Oriental rugs are precious and unique, adding beauty to your home. But they can be easily damaged during cleaning due to their intricate patterns and delicate colors. Using the wrong cleaning methods or stain removers can make the colors bleed and ruin the rug’s appearance and value. To keep your oriental rug beautiful and intact, give it special care during cleaning. With proper attention, you can clean it thoroughly without losing its stunning design and rich colors. Here’s what the professionals here at All Brite Chem-Dry have to say:
Why Rug Bleeding Occurs
There are various factors that can lead to color bleeding when cleaning oriental rugs. Some include:
- Natural dyes without colorfastness – Traditional oriental rugs often use natural fibers and pigments for dyeing. These dyes may lack colorfastness, or the ability to retain their original color. Dyes, especially water-soluble ones, can make rugs susceptible to bleeding during the cleaning process, especially with certain cleaning techniques like flooding.
- Damaging cleaning methods: Dry cleaning and steam cleaning are not suitable for oriental rugs and can leave harmful residues, causing dyes to bleed and damaging the rug.
- Excessive dye application: If too much dye is used during the rug coloring process, the excess dye may wash out during cleaning, contaminating the surrounding areas if not properly stabilized or protected.
- Exposure to alkaline substances or high heat during cleaning: Even if the dyes in the rug are colorfast and stabilized, they can still react and bleed when exposed to high heat or alkaline substances used in cleaning or stain removal, leading to potential fading as well.
- Pet accidents: Corrosive substances like pet urine can cause dyes to bleed if not promptly and appropriately removed before or during the cleaning process.
Preventing color bleeding and fading in your oriental rug is possible with some essential precautions. Our oriental rug cleaners offer these helpful tips to minimize these risks:
- Protect from direct sunlight: Shield your rug from direct sunlight exposure as UV rays can weaken the dye-to-fiber bonds, leading to fading. If your rug gets wet, opt for alternative drying methods instead of placing it under direct sunlight.
- Act quickly on accidents: clean up spills and accidents promptly to prevent staining and bleeding. Use white paper towels or cloths to absorb as much liquid as possible and then seek professional oriental rug cleaners for thorough stain removal. Avoid using store-bought stain removers, as they can bleach the rug or cause color bleeding and damage to delicate fibers.
- Regular professional cleaning: Schedule yearly rug cleaning appointments with our expert team to extend your rug’s lifespan and retain its vibrant color palette. We’ll carefully analyze your rug and use the best cleaning approach to preserve its integrity and prevent color bleeding.
If you’re looking for a team of rug cleaning experts in Indianapolis who will respect your rug and keep it in its best shape, give All Brite Chem-Dry a call at (317) 843-9400 today!