Care and Maintenance of Your Hand-Knotted Rug

Much care went into the creation of your one-of-a-kind hand-knotted rug. Made of 100% New Zealand wool, these rugs are naturally dyed and take hours of meticulous craftsmanship to construct. To maintain its beautiful quality, follow these general care and maintenance instructions.  

Spot Cleaning

Check the color fastness of your rug before cleaning. You can do so by using a white, damp handkerchief to blot an area of the rug. If any dye transfers onto the handkerchief, the dyes will run during cleaning. 

When a spill occurs, clean it up immediately to prevent it from setting. Use a clean, white cloth to blot the spill. Never rub a spill, this will force the liquid deeper into the rug. 

FOR WOOL RUGS:

Use lukewarm water and Woolite to remove the stain residue. Apply more as needed.

OTHER NATURAL FIBERS:

For natural fiber rugs other than wool, such as sisal and jute, use lukewarm water with a gentle all-purpose cleaner.

Sprouting

A "sprout" in your rug is when excess yarn works its way up to the surface of the rug. Sprouting occurs during the initial use of the rug and is a completely normal occurrence. Do not be alarmed if you see sprouts, it does not affect the durability of your rug. 

Simply clip sprouts off from their base, along the surface of the rug, with a pair of scissors. Never pull at a sprout, you do not want to pull the yarn out. 

Vacuuming

Vacuuming is essential to the general care of your rug and is the best way to remove everyday dust and dirt. 

To not damage the knotting of your rug, turn off the beater brush or remove entirely, and use the gentle setting or "floor" setting. Use the hand attachment when vacuuming the serging and fringe. Always vacuum along the same direction of the grain.

Rug Pads

Rug pads help to maintain your rug's original and intended appearance by cushioning the impact of traffic. They provide extra cushioning under your feet, reduce pile crushing from furniture, and protect against abrasion on all floor types.

CUSHIONAIRE

This rug pad is ideal for the high traffic areas of your home where you want to keep the profile of the rug low and prevent it from moving. This includes your dining room, kitchen, foyer, and hallways. 

SUPER MOVE NOT

This rug pad is dual-sided and thick, making it best suited for the spaces in your home where you want to have extra padding under your feet. We recommend this pad for your living room, bedroom, and family room. 

Care & Fair

Did You Know? We are a member of Care & Fair, an industry initiative to abolish illegal child labor and support the education and health care of hand-knotting rug families. Your purchase of a hand-knotted rug from Saybrook Home helps to support the Care & Fair mission.