Should I Steam Clean My HandMade Oriental Rug?

Can you steam clean a Persian rug (a term which colloquially encompasses all hand knotted rugs, often used interchangeably with Oriental rug)?  Steam cleaning may be an effective way to clean many kinds of wall to wall rugs or upholstery, but it is never a recommended way to clean a Persian rug.  This is because the steam cleaning may compromise the lanolin of the wool in the rug.  Lanolin is a natural oil found in wool that  helps it maintain its lustre, pliability, and if kept intact helps preserve the wool for decades.  Steam destroys the lanolin thereby cutting the life of the rug significantly.   The proper way to professionally clean a Persian rug is to brush the rug with shampoo and a controlled amount of water.  It is important to minimize the risk of color run.  Drying must be thorough so as not to risk losing the rug's original shape.  --


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