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How Do I Clean Luxurious Carpets?

The best way to keep and rug clean and long lasting is to keep it from getting dirty. Removing your shoes when you enter the house is an easy way to add years to the life of your rug and to decrease the expense of professional cleanings. But that's not always practical. To retain the beauty of your rug, remember to:

• Vacuum regularly
• Remove spills immediately
• Rotate your rug every year to ensure that it wears evenly
• Professionally clean by a company that specializes in hand-knotted carpets
• To determine if your carpet is in need of cleaning, try one or all of these methods:
• While lifting a corner of the rug, kick the back of the rug briskly. If a cloud of dust flies out of the pile, the rug is dirty and in need of cleaning.
• If your hand becomes dirty after rubbing the pile vigorously for 5-10 seconds, the rug needs cleaning.
• With the pile facing you, fold the rug back on itself so that the pile opens along a line of knots. Look down into the pile at the foundation of the rug. If the warp and weft look dirty, or you can see dirt deep down into the rug where the vacuum can’t reach it, the rug needs cleaning.

To remove stains and add to the life and beauty of your carpet, use the following instructions in order. Removal of stains is easiest if attended to immediately.

• Apply cleaning materials directly to the stain. Allow to stand for 10 seconds (always test for color fastness on an inconspicuous spot).
• Do not wipe the stain. Always blot gently with a clean, white absorbent cloth.
• Remove excess soil promptly by blotting or scraping with a dull edge first.
• Avoid getting the carpet too wet.
• When dry, gently brush to restore pile.
• Some stains are difficult to remove and you may need to repeat the process several times.
• Some stains are permanent and must be removed with the help of a professional carpet cleaner.

INK: You can remove ink by applying hair spray to the affected area. After it is dry, clean it up with a solution of vinegar and water.
WAX: Cover the spot with a brown paper bag. Put an iron, set to minimum, over the top of the bag. Allow the wax to be absorbed into the bag. Repeat as necessary.
CHEWING GUM: Press ice cubes into the affected area. Allow the gum to harden and when it is brittle, break it off. Use a mild detergent to remove whatever is left of the spot.
GLUE: Remove glue with a cloth that has been soaked in white vinegar or alcohol.
RED WINE: The best hope is to immediately put white wine directly on the area. Blot gently with an absorbent clean, white cloth. Repeat until the white cloth comes away clean.
TEA/COFFEE: Mix one teaspoon of a neutral detergent (must not contain bleach or alkalis) with 1 cup luke warm water. Blot with clean white cloth dampened with this solution. Mix one third cup of white vinegar with two thirds cup of water. Blot. Blot again using a sponge with clean water.

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