apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

As long as it's wool, rather than silk, you should be able to wash it with cold water and something like Woolite. Just use the foam, don't soak the whole rug in water. This has worked well for me - but obviously, spot check first and send it to a pro if it's a valuable antique. See jaconsenrugs.com/clean.htm for more detail.

Anyone have a recommendation as to where or how to clean a lamb skin rug? It's starting to lose it's fuzziness and look a bit knappy.

If your oriental is really dirty and you value it and want it cleaned professionally, I highly recommend Restoration by Costikyan. My 4x6 Bukhara cost $125 to clean a little over a year ago, and that included pick up and delivery. If they ask you if you want to pay an extra $50 to have the fringes specially cleaned, tell them no (and they'll come out clean anyway).

Does anyone know the corect height of which pictures should be hung??

If your Oriental is a"good" rugl I wouldn't advise anything but professional cleaning. NOT dry cleaning. Fine carpets should be washed in pure water w/out a trace of chlorine. This would also be a good time to have them do repairs and perhaps add new fringe.

Is this Oriental rug an important antique or is it a mass-produced Oriental like those made by Karastan or Couristan? If it's mass-produced wool, the 409 rug cleaner in the aerosol cans works brilliantly. Follow the instructions for deep cleaning: spray it on one quadrant at a time, scrub with a sponge, let sit for 15 minutes, vacuum up. I tried this method because our apartment provides no space for beating or washing a rug. The el cheapo $200 rug now looks vastly improved, and the "good" Couristan is also brighter and cheerier.

Professional rug cleaning is better, but I wouldn't pay it for my $200 cheapie.

I had my rug cleaned by Renotex, and they did a good job. You can have them pick it up and drop it off. Or, if it is a smaller rug, you can pick up/drop off yourself to save some money.

Depending on the size, it can cost as little as $60.

Renotex Corporation
229 Tenth Avenue @ 23rd Street
New York, NY 10011-4717

1.800.705.7890

NY: 212.255.4600

Don't EVER beat an oriental rug. Beating a rug loosens the fibers and will undo the individual knots that make up the pile. I can't believe I saw that advice offered by this sophisticated home decorating site.

Here's how to clean a rug beautifully and safely for free. Wait for a very cold night after a new-fallen, dry powder snow. Take the rug out and lay it, face side down, on the snow. Wait several minutes for the rug to cool (so it won't melt the snow) and tap it firmly all over with the bristles of a clean ordinary broom. This releases a certain amount of dust and dirt into the snow below. Take the broom and sweep up the powdery snow onto the rug; then sweep it off again. Move the rug to a fresh spot, turn it over, and repeat. When you have swept off every bit of the dry snow, roll the rug up (sweeping off the snow from the back as you go), and take it indoors. Your rug will be nice and clean from this natural "dry cleaning" with snow, without risk of the natural dyes bleeding. Not only that, any rug-eating beasties, such as carpet beetles or clothing moth larvae, will be thoroughly "deceased" as a result of the freezing temperatures. (C) 2005 B Kane

Majestic Rug Cleaning Co Inc
644 Whittier Street, Bronx, NY 10474
(718) 542-7474
(718) 328-4434 (fax)
http://www.majesticrugcleaning.com

This company is well priced (prices are lower if you bring the rugs to them) and do a great job. Most rug cleaning companies bring rugs to them. They do repairs as well. It is in the Hunts Point Section of the Bronx

hi...this is an antique oriental that has been in a variety of my nyc apartments over the last 12 years or so. it's handwoven. the fringes look like they are in good quality - it's just the rug itself that's dirty and my vacuum cleaner doesn't get it clean.

thank you all for the good tips on professional cleaning. I sent an e-mail off to restoration to ask about rates.

Phil-

If your lambskin is small (just one skin or two skins sewn together) you CAN actually machine wash it! Use cold water and the delicate cycle or alternatively, hand wash it in the bathtub. Use a sheepskin soap specifically made for this --it makes all the difference in bringing out the softness and sheen.

Let it airdry, give it a few good stretches back into shape, and most important, brush it with a stiff wire brush (I use a dog brush designated for this duty) once or twice while damp and once again vigorously when dry. It should look like new.

Google 'sheep skin care' and you'll find lots of resources for the soap and brushes. My sheepskin (used and abused by the dog!) keeps coming back like new every time.
good luck,
ModKatie

Mek-

The correct height for hanging pictures was addressed in a previous "Good Question." See

http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/ny/032505/good-questions/good-questions-what-level-to-hang-pictures-002397

renotex overprice and hardly do good work .... use majestic cleaning instead..there cheaper and prompt in service...

I used a few different companies to get my rugs cleaned. I think "WEREN" is the most professional and inexpensive so far i came accriss. They handwash all carpets like old world style and carpets came back like new. I had stains and very dirty fringes on my rug and they did an excellent job. They moved our furniture put a padding down and they didnt charge for pick up and delivery.
I highly recommend them, me and my all family use "WEREN" for the last two years. They serve All parts of NJ and some parts of NY.

Phone:201 887 0423

Hi,
I bought a 4 x 6 lambskin rug (burgundy) a few years ago. I loved it and still do - but over time, it has lost its "softness" (it's wasn't the rough kind but the very very soft kind that I would just fall asleep on....I actually don't like wool.

I have not washed it since I guess because I don't know how. As for stains, I'm sure it's dirty, but it's hard to see because of its dark hue, but I'd like to get back some of it's softness and thoroughl clean it, by professionals, if possible.

I live in San Francisco
Trudi

Hey (For those in NYC and boroughs),

This may be a bit late for the poster, but for all those who found this through google, here is what I have found very useful.

http://www.flokati.com/area-rugs-101/rug-cleaning-tips.php

This site has some pretty useful information for minor cleaning, however with some of the more valuable rugs I have, I rather pay a professional as if I damage it, the cost to repair is far more than cleaning. For the price of a rug cleaner in NY, that is insured and bonded, with coupons and seasonal specials, you will be saving yourself much headache; do not settle for less than free pickup and delivery.

The best cleaner i have found in NY is
ABC Rug and Carpet Care
http://www.abcrugandcarpetcare.com
212 938 0277



Ask for Avi, he is a great guy and very easy to deal with.

I only trust my rugs with him after dealing with other rug companies in NY, all of which I must say have never disappointed me on the cleaning, but the service and friendliness of staff left much to be desired.

I cant speak for all here, but many of us care about those who come into our home, even just to pick up some rugs.

Take care guys, hope this helps.

Richard Singh