Below are some basic carpet care tips to help you maintain the beauty and charm of your carpet. Generally carpets have a lifespan of around 75 years, however with proper care and maintenance this period can be prolonged to much longer.
Other factors that determine the lifespan include the amount of traffic and the durability of the pile. The chart below shows the classifications of the age of a carpet.
Below 45 years -
New
45 to 55 years -
Old
55 to 75 years -
Semi-antique
75 and above
- Antique
From this chart it is quite that the lifespan of carpets on the average is quite long.
SUNNING
Direct sunlight to the carpet for long periods of time is bad and will fade the carpet in the long run. However, it is good practice to sun your carpet every six to eight months. To do this, just face the carpet flat on the ground with the pile (top) facing the sun for about half an hour and then turn it on it's back for the same period of time. This process softens the carpet and also removes humidity from the carpet thus adding years to your acquisition.
WASHING
Washing of any handknotted carpet should always be done by professional handknotted carpet dealers. Under no circumstances should the carpets be dry-cleaned or machine washed. For Malaysian weather, which can be quite humid, we recommend that the carpets be washed every 30 months. Should you move to another country, washing should be according to weather of the new location, about 24 months if the place is more humid or about 4 years if the humidity level is less.
SPILLAGE
Most stains are difficult to remove once they have set in overnight. For this reason, it is best to take immediate action as soon as spillage occurs. However, if the situation does not permit, just drop a piece of absorbent dry cloth on the area. Otherwise please follow the steps below :
1] Let a dry absorbent cloth suck up all the water.
2] Use a cup or a glass to scoop up the water from inside the pile (remember to follow the direction of the pile).
3] With another dry cloth vigorously rub the area of the spillage.
4] Now, after washing and wringing the cloth, use the damp cloth to rub the pile of the carpet in the same direction as the rest of the carpet.
5] Set the carpet in the sun to dry as for about half an hour to forty-five minutes. If there Is no sunshine, place the carpet flat in a room with a fast fan overnight or until the sunshine comes out, which ever is sooner.
TRANSPORTING
If at all you transport your carpets by sea, it would be best to follow these instructions.
1] Have "mothballs" or Naphthalene balls crushed and sprinkled all over the carpets.
2] Roll or fold (if folded please assure that there is not excessive weight on top of the pieces more so if they are silk pieces) the carpets and have them wrapped in a plastic sheet before transporting.
Upon opening the bundles you might get the smell of the mothballs from your carpets, however this smell will eventually go off with use. This procedure is also useful if you plan on storing your carpets for a period of Three months or longer.
REPAIRING
As handmade carpets are long lasting products they may
require some repairing which may be caused by the passage of time. Almost
any damage is repairable but the fineness of work depends on the experience
of the repairman.