What you need to know.
It used to be, about a decade ago, that if you wanted to buy a rug you went to a rug store. And odds are, you’d walk away with a wool rug. Wool is...
Buying rugs. (Tips for the nervous rug shopper.)
Rug dealers as a “group” get a bad rap. Everyone has heard a story, or seen an exposé, on someone being ripped off on a rug purchase. They were sold...
Pottery Barn rugs to run from…
I like Pottery Barn. They have some cool household items and furnishings, some of which are good quality at a good price. Their rug department...
Rugs with material on the back
Most professional rug cleaners should know this, but in case you don’t… … wool rugs with material on the back like this one, are called TUFTED...
Over-Dyed Rugs. (The BIG disaster awaiting careless cleaners.)
There are a multitude of reasons why a rug’s dyes may run during cleaning. In fact, I wrote a post on several of those reasons behind how a rug’s...
Pet puddles on rugs. (Uh oh, urine trouble!)
You’re in trouble indeed… I know he chewed the rug… but he’s so CUTE!It’s all fun and games until the valuable oriental rug in the den gets a pet...
Why some rugs buckle
I receive a lot of “help me” calls from rug cleaners and rug owners on rugs that are buckling. They want to know what to do. And my answer is...
House plant damage to rugs. Your options.
Watering a potted plant near a rug can lead to a big ugly dry rot hole in a rug if it’s left undisturbed for too long. If you want to know why this...
FAKE silk rugs. What you need to know.
“I know better.” That is EXACTLY what I said in my head as I was looking at a cute shiny, smooth blue top at Nordstrom… …and saw the label said “60%...
Silk rugs. What you need to know
Silk is known as a fabric, and fiber, of luxury.Silk Strands People think you need to baby silk items, but silk is actually a very strong – and...
Rug Shop Set-up. (The mother of all equipment posts)
The most common question I get from professional carpet cleaners (besides “oh God, can you help me save this rug!”) is this => “What rug cleaning...
Why rugs are not cleaned in the home
The recommended cleaning method for wool oriental and specialty rugs, is washing them. For as long as rugs have been woven, they have also been...
Oriental Rug Dyes. What you need to know.
True or false – A colorfast wool rug can bleed? TRUE. The rug may be colorfast in CERTAIN situations. For example, with a regular cleaning or wash,...
Rugs and Floods. What to do
With the number of home floods escalating due to severe weather, a number of rugs will be exposed to flood water. The longer a rug remains wet the...
Why some rug dyes bleed.
There are a variety of reasons a rug might “bleed” on you. Let’s go through different scenarios for a wool rug like this one, where the red dyes...
Don’t water the rugs!
If you have plants anywhere near your rugs in your home – or if you are a rug cleaner and see plants near rugs you are picking up to clean – you...
Hidden danger – bleeding rug wefts.
Every professional rug cleaner knows how to test a rug to see if the dyes are colorfast or not. At least they should know how to. Especially since a...
Afghan rugs, the trade-off for new tribal rugs.
Rugs are loosely lumped into two general categories – “tribal” rugs or “city” rugs. City rugs come from “bigger” weaving operations that tend to...
Help with Chinese rugs.
Here is an article on some of the characteristics of contemporary Chinese rugs that as a professional rug cleaner you need to be aware of: Chinese...
Help with Afghan rugs.
Here is an article on some of the characteristics of Afghan rugs that as a professional rug cleaner you need to be aware of: Afghan Rugs – What To...
The dark side of the rug.
Pet your rug. Go ahead – pet it! All pile rugs, just like your pet pooch or kitty or gorilla (hey – we have ALL kinds on this blog!) – the fur has a...
Rugs That Stink.
When rugs come in our shop that are gosh-awful smelly, the usual suspects are: PETS, FLOODS, BAD LATEX, or BAD CHEMICALS. Here are the common...
Repair Your Rug Right.
The most common repair needed by rugs in our town (and EVERY town with rug owners) is END repairs. With hand woven rugs, when the fringe is torn or...
Why do some wool rugs fade?
Certain rugs are given a strong chemical washing by their weavers called a “luster wash.” This is a bleaching of the wool fibers using various...
Pet Accidents On Rugs. What To Do.
You might be traveling, and the anxiety of your absence with a house sitter in charge might lead to some accidents. A puppy in training, or your...
Love/Hate Relationship With Fringe
What is it about fringe? Some rug owners LOVE it… most rug cleaners HATE it. Why all the drama? Well, it starts with the fact that when the rug is...
Tibetan rugs…
Tibetan rugs today are woven in India and Nepal because Tibetans no longer have their home in China. They have a very distinct weaving style, and...
Are You Calling Me YELLOW?!?
I just made a trip to Ontario Canada to teach a little rug cleaning clinic. It was just outside of Niagara Falls, which was BEAUTIFUL. Windy, cold,...
Up Against The Wall!
There are several reasons someone may want to display their rugs on the wall. It may be a fine silk rug, or an older collectible piece in some...
Pointers on Needlepoints…
Most women have at sometime in their childhood tried a little needlepoint. (Perhaps some men also, but I can only speak for the “girls” I know right...
Dust or Bust!
I often receive questions about vacuuming rugs from rug owners, asking if they should vacuum rugs, and if so how to do it. First of all, YES – rugs...
Bugs, Floods, and Thugs: Safely Storing Your Rugs
Our last post was on bugs – something to definitely be wary of when you expect to keep rugs in storage for months or years. Several years ago we had...
They Don’t Make Them Like They Used To…
I was going through photos and came across a LOVELY rug – a REAL rug – take a look at this Kazak rug (from the Caucasus Mountains region) – it is on...
Braided Rugs – What To Watch For
I’ve seen braided rugs come in all colors, sizes, and ages. New product from stores like Pier One, and some from the 1930’s with a story from the...
Tea and Rugs – A Good Mix?
There’s a rug phenomenum out there called “tea-washed.” It’s not really TEA – but a brown over-dye that is applied to a rug after it’s woven in...
Tip of the Rug Spill Iceberg…
Most woven rugs have wool knots tied around COTTON fibers for its construction. Cotton allows for a more consistent shape and construction as...
Smokin’ Hot Rug…
Don’t know if you know this, but wool does not carry a flame. It is naturally fire resistant. This does not mean that a super hot fire cannot engulf...
This Rug Stinks.
I am not the biggest fan of TUFTED rugs. Simply because I appreciate the art of a woven rug crafted by hand,versus the mass-market production of...
Rugs To Keep Out Of The Sun.
A little sun never hurts, right? Well, with rugs, that depends. Some rugs , you could put them in the sun for ages with no affect. While others...
How A Hooked Rug Can Hang You.
There is a horrible tendency by some contemporary American Hooked and Chinese Hooked rug manufacturers that is angering not only new rug owners, but...
That Rug LIES! (Or it is lays…?) 🙂
Just like Tammy Faye used a lot of makeup to cover up her “real” look to try to appear younger … certain rug dealers can use some “tricky” cover-ups...
Stop Making Waves…
Rugs are meant to be on a HARD surface. But, for some reason, Americans love to put their rugs over SOFT surfaces. I’m not sure why. Probably the...
The Incredibly Shrinking Rugs!!!
Rugs do shrink. Some slight – a fraction of an inch … some a lot – inches. Usually on their very first wash IF they have not been washed after being...
What’s Lurking Beneath The Dirt???
That’s a really good question. I mean, take a look at this rug right here:Filthy rug may be hiding SECRET DANGERS!What could be lurking here? Plenty...
Who is the Rug Chick site for?
This website is for Professional Cleaners looking for reliable information about rugs and rug care. This site is also for Rug Owners who are looking...
How do I find the rug information I am looking for?
Start with which group you belong to (cleaner, owner, shopper) and visit your respective page to see if your question is listed in the top ranked...
Does Lisa have rug training classes?
Yes she does, for Professional Cleaners. On the Rug Care Training page you can find information about both online rug care courses and in-person rug...
How do I contact Lisa?
If you are in the San Diego area and need rug cleaning or repair services, you can contact Lisa’s company (Blatchford’s San Diego Rug Cleaning...
Dirty, Rotten Rugs…
Many woven rugs have a COTTON foundation (warps and wefts). I mentioned in the prior blog post that if you have old urine stains saturating a rug...
Pet Puddles & Kitty Catastrophes
This will probably not get me a whole bunch of fans – but I’m going to say it anyway. My attitude toward pets is pretty much the same I have with...
They are ALL crooked!
Here’s a secret for you… ALL handmade rugs are crooked. Some may aim for perfection, but it’s very hard to achieve when hand crafting anything. Have...
Pad – What You Need To Know
Every rug on a hard surface can benefit from a rug pad.There are a wide variety of pads on the market. A good pad will provide several benefits. It...
Attack of the MACHINES!
Now more than ever, you are seeing MACHINE made rugs coming through your doors. It used to be that these were still WOOL rugs, but today a number of...
Oriental Rug Freckles.
Okay, the technical term is not “rug freckles” but that’s what I call them. (My blog, my vocab!) They are white knots. Sometimes a handful, like...
Why Rugs Have Stripes.
With hand woven rugs, the knots are tied (actually they are wrapped) around the foundation threads from side to side. Search google images for RUG...
Who is the Rug Chick site for?
This website is for Professional Cleaners looking for reliable information about rugs and rug care. This site is also for Rug Owners who are looking...
How do I find the rug information I am looking for?
Start with which group you belong to (cleaner, owner, shopper) and visit your respective page to see if your question is listed in the top ranked...
Does Lisa have rug training classes?
Yes she does, for Professional Cleaners. On the Rug Care Training page you can find information about both online rug care courses and in-person rug...
How do I contact Lisa?
If you are in the San Diego area and need rug cleaning or repair services, you can contact Lisa’s company (Blatchford’s San Diego Rug Cleaning...
Luster-Washed Wool Rugs: What You Need To Know
Luster-Washed Wool Rugs: What You Need To Know When rugs are woven often there is some additional work done to help create a particular finished...
Silk Rug Scams (ALL Buyers Beware)
Silk Rug Scams (ALL Buyers Beware) If you are looking at buying a silk rug, and if you are being asked to pay thousands (or tens of thousands),...
Moroccan Rugs. What You Need To Know.
The North African country of Morocco has become a very popular tourist destination, and the tribal minimalist and geometric designs of the region...
Shedding Rugs. What You Need To Know.
Shedding rug fibers. These pull easily free because the rug is cheaply made.Rugs may shed for a variety of reasons. The shedding may be due to bad...
Viscose, Bamboo Silk, Banana Silk, Art Silk. What you need to know.
If you are thinking about buying a viscose rug, or viscose furniture, please watch this short video to see what you need to know about this fiber...
For Rug Shoppers
There are many different rugs out in the market today. Hand made and machine made. Natural fiber and synthetic fiber. Woven and tufted. New and old....
Moths, Bugs, and Rugs (What you need to know)
Wool rugs are woven to last HUNDREDS of years. In our industry a rug today is not considered to be “antique” unless it is woven before 1900. They...
Rug Fringe. What You Need To Know
Fringe. People love it. Or they hate it.Bright white BIG fringe!On some rugs, it’s short, so it’s not a bother.Older rugs tend to have short fringe...
Rug White Knots (What You Need To Know)
“My rug has white dots in the field, is this damage?” Three Turkish weavers at their rug loom.(Courtesy of Tempe Rugs & Cultural Tours...
Mold and Dry Rot in Rugs
There is a fungus among us…Water damaged Navajo rug has mildew growing on it.and there is nothing “fun” about it. One of the worst conditions that...
Paper rugs (Seriously?)
In the rug world there are some products that I label as DWT. “Design Without Thought.” Paper rugs are one of these DWT rugs, because obviously not...
Jute Rugs What You Need To Know
Jute is a plant fiber that we used to only see in a small number of older American hand hooked rugs… American hooked rug with wool loops and jute...
Luster-Washed Wool Rugs: What You Need To Know
Luster-Washed Wool Rugs: What You Need To Know When rugs are woven often there is some additional work done to help create a particular finished...
Cleaning Pros Uncovering the Truth in Rug, Carpet, and Hard Floor Quality
Cleaning Pros Uncovering the Truth in Rug, Carpet, and Hard Floor Quality. I am getting ready to travel to teach at an international gathering of...
Silk Rug Scams (ALL Buyers Beware)
Silk Rug Scams (ALL Buyers Beware) If you are looking at buying a silk rug, and if you are being asked to pay thousands (or tens of thousands),...
Moroccan Rugs. What You Need To Know.
The North African country of Morocco has become a very popular tourist destination, and the tribal minimalist and geometric designs of the region...
Rug Chick in Today Home
Today Show article on rug care tips. Honored to be interviewed by the Today Show for an online article on rug care tips. Share with your friends if...
Shedding Rugs. What You Need To Know.
Shedding rug fibers. These pull easily free because the rug is cheaply made.Rugs may shed for a variety of reasons. The shedding may be due to bad...
Viscose, Bamboo Silk, Banana Silk, Art Silk. What you need to know.
If you are thinking about buying a viscose rug, or viscose furniture, please watch this short video to see what you need to know about this fiber...
Moths, Bugs, and Rugs (What you need to know)
Wool rugs are woven to last HUNDREDS of years. In our industry a rug today is not considered to be “antique” unless it is woven before 1900. They...
Fire, smoke damage, and rugs (San Diego update)
Fire seasons in the southwest seem to be getting longer, especially in our area of the country in San Diego.We have had several major wildfires in...
How do I vacuum my wool rug?
One of the most frequent questions I am asked is “Is it safe to vacuum my rug?” The answer is: It depends on your vacuum, and your rug. There is no...
Rug Chick in the New York Times
Hello Rug Chick readers, My mom Kate, our team, and I are super excited that our company (K. Blatchford’s Rug Cleaning in San Diego) made today’s...
Rug Fringe. What You Need To Know
Fringe. People love it. Or they hate it.Bright white BIG fringe!On some rugs, it’s short, so it’s not a bother.Older rugs tend to have short fringe...
Rug White Knots (What You Need To Know)
“My rug has white dots in the field, is this damage?” Three Turkish weavers at their rug loom.(Courtesy of Tempe Rugs & Cultural Tours...
Mold and Dry Rot in Rugs
There is a fungus among us…Water damaged Navajo rug has mildew growing on it.and there is nothing “fun” about it. One of the worst conditions that...
Jute Rugs What You Need To Know
Jute is a plant fiber that we used to only see in a small number of older American hand hooked rugs… American hooked rug with wool loops and jute...
Bugs, Rugs, and Storage. What You Need To Know
We’ve recently had several orders with some serious bug problems. Some were rugs that were improperly stored by their owners for years and made a...
Shag Rugs. What You Need To Know
One of the frequent questions I get asked by cleaners and consumers today is “what about SHAG rugs?” My answer to them is this: “Cool idea… BAD...
Rug Dyes. What makes them bleed
The biggest fear most rug cleaners have regarding rugs is that the rug might bleed while in their care.Bled Afghan rugThe fact is, with proper...
Cheap synthetic rugs. What you need to know.
It used to be, about a decade ago, that if you wanted to buy a rug you went to a rug store. And odds are, you’d walk away with a wool rug. Wool is...
Buying rugs. (Tips for the nervous rug shopper.)
Rug dealers as a “group” get a bad rap. Everyone has heard a story, or seen an exposé, on someone being ripped off on a rug purchase. They were sold...
Pottery Barn rugs to run from…
I like Pottery Barn. They have some cool household items and furnishings, some of which are good quality at a good price. Their rug department...
Rugs with material on the back
Most professional rug cleaners should know this, but in case you don’t… … wool rugs with material on the back like this one, are called TUFTED...
Over-Dyed Rugs. (The BIG disaster awaiting careless cleaners.)
There are a multitude of reasons why a rug’s dyes may run during cleaning. In fact, I wrote a post on several of those reasons behind how a rug’s...
Pet puddles on rugs. (Uh oh, urine trouble!)
You’re in trouble indeed… I know he chewed the rug… but he’s so CUTE!It’s all fun and games until the valuable oriental rug in the den gets a pet...
Why some rugs buckle
I receive a lot of “help me” calls from rug cleaners and rug owners on rugs that are buckling. They want to know what to do. And my answer is...
House plant damage to rugs. Your options.
Watering a potted plant near a rug can lead to a big ugly dry rot hole in a rug if it’s left undisturbed for too long. If you want to know why this...
FAKE silk rugs. What you need to know.
“I know better.” That is EXACTLY what I said in my head as I was looking at a cute shiny, smooth blue top at Nordstrom… …and saw the label said “60%...
Silk rugs. What you need to know
Silk is known as a fabric, and fiber, of luxury.Silk Strands People think you need to baby silk items, but silk is actually a very strong – and...
Rug Shop Set-up. (The mother of all equipment posts)
The most common question I get from professional carpet cleaners (besides “oh God, can you help me save this rug!”) is this => “What rug cleaning...
Why rugs are not cleaned in the home
The recommended cleaning method for wool oriental and specialty rugs, is washing them. For as long as rugs have been woven, they have also been...
Oriental Rug Dyes. What you need to know.
True or false – A colorfast wool rug can bleed? TRUE. The rug may be colorfast in CERTAIN situations. For example, with a regular cleaning or wash,...
Rugs and Floods. What to do
With the number of home floods escalating due to severe weather, a number of rugs will be exposed to flood water. The longer a rug remains wet the...
Why some rug dyes bleed.
There are a variety of reasons a rug might “bleed” on you. Let’s go through different scenarios for a wool rug like this one, where the red dyes...
Don’t water the rugs!
If you have plants anywhere near your rugs in your home – or if you are a rug cleaner and see plants near rugs you are picking up to clean – you...
Hidden danger – bleeding rug wefts.
Every professional rug cleaner knows how to test a rug to see if the dyes are colorfast or not. At least they should know how to. Especially since a...
Afghan rugs, the trade-off for new tribal rugs.
Rugs are loosely lumped into two general categories – “tribal” rugs or “city” rugs. City rugs come from “bigger” weaving operations that tend to...
Help with Chinese rugs.
Here is an article on some of the characteristics of contemporary Chinese rugs that as a professional rug cleaner you need to be aware of: Chinese...
Help with Afghan rugs.
Here is an article on some of the characteristics of Afghan rugs that as a professional rug cleaner you need to be aware of: Afghan Rugs – What To...
The dark side of the rug.
Pet your rug. Go ahead – pet it! All pile rugs, just like your pet pooch or kitty or gorilla (hey – we have ALL kinds on this blog!) – the fur has a...
Rugs That Stink.
When rugs come in our shop that are gosh-awful smelly, the usual suspects are: PETS, FLOODS, BAD LATEX, or BAD CHEMICALS. Here are the common...
Repair Your Rug Right.
The most common repair needed by rugs in our town (and EVERY town with rug owners) is END repairs. With hand woven rugs, when the fringe is torn or...
Why do some wool rugs fade?
Certain rugs are given a strong chemical washing by their weavers called a “luster wash.” This is a bleaching of the wool fibers using various...
Pet Accidents On Rugs. What To Do.
You might be traveling, and the anxiety of your absence with a house sitter in charge might lead to some accidents. A puppy in training, or your...
Love/Hate Relationship With Fringe
What is it about fringe? Some rug owners LOVE it… most rug cleaners HATE it. Why all the drama? Well, it starts with the fact that when the rug is...
Tibetan rugs…
Tibetan rugs today are woven in India and Nepal because Tibetans no longer have their home in China. They have a very distinct weaving style, and...
Are You Calling Me YELLOW?!?
I just made a trip to Ontario Canada to teach a little rug cleaning clinic. It was just outside of Niagara Falls, which was BEAUTIFUL. Windy, cold,...
Up Against The Wall!
There are several reasons someone may want to display their rugs on the wall. It may be a fine silk rug, or an older collectible piece in some...
Pointers on Needlepoints…
Most women have at sometime in their childhood tried a little needlepoint. (Perhaps some men also, but I can only speak for the “girls” I know right...
Dust or Bust!
I often receive questions about vacuuming rugs from rug owners, asking if they should vacuum rugs, and if so how to do it. First of all, YES – rugs...
Bugs, Floods, and Thugs: Safely Storing Your Rugs
Our last post was on bugs – something to definitely be wary of when you expect to keep rugs in storage for months or years. Several years ago we had...
They Don’t Make Them Like They Used To…
I was going through photos and came across a LOVELY rug – a REAL rug – take a look at this Kazak rug (from the Caucasus Mountains region) – it is on...
Braided Rugs – What To Watch For
I’ve seen braided rugs come in all colors, sizes, and ages. New product from stores like Pier One, and some from the 1930’s with a story from the...
Tea and Rugs – A Good Mix?
There’s a rug phenomenum out there called “tea-washed.” It’s not really TEA – but a brown over-dye that is applied to a rug after it’s woven in...
Tip of the Rug Spill Iceberg…
Most woven rugs have wool knots tied around COTTON fibers for its construction. Cotton allows for a more consistent shape and construction as...
Smokin’ Hot Rug…
Don’t know if you know this, but wool does not carry a flame. It is naturally fire resistant. This does not mean that a super hot fire cannot engulf...
This Rug Stinks.
I am not the biggest fan of TUFTED rugs. Simply because I appreciate the art of a woven rug crafted by hand,versus the mass-market production of...
Rugs To Keep Out Of The Sun.
A little sun never hurts, right? Well, with rugs, that depends. Some rugs , you could put them in the sun for ages with no affect. While others...
How A Hooked Rug Can Hang You.
There is a horrible tendency by some contemporary American Hooked and Chinese Hooked rug manufacturers that is angering not only new rug owners, but...
That Rug LIES! (Or it is lays…?) 🙂
Just like Tammy Faye used a lot of makeup to cover up her “real” look to try to appear younger … certain rug dealers can use some “tricky” cover-ups...
Stop Making Waves…
Rugs are meant to be on a HARD surface. But, for some reason, Americans love to put their rugs over SOFT surfaces. I’m not sure why. Probably the...
The Incredibly Shrinking Rugs!!!
Rugs do shrink. Some slight – a fraction of an inch … some a lot – inches. Usually on their very first wash IF they have not been washed after being...
What’s Lurking Beneath The Dirt???
That’s a really good question. I mean, take a look at this rug right here:Filthy rug may be hiding SECRET DANGERS!What could be lurking here? Plenty...
Dirty, Rotten Rugs…
Many woven rugs have a COTTON foundation (warps and wefts). I mentioned in the prior blog post that if you have old urine stains saturating a rug...
Pet Puddles & Kitty Catastrophes
This will probably not get me a whole bunch of fans – but I’m going to say it anyway. My attitude toward pets is pretty much the same I have with...
They are ALL crooked!
Here’s a secret for you… ALL handmade rugs are crooked. Some may aim for perfection, but it’s very hard to achieve when hand crafting anything. Have...
Pad – What You Need To Know
Every rug on a hard surface can benefit from a rug pad.There are a wide variety of pads on the market. A good pad will provide several benefits. It...
Attack of the MACHINES!
Now more than ever, you are seeing MACHINE made rugs coming through your doors. It used to be that these were still WOOL rugs, but today a number of...
Oriental Rug Freckles.
Okay, the technical term is not “rug freckles” but that’s what I call them. (My blog, my vocab!) They are white knots. Sometimes a handful, like...
Why Rugs Have Stripes.
With hand woven rugs, the knots are tied (actually they are wrapped) around the foundation threads from side to side. Search google images for RUG...
Luster-Washed Wool Rugs: What You Need To Know
Luster-Washed Wool Rugs: What You Need To Know When rugs are woven often there is some additional work done to help create a particular finished...
Cleaning Pros Uncovering the Truth in Rug, Carpet, and Hard Floor Quality
Cleaning Pros Uncovering the Truth in Rug, Carpet, and Hard Floor Quality. I am getting ready to travel to teach at an international gathering of...
Silk Rug Scams (ALL Buyers Beware)
Silk Rug Scams (ALL Buyers Beware) If you are looking at buying a silk rug, and if you are being asked to pay thousands (or tens of thousands),...
Rug Books (A few of my favorites)
A common question I am asked, by both rug cleaners and rug enthusiasts, is: “What are some good rug books to buy?” Since I have been giving similar...
They Don’t Make Them Like They Used To…
I was going through photos and came across a LOVELY rug – a REAL rug – take a look at this Kazak rug (from the Caucasus Mountains region) – it is on...
Moroccan Rugs. What You Need To Know.
The North African country of Morocco has become a very popular tourist destination, and the tribal minimalist and geometric designs of the region...
Shedding Rugs. What You Need To Know.
Shedding rug fibers. These pull easily free because the rug is cheaply made.Rugs may shed for a variety of reasons. The shedding may be due to bad...
Viscose, Bamboo Silk, Banana Silk, Art Silk. What you need to know.
If you are thinking about buying a viscose rug, or viscose furniture, please watch this short video to see what you need to know about this fiber...
Moths, Bugs, and Rugs (What you need to know)
Wool rugs are woven to last HUNDREDS of years. In our industry a rug today is not considered to be “antique” unless it is woven before 1900. They...
Rug Fringe. What You Need To Know
Fringe. People love it. Or they hate it.Bright white BIG fringe!On some rugs, it’s short, so it’s not a bother.Older rugs tend to have short fringe...
Rug White Knots (What You Need To Know)
“My rug has white dots in the field, is this damage?” Three Turkish weavers at their rug loom.(Courtesy of Tempe Rugs & Cultural Tours...
Mold and Dry Rot in Rugs
There is a fungus among us…Water damaged Navajo rug has mildew growing on it.and there is nothing “fun” about it. One of the worst conditions that...
Jute Rugs What You Need To Know
Jute is a plant fiber that we used to only see in a small number of older American hand hooked rugs… American hooked rug with wool loops and jute...
Bugs, Rugs, and Storage. What You Need To Know
We’ve recently had several orders with some serious bug problems. Some were rugs that were improperly stored by their owners for years and made a...
Shag Rugs. What You Need To Know
One of the frequent questions I get asked by cleaners and consumers today is “what about SHAG rugs?” My answer to them is this: “Cool idea… BAD...
Cheap synthetic rugs. What you need to know.
It used to be, about a decade ago, that if you wanted to buy a rug you went to a rug store. And odds are, you’d walk away with a wool rug. Wool is...
Pottery Barn rugs to run from…
I like Pottery Barn. They have some cool household items and furnishings, some of which are good quality at a good price. Their rug department...
Rugs with material on the back
Most professional rug cleaners should know this, but in case you don’t… … wool rugs with material on the back like this one, are called TUFTED...
Over-Dyed Rugs. (The BIG disaster awaiting careless cleaners.)
There are a multitude of reasons why a rug’s dyes may run during cleaning. In fact, I wrote a post on several of those reasons behind how a rug’s...
Why some rugs buckle
I receive a lot of “help me” calls from rug cleaners and rug owners on rugs that are buckling. They want to know what to do. And my answer is...
FAKE silk rugs. What you need to know.
“I know better.” That is EXACTLY what I said in my head as I was looking at a cute shiny, smooth blue top at Nordstrom… …and saw the label said “60%...
Silk rugs. What you need to know
Silk is known as a fabric, and fiber, of luxury.Silk Strands People think you need to baby silk items, but silk is actually a very strong – and...
Oriental Rug Dyes. What you need to know.
True or false – A colorfast wool rug can bleed? TRUE. The rug may be colorfast in CERTAIN situations. For example, with a regular cleaning or wash,...
Afghan rugs, the trade-off for new tribal rugs.
Rugs are loosely lumped into two general categories – “tribal” rugs or “city” rugs. City rugs come from “bigger” weaving operations that tend to...
Rugs That Stink.
When rugs come in our shop that are gosh-awful smelly, the usual suspects are: PETS, FLOODS, BAD LATEX, or BAD CHEMICALS. Here are the common...
Pointers on Needlepoints…
Most women have at sometime in their childhood tried a little needlepoint. (Perhaps some men also, but I can only speak for the “girls” I know right...
Bugs, Floods, and Thugs: Safely Storing Your Rugs
Our last post was on bugs – something to definitely be wary of when you expect to keep rugs in storage for months or years. Several years ago we had...
They Don’t Make Them Like They Used To…
I was going through photos and came across a LOVELY rug – a REAL rug – take a look at this Kazak rug (from the Caucasus Mountains region) – it is on...
Braided Rugs – What To Watch For
I’ve seen braided rugs come in all colors, sizes, and ages. New product from stores like Pier One, and some from the 1930’s with a story from the...
Oriental Rug Freckles.
Okay, the technical term is not “rug freckles” but that’s what I call them. (My blog, my vocab!) They are white knots. Sometimes a handful, like...
Why Rugs Have Stripes.
With hand woven rugs, the knots are tied (actually they are wrapped) around the foundation threads from side to side. Search google images for RUG...
How To Fold Big Rugs
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What Is Protector
What Is Protector?Protector is a coating that is applied to clean rugs and textiles. This coating helps prevent permanent staining and makes it...
Viscose Rugs – Artificial or Art Silk
Understanding Viscose RugsMany rugs marketed today as silk, are in fact artificial silk rugs made of viscose fibers. Rugs made of viscose or...
Understanding White Knots in Your Rugs
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Understanding Tufted Rugs
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Understanding Tea-Washed Rugs
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Understanding Abrash in Your Rugs
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Protect Your Rugs From Pet Urine Damage
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Protect Your Rugs From Moths and Bugs
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Never Let a Carpet Cleaner Clean Your Rugs
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Mistakes Rug Owners Make
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How Should You Vacuum Your Area Rugs?
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How Often Should I Clean My Wool Rugs?
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Do You Have Moths or Bugs Damaging Your Rugs?
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Do I Need A Rug Pad?
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