The Basics

1. Placing your rug on a quality underlay will keep it in place and add an additional layer of depth.
2. Popping a few protective cups under furniture legs will help stop permanent indentations.
3. Regularly changing the position of any furniture that sits on your rug will protect the carpet fibres from being crushed.
4. Rotate your rug 180 degrees every 6-12 months so that it wears evenly.
5. Avoid storing rugs in plastic for long periods of time, it could cause condensation leading to mold and running colours especially on wool rugs.
6. Plants placed on rugs can create water damage, leading to mold - better to place them on hard floors out of the way.
7. It’s best to give your rug a professional clean every 2-4 years to keep your rug thriving for as long as possible.

If you have a bit of an ‘oops’ moment with a spillage on your rug try not to panic and start rubbing the stain, it'll just make it worse. Similarly, avoid the temptation of making it tomorrow’s problem as that won’t help either. Instead, follow these easy-to-follow steps to prevent the stain spreading and manifesting.

1. Remove any solid matter then use a clean white cloth or paper towel to carefully soak up any excess liquid – blot, don’t rub.
2. Next, using the appropriate carpet cleaner (see stain removal section below) and a fresh clean cloth. Work from the outside of the stain inwards, taking care not to over-wet the rug.
3. Pat off any excess moisture with a paper towel and allow to air dry.
4. Where Possible, create a sandwich using two clean towels on top and underneath the rug and cover it with a weight or a really heavy book. No judgment if you haven't actually read the book.
5. Use a hairdryer on a cool setting and circulate the air around the area gently and then leave the front and back of the rug exposed for at least 24 hours before laying it back down.

If you're repeating this process but finding that the stain simply won't budge, you'll need to contact a professional rug cleaner to get some further advice.

Otherwise - voila, a stain-free rug!

Avoid using household bleach as this can cause permanent damage to a rug by dissolving the fibres all together. Even some ‘wool safe’ carpet cleaners can cause colours to bleed and discolour so make sure to test them on a small area before committing to the entire stain.

Washing-up liquid can also cause severe damage to dyes so try and avoid using it - if you already have, make sure that it’s completely washed out with water before leaving the rug to dry.

Here’s some guidance in what to do with different types of stains, you can use soda water or surgical spirit (see specifications below) to get these out by applying the solution and then blotting until no more of the stain transfers onto the towel. You can use these solutions using the same step-by-step process as above.

Loose Threads

During the rug manufacturing process, occasional loose threads or fluffing can sometimes occur due to its hand-made nature, rest assured this isn’t a sign of damage to your rug and is easily solved.

For loose threads simply snip the thread to the desired height with a pair of scissors. Don’t pull it with force as this could damage the density of the rug, you can just snip the thread so it's the same height as the surrounding yarns.

Fluff

Don’t be alarmed if you spot fluff or pilling on the surface of your rug; this is a natural result of yarn compression during the making of your rug. Vacuum regularly to remove it, and the problem should settle over time.

Pets

If you share your home with a dog or a cat, we’d recommend you purchase an all-wool rug rather than one of our mixed-fiber designs. That’s because wool, as a purely organic material, contains natural oils that prevent the absorption of odours.

Pests

Unwelcome guests such as moths on the other hand are attracted to natural fibers. It’s vital to discourage moths by vacuuming your space often, concentrating on dark crevices and skirting boards where they are likely to lurk. Moths hate being disturbed so lifting and turning your rug on a regular basis will help deter them.