6 Mistakes To Avoid When Cleaning Silk/Wool Rugs

Wool and silk are some of the most delicate fabrics when it comes to cleaning. However, it can be easy and simple if the necessary procedures are followed. Extra care has to be taken in order to keep them in their perfect condition. Dry cleaning is one of the common methods used to clean such fabrics. However, dry cleaning the clothes can lead to a number of complications since there are certain chemicals used. It can cause air pollution or even smog. For this reason, most people often opt for wet washing. Wet washing your silk carpet and wool carpet at home can be complicated since these fabrics can shrink if not handled properly. However, following the right steps will see you succeed through the whole process. It is recommended that you hand wash fabrics such as wool and silk unless there is a label that says it should dry clean. If you would like your silk and wool fabrics to remain as good as new, then there are certain mistakes that you should avoid. Below are some of the mistakes that you should avoid to make your fabrics last longer.

1. Do not twist or wring silk or wool fabrics
Twisting or wringing will make the fibers contract and thus making the fabric to shrink. To avoid the fabric from shrinking, you should roll it in a towel to remove excess water. Rolling the fabrics will not make them shrink and will preserve their fiber. This will leave your rugs looking new always. The fabrics will also not have wrinkles as a result of twisting or wringing. The result is a carpet that looks clean and new with all its wonderful colors.

2. Do not scrub your silk carpet or wool carpet
If you scrub these two fabrics, then they will get warp lines. For this reason, you should minimize on the scrubbing. Instead of scrubbing, you should blot the area that has been soiled. Always use a paper towel to absorb the spills. Using colored fabrics will leave the rug with marks and you should make sure that you use white towels.

3. Do not clean the fabrics with hot water
In order to maintain the color in your silk carpet and wool carpet, you should never wash them in hot water. The heat from the water will make the rugs to lose their color. Fabrics made of silk and wool are usually sensitive when it comes cleaned in hot water. The hot water will rip the fabrics of their natural proteins. This will only make the material to break. It is recommended that you use luke warm water to clean your fabrics. This will help prevent further damage to the fabric. Your rugs will remain in the right shape that they were before you immersed them in water.

4. Do not wash the fabric with a PH 8 and above
Since silk is a protein fiber, it is not advisable that you use chlorine. The recommended PH that you should use is PH below 7. You can also use baby soap to clean your silk fabrics. This is because this kind of soap will not remove the natural oils in the fabric. If you wash your fabrics in a PH that is high, then you may bring harm to your wool or silk. You should make sure that you do not use washing soda or borax when cleaning. This is because they are strong and will damage your rug. Damaging your rug is the last thing that you want.

5. Do not dry clean the fabrics
You should never dry clean wool and silk fabrics. You can only dry clean them if there is a tag that requires you to dry clean. Dry cleaning will make the fabrics to shrink. It is advisable to hand wash these fabrics. In doing this, you will prevent a lot of damage that would have been caused by hard chemicals when dry cleaning. Hand washing will also enable you to see the stains that are still remaining. The two fabrics, wool and silk are very delicate and should be handled with a lot of care.

6. Do not hang these fabrics in the sun
In case you are drying your fabrics under the sun, they should not stay there for a long time. Leaving them for a longer period will only damage them. This will also make the colors to fade. You should wash your silk and wool fabrics on a day that is windy and sunny. This will help them dry quickly. This kind of weather will also prevent them from losing their color due to harsh heat from direct sunlight. You can also dry your rugs under a cool shade. The wetness will evaporate quickly allowing them to dry without losing their color.

Conclusion
If you would like your wool and silk rugs to last for a longer time, then you should handle them with a lot of care. The above mistakes should be avoided when cleaning silk carpet or wool carpet. Such mistakes will reduce the lifespan of your rugs. The good thing is that they can be avoided. Following the instructions closely will ensure that your carpets remain in good shape after cleaning. You will minimize the amount of damage that can be done to the rugs by handling them with care.

Taking good care of your silk or wool fabrics will make them last for centuries to come. This will give you value for your money in the long run. You should make sure that you put your rug in areas that have low traffic. If you avoid the above, then there is no doubt that you will maintain the shape of your carpets. You will see how simple it is to clean silk or wool fabrics. In case you do not have the time to clean your rugs at home, you should consider taking them to a professional to do the work. Trying to above mistakes will help you Take care of your fabrics and they will last you for long time.