Advice

How To Maintain Persian Rugs Caring for your rug means protecting more than just fabric — it means preserving art, culture, and history. A Living Work of Art Deserves Proper Care You probably think of your fitted carpets as just floor coverings — destined to be replaced eventually. But your Persian rug? That’s different. It’s a work of art. A cultural heirloom. Something you’d be proud to pass on. I feel the same way about mine. And it’s why I’ve written this guide — to help you keep your rug looking beautiful now and for generations to come. Whether your rug hails from Iran, the Caucasus, Turkey, or India, the tips below will help you protect its colours, fibres, and character for the long haul. 1. Protect Against Sunlight The Enemy You Don’t See Sunlight fades rugs — slowly, subtly, and unevenly. Left unchecked, it can strip your rug of its vibrancy. Natural dyes soften into a warm patina. Done evenly, this can add character. Synthetic dyes, however, fade fast — leaving dull patches and lifeless colours. What You Can Do: Rotate rugs regularly to ensure even fading. Avoid placing rugs in direct sun — or use UV-protective window film. Swap rugs between rooms throughout the year. Pull curtains or blinds in unused rooms. If you haven’t bought a rug yet, consider one dyed with natural vegetable or insect-based dyes. 2. Vacuum Like a Professional It’s Not Just About Clean Floors Vacuuming your rug removes abrasive grit that wears down the fibres as you walk across it. It’s the first — and most effective — line of defence. Tools Matter: Skip the trendy options. I use the SEBO BS36 — a commercial-grade upright vacuum with a beater bar. It’s powerful, reliable, and designed for wool pile. And no, I wouldn’t recommend a Dyson. Here’s How: Vacuum the rug’s top side in the direction of the pile. Flip it over and vacuum the back — this vibrates dry soil out of the foundation. Move the rug, sweep or vacuum the grit left behind. Repeat until the floor beneath the rug is clean. Gently vacuum fringes with a brush attachment. Take your time. Done properly, you’ll be amazed at how much hidden soil comes out. 3. Prevent Wear and Tear Walked-on Art Needs Protection Rugs wear unevenly when left in one place for too long. Combine foot traffic with ground-in soil, and you’ve got a recipe for threadbare patches. Simple Ways to Protect Your Rug: Rotate it often. Vacuum it regularly. Use rug underlay to cushion impact and prevent slipping. Choose the right underlay for your floor type. Cut underlay so the rug overhangs it by 1 inch all around. Replace it when it loses its grip or cushion. These small steps will extend your rug’s life and keep it looking richer for longer. 4. Deal with Spills the Right Way Panic Ruins Rugs. Preparation Saves Them. The most common mistake? Rubbing a spill with harsh chemicals like Vanish or Oxiclean. These are oxidisers — not stain removers — and they can bleach your rug permanently. Do this instead: Stay calm. Blot the spill gently with dry paper towels — don’t rub. Check for dye transfer. If there is, stop here and call us. If no dye comes up, blot with a damp white towel to dilute. Repeat the dry blotting. Still unsure? Call us — we’re happy to offer free advice. Pro tip: Rugs with our stain protection treatment are far easier to clean in a crisis. It’s one of the most affordable ways to safeguard your rug at home. 5. Avoid Mildew and Dry Rot Water and Wool Don’t Mix Nothing ruins a rug faster than being wet for too long. Mildew sets in quickly, and dry rot eats away at the foundation — usually cotton — until your rug needs costly repairs. Common Culprits: Potted plants left directly on rugs. Basement or garage storage without airflow. Major spills or flooding that go unnoticed. What to do: Keep rugs off damp floors and away from walls. Never put a plant directly on a rug. If rugs get soaked, dry them fast or call a professional. Planning to store your rug? Have it professionally cleaned and wrapped in breathable material like Tyvek® — never plastic. 6. Watch for Moths Small Bugs. Big Damage. The clothes moth is one of the greatest threats to natural fibre rugs. Left unchecked, they’ll eat away at wool and silk with devastating results. We’ve written a full guide on how to spot and prevent moth damage, including safe storage techniques and natural repellents. Read about moth treatment → Still Have Questions? You don’t need to be an expert to care for your rug. But a little knowledge goes a long way. If you’re unsure about anything — from cleaning methods to how to store a rug long-term — get in touch. We’re always happy to offer free, honest advice. Because great rug care starts with trusted information. All Posts Advice News Reviews Can You Wash a Persian Rug at Home? Read More A Tale of Two Rugs in Notting Hill Read More Viscose Rug Cleaning & Maintenance Tips Read More Newsletter Sign up to get the latest news and rug care tips Name Email Δ

Types of Natural Rug Dyes Explore the rich world of natural rug dyes and how they bring handmade rugs to life. From madder roots to insects and indigo leaves, natural dyes tell stories as vivid as the colours they create. A World of Colour, Sourced From Nature For centuries, artisans have dyed hand-knotted rugs using materials found in the natural world. While often referred to as vegetable dyes, the term is a bit misleading — many are made not just from plants but from insects too. Let’s take a closer look at the most commonly used natural dyes in traditional rug making, from vibrant reds to inky blues and earthy golds. Red Dyes Madder Extracted from the roots of the Rubia tinctorum plant, madder produces a spectrum of reds, from rich orange to deep rust. As a mordant dye, it bonds to wool after pre-treatment with solutions like alum or iron salts — affecting the final colour and tone. Madder is highly colourfast and was once so potent it could stain human bones, as discovered by 18th-century British surgeon John Belchier. It remains the most iconic of all natural rug dyes — immortalised in Brian Murphy’s book The Root of Wild Madder. Cochineal This striking crimson dye is made from the cochineal insect, a parasitic scale insect harvested from cactus plants in Mexico and South America. The dried bodies are ground to powder, releasing carminic acid. When dyed with different mordants and pH levels, cochineal can produce a range of purples and bluish-reds distinct from madder. Imported to Persia and Anatolia by the 16th century, cochineal became a prized pigment in rug weaving. Kermes Used since the Neolithic era, kermes dye is made from the Kermes vermilio insect, native to the Mediterranean. It yields a brilliant crimson, but its use declined by the 1600s when cochineal’s higher potency made it more economical. Lac Derived from the lac insect, which secretes resin onto tree bark in Southeast Asia, lac produces a cool red dye. The crude shellac is processed to extract the pigment, which was used for centuries on both wool and silk. Blue Dye Indigo The deep, celestial blues of many rugs come from Indigofera tinctoria, a plant with a dyeing legacy that spans cultures and millennia — from ancient Rome to Japan’s Edo period. Indigo is a vat dye — insoluble in water and requiring a fermentation and oxidation process. No mordant is needed. The yarns are dipped in a yellow-green dye bath, and as they oxidise, they turn deep blue. It’s an extraordinary transformation to witness. Indigo’s visual texture, known as abrash, and its excellent lightfastness make it a collector’s favourite. Yellow Dyes Natural yellow dyes are typically made from plants: Weld (Reseda luteola) produces a bright, intense yellow. Dyer’s mulberry (Maclura tinctoria) creates golds, khakis, and green-yellows. Other sources include wild chamomile, pomegranate rind, sumac leaves, and turmeric. Yellow shades often form the base for greens and salmons, when overdyed or faded in sunlight. Black Dyes Creating a strong, lasting black is difficult with natural dyes. Tribal weavers often used iron salts and oak galls. These create a dark hue but can degrade wool over time — explaining why antique rugs sometimes show visible corrosion in black areas. Alternative methods include overdying dark yarns with indigo to achieve a safer, longer-lasting black. Beyond Primary Colours Greens, purples, salmon pinks — these require true dye mastery. Many are achieved through layering dyes or sun fading. And while some formulas are shared openly, others remain closely guarded secrets, passed down through generations of rug dyers. Natural vs Synthetic Dyes While synthetic dyes dominate the modern rug market for cost and consistency, natural dyes continue to be preferred by collectors and connoisseurs for their depth, nuance, and ageing beauty. The irregularities in natural dyeing — the variations in tone, known as abrash — are part of what makes each hand-knotted rug truly one of a kind. See the Colours of Craftsmanship At The Persian Rug Cleaning Company, we respect the legacy of natural dyeing. We’ve spent decades studying how dyes behave during cleaning — from fugitive reds to bleeding blacks — and we adjust our approach for every rug to preserve its colour, contrast, and history. If you’re unsure about the dyes in your rug, or if you’ve noticed fading or bleeding, we’re here to help. Our experience with hand-knotted Persian, Oriental, and tribal rugs means we can safely test, wash, and protect even the most delicate natural dyes. All Posts Advice News Reviews Can You Wash a Persian Rug at Home? Read More A Tale of Two Rugs in Notting Hill Read More Viscose Rug Cleaning & Maintenance Tips Read More Newsletter Sign up to get the latest news and rug care tips Name Email Δ