Oriental rugs are precious and one-of-a-kind items that enhance the character and beauty of your home. Yet, their intricate patterns and delicate colors make them vulnerable to damage when being cleaned. Using the wrong cleaning techniques or removing stains improperly can cause the colors of your rug to blend together, resulting in a ruined look and decreased value. To keep your oriental rug looking its best, it’s crucial to take precautions and give it the careful care it deserves during the cleaning process. By providing proper care, you can ensure that your rug is thoroughly cleaned while preserving its stunning design and vibrant colors.
Why Rug Bleeding Occurs
There are several factors that can cause color bleeding during the process of oriental rug cleaning. These include:
– Non-colorfast natural dyes: Oriental rugs made using traditional methods often utilize natural fibers and pigments, which may include dyes that are not colorfast. Water-soluble dyes, in particular, are prone to bleeding during cleaning, especially when certain techniques like flooding are used.
– Damaging cleaning methods: Dry cleaning and steam cleaning are not recommended for oriental rugs as they can leave behind residue that causes dyes to bleed and harm the rug.
– Alkaline substances or high heat exposure: Even if the rug’s dyes are colorfast or stabilized, they can still react and cause bleeding when exposed to high heat or alkaline substances commonly used in cleaning and stain removal processes. This exposure also poses a risk of fading.
– Pet accidents: Corrosive substances like pet urine can lead to dye bleeding if not promptly and properly removed, either before or during the cleaning process.
Color bleeding and fading of your area rug can be avoided if you take the necessary precautions. Here are some tips from our oriental rug cleaners to minimize the risk of color bleeding and fading:
– Keep your rug out of direct sunlight. UV rays can disintegrate the bonds that hold dyes to the fibers in your rug, causing fading. Avoid placing your rug in direct sunlight and use other methods to dry it if it becomes wet.
– Clean up accidents right away. To prevent staining and bleeding, absorb as much liquid as possible with white paper towels or a white cloth. Then call a professional oriental rug cleaner to carefully remove the rest of the stain. Avoid using store-bought stain removers, as they may bleach your rug, cause color bleeding, or damage the delicate fibers.
– Schedule regular rug cleaning appointments. To extend the lifespan of your rug and maintain its rich color palette, schedule a yearly cleaning with our professional team. We’ll do an analysis of your rug to determine the best cleaning approach that preserves its integrity and avoid color bleeding.
If you’re looking for a team of rug cleaning experts in Mount Pleasant who will respect your rug and keep it in its best shape, give Chem-Dry of Charleston a call at (843) 766-0052 today!