Caring for Rugs

All of our rug products are labelled with details on the composition of fibres, and care and cleaning instructions. We've put together a general guide below to help you care, clean and maintain your new rug. Please read these instructions carefully to best care for your new floor rug.

Sunlight

To ensure your new rug enjoys a good, long life, we recommend you avoid placing it in direct sunlight. In particular, dyed and printed rugs made from natural fibres do tend to fade in high UV areas, so avoid placing these types of rugs in areas exposed to prolonged periods of sunlight.




Spot Cleaning

As a rule, floor rugs cannot be washed, but spot cleaning with a damp cloth is often possible. Avoid spot cleaning (or clean with care) on delicate surfaces (such as metallic foiled surfaces, beaded areas or rugs made from vintage textiles).



Preventing & Cleaning Stains

Remove footwear before walking on your new rug. Take care if your rug is situated in an area of the home where food and beverages are consumed. Do not allow the stain to dry in. When treating stains, always work from the outside in, so you don't make the stain larger. Soak up liquids with a kitchen roll or towel. Carefully pick up any solids using a knife or spoon. Clean the area of the stain carefully, dabbing the area with a sponge soaked in warm water. If you choose to use a commercial stain remover, please check the ingredients are compatible with the fibre construction of your rug. Do not scrub hard. If desired, you can pat the cleaned area dry with a hand towel or apply a low level of heat using a hairdryer. If you cannot remove the stain yourself, you are advised to seek help from a professional cleaning company.



Rotating Your Rug

Rotate your rug by 180° every six months, this will decrease wear in heavily used places (for example, if your rug is situated under a couch, it will decrease the appearance of foot wear and tear in select places).



Colour Transfer & Wear

If wear and tear is a concern, ensure your new rug is placed away from high traffic areas. Take care to avoid colour transfer when cleaning hand dyed rugs or deeply coloured rugs. Always refer to the care instructions provided on the rug's care label. Avoid excess moisture or washing, and if needed consult a commercial cleaning specialist. Use a floor rug backing mat on lightly coloured floors to avoid any possible colour migration.



Pop-ups

Pop-ups happen when fibre ends or loops wriggle out and appear above the natural pile height of a floor rug. They can happen in any type of woven rug, whether it is wool, jute, or any other fibre type. Due to the nature and construction of handwoven floor rugs, pop-ups are not considered a fault, they are simply part of the general maintenance of the rug.

Watch our video below to see how pop-ups can be quickly and easily mended.

Indoor/Outdoor Rugs

These products are suitable for both indoor and outdoor use: they're anti-mould, water repellent and UV fade resistant. To ensure product longevity, it is recommended that all indoor and outdoor rugs are not left permanently exposed to the elements as colour may fade over time. We suggest bringing them indoors when they're not in use. Indoor and outdoor rugs can be cleaned with a good shake, washing with your garden hose, or with a damp cloth and warm soapy water.

Vacuuming

General

Be gentle when vacuuming your new rug. If too much force or pressure is applied during vacuuming it can cause the fibres on the rug surface to break, resulting in excess fluff or 'pilling'. If this of concern, try shaking your floor rugs regularly to remove dust and dirt in place of vacuuming. If you do choose to vacuum your new rug, vacuum in the direction the pile naturally lies in (this is called the 'pile direction').




Flat Weave & Traditional Rugs

Depending on how tightly your rug has been woven, your flat weave rug may have a heavy pile. thin pile, or no pile at all. If your flat weave rug has a heavy pile, determine the direction this lies in by brushing your hand along the rug. If you are brushing against the pile, you will feel resistance.




Textured Rugs

Shake your rug prior to vacuuming to dislodge any dirt or debris trapped within the surface of the rug. Be careful not to apply too much pressure when vacuuming your rug, particularly if your rug has a chunky yarn, cut pile or loop. Avoid excessive motion over the surface also as this may cause the rug to fluff or pill. It may be beneficial to remove your vacuum cleaner head and use the nozzle (or a delicate brush attachment) directly over the areas you wish to clean, using an up and down motion as opposed to side to side.



Tufted & Shag Rugs

Flip your rug over and begin by vacuuming the underside of the rug. This helps shake out and loose debris, which will fall onto the floor below the rug. Roll the rug back over, correct side facing upwards, and use a small brush attachment on your vacuum cleaner to carefully clean the surface. Too much suction and motion can cause damage to the shag surface, use an up and down motion as opposed to side to side. If you are unsure of this, test a small spot first.



Decorative & Adorned Finishes

If your rug has an adorned surface or decorative fringe, avoid vacuuming these areas to prevent damage.