Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Is Rug Washing Bad for a Rug

There is Rug Washing and then there is Rug Washing
Or Is Rug Washing Bad for a Rug
It is not unusual to hear some Oriental Rug dealers advise against washing a rug because “Rug Washing is bad for a Rug”. They will often say that rug Washing will shorten the life of a rug.
Obviously anyone who really understands Oriental Rugs knows that this advice is ludicrous. How can any intelligent person give such bad advice? Well if you understand where the idea comes from it is much easier to understand the mistake. 
Take a look at one of the popular old time books that talks about the dangers of rug washing:
From Home furnishing By George Leland Hunter
 Unfortunately, the price of small antiques is exceedingly high, while that of large antiques is prohibitive. This is the cause of the attempt to finish modern rugs in antique tones.
The first washing done in Constantinople was of the roughest kind. The rug was plastered with a mixture of mud, lime, and Sulfuric acid and then rolled up until the mordants did their work.
The desired effect was quickly gained and for a time some buyers were delighted at the number of large antiques on the market. But before long it was discovered that the process left to the rug only a few months of life, and many dealers had the doubtful pleasure of redeeming spoiled rugs.
This put a quietus on rug washing temporarily and would probably have ended it forever if the American demand had not continued insistent. American buyers came to Constantinople with instructions to purchase antiques at any cost, and, if necessary, to go into the interior—where most of them are about as helpless as a South Sea Islander on the Bowery—and this not through any fault of their own, but because the Oriental has ways of doing business that are distinctly un-American.
What part these American buyers took in putting rug washing on a proper basis is difficult to say. Several of those most actively concerned never mention washed rugs except in a whisper, while others say that they have merely followed the example of the pioneers.
Home furnishing: facts and figures about furniture, carpets and rugs, lamps and lighting fixtures, wall papers, window shades and draperies, tapestries, etc
By George Leland Hunter, John Lane Company, 1913
What we can see is that when the old timers spoke about Rug Washing they were really speaking about chemically antiquing oriental rugs with “mud, lime, and sulphuric acid”. Obviously this would seriously weaken a rug but today they repeat this old advice without understanding what the real issues are. A professional rug washer carefully tests a rug before applying special detergents that in no way harm a rug. In fact quite the opposite a proper cleaning can drastically increase the life, beauty, and utility of a fine hand-woven Oriental Rug. So the next time you hear some well meaning person say that rug washing is bad for a rug just realize that while they mean well they just don’t know what they are talking about.
Barry O’Connell

Monday, November 21, 2011

Professional Rug Cleaners for New York, New Jersey, Connecticut

Professional Rug Cleaners for New York, New Jersey, Connecticut

 Professional Rug Cleaners, Professional Rug Cleaning
Preserve Your Investment
Contact Our Experts 1-877-784-3463

Cleaning Antique Oriental RugsMuseums, interior designers and private rug collectors trust the professional rug cleaners at Nazmiyal to handle regular cleanings, intensive stain removal procedures and all their antique rug care needs. Our team of rug cleaning experts has spent years developing techniques to clean and restore irreplaceable rugs and investment pieces. For the past 30 years Nazmiyal has been one of the best and most trusted professional carpet cleaning companies in New York City with a team specializing in antique rug care, vintage rug cleaning and semi-antique pieces. At Nazmiyal’s specially designed rug cleaning facilities, our expert conservators carefully evaluate each rug to determine the ideal cleaning method. Factors that affect how your rug will be cleaned include its size, geographic origin, construction techniques, fiber content, age and dyes. Once these parameters have been established, the professional rug cleaning process begins with dry dusting to physically remove dirt from deep within the rug’s structure.
Depending on the fiber content and dye types, old rug cleaning procedures include a full immersion in an aqueous cleansing solution or an application of specially formulated dry cleaning solvents that gently remove dirt from the surface of the fiber without causing dye bleed, fading and other vintage rug cleaning problems. Our professional rug cleaners are well versed in antique rug care methods with techniques and cleaning formulas to handle vegetable dyes, synthetic colors and sensitive fibers, so darks remain dark and light colors remain pure and unaffected by color bleed and washout.
Our professional rug cleaners handle each rug with care while adding experience, knowledge and attention to detail to produce the best possible results for each client. Prices for this professional antique rug cleaning service start at $3.50 per square foot. Convenient pickup and drop off service is available to many customers in New York City and the surrounding areas. If you live outside the NY, NJ, CT area, contact us about sending in your carpets for a professional rug cleaning.
Contact Our Experts 1-877-784-3463 / Or Simply Email Us