Whether you have a Persian Tabriz with traditional Mahi field patterns and colors or a shag wool rug handmade in the mountains of Greece, a rug adds artistic value to a room’s design. It’s artwork for bare floors and also provides comfort and warmth over, for example, wood flooring or a concrete tile floor. A rug can also be one of the most expensive items to purchase for the home.So if you have one of these puppies, you probably want it to last for generations. This is quite literally possible; some families have handed down lovely oriental rugs for hundreds of years. This means that it is possible to care for a rug for it to survive through several lifetimes. The challenge is proper care, cleaning and maintenance to retain its original value, look and luster. And while it doesn’t take a superhero to keep a rug in tiptop shape, there are some things worth remembering.

• 1. Spill, spots and sunlightNo matter how careful you are, spills and spots in the home are, to some extent, inevitable. This is especially true if you have kids or pets. When you have an oriental rug, the best practice is to clean spills and spots promptly by blotting the affected area and using cool water. Do not wipe or rub the rug; this may stain and fray the yarns. Equally important: Keep your rug out of direct sunlight. This can cause some rugs to fade.
• 2. Regular cleaningTo keep your rug clean and hygienic, regular vacuuming is a necessity. Vacuum both sides of your rug regularly, rotating it every 6 months to avoid uneven wear from foot traffic and furniture weight. To help preserve the life of your rug, you can also consider investing in rug pads; Rug pads protect rugs from everyday wear by providing a supportive foundation, which keeps it in place and avoids the transfer of vegetable dyes on handmade rugs
• 3. Professional rug cleaningAnd finally, oriental rug experts agree: every 3 to 5 years, you should have your rug professionally cleaned. Of course you can wash your own rug but professionals with sophisticated equipment, training and experience will do a better job, especially when it comes to dealing with color-run, if and when it happens.