A good, handmade rug is a high-quality piece of art and should be treated as such. On this page we offer some basic advice for the protection and care of your investment:

• The best way of keeping your rug clean at home is by vacuuming it. Be careful to vacuum gently and to avoid using the beater bar.

• Spills and stains are an inevitable part of any rug’s life. Although wool rugs are generally durable and can handle spills much better than synthetic rugs, you should clean spills immediately. Keep a bottle of plain soda water nearby. If you don’t have any plain soda water in the house, you can use clear cold water instead.

• If you spill wine, coffee, juice or dark sodas, immediately pour a small amount of the soda water on it. This will dilute the spill and help lift the stain out. Blot the stain lightly with a clean towel or paper towel. Avoid rubbing the area. Stains that have dried are more difficult to remedy, so acting quickly will go a long way. Without using too much water, continue rinsing and blotting until the stain is gone. If milk is spilled on the rug, it is probably a good idea to have it professionally cleaned, as the milk can sour and leave an unpleasant odour. On old, dry and stubborn stains, saturate, blot and brush. Repeat this operation as often as necessary to remove the stain completely.

• Pet stains - our beloved pets sometimes have “accidents”. Urine is particularly bad about staining, as it is acidic. If left untreated, urine will leave an odour that is very hard to remove. For urine stains, repeat the same procedure as above, and make sure to rinse thoroughly. We recommend that you contact a professional to have your rug thoroughly cleaned and sanitized to eliminate long-term odour and contamination.

• Do not steam clean or put your handmade rug in the washing machine. For cleaning, take your rug to a specialist, never to a regular dry cleaner. Never allow someone to steam clean your handmade rug(s). This can damage the wool, and cause the colours to bleed.

• Periodic professional cleanings are an important part of prolonging and maintaining the beauty of your rugs. Rug owners are often wowed when they see the results of a good professional rug cleaning. Depending on the amount of foot traffic, a professional rug cleaning is recommended every one to three years. A professional rug cleaning will enhance your carpets, bringing out the richness of colour and softness of the wool.

• When it comes to rug-making, wool is by far and away the best material. Wool rugs are the most durable and they become even more beautiful in the course of normal wear. Unlike other fibers, wool is much more resilient, cleans better, and stays clean longer.