Moroccan Rugs, The Care Guide For Your Authentic Wool Carpet

Moroccan rugs are made to be super resistant and last a lifetime. However, if you are worried about harming your beautiful rug during the cleaning process, then please refer to a professional to have your rug cleaned.  

“Authentic Moroccan” provides you with these helpful guidelines to care for your adorable rugs. However, because each piece is unique in terms of materials, colours, and age, we recommend that you establish the delicacy or suitability of washing your rugs, Kilim cushions, or Handira's items (Moroccan Wedding Blankets, or cushions) in line with the following at your own discretion.

Otherwise, here are some helpful hints to care for your rugs at home:  

All "Authentic Moroccan" rugs are washed before leaving Morocco.

Nevertheless, you may find some loose fibres due to the recent washing which will only occur for a short period of time. Even though they are thoroughly cleaned, some rugs will still retain some fine grains of desert sand as some are placed directly on the floor in more remote areas of the Atlas Mountains (sand loves to get in everywhere). However, this will also reduce after a few household vacuums.

Wool is a resilient material and is pretty resistant to wear and dirt which makes it perfect for rugs! These rugs are pretty resilient and robust and have lived a lifetime before even reaching us. Besides, all “Authentic Moroccan” Vintage rugs are carefully selected pieces; some may be more delicate than others, and care should be taken when caring for your piece to ensure its longevity and value.

With that in mind, here are some tips for caring for your Berber rugs so they endure a long time:

• Vacuum frequently to free your rug from any dust or loose debris. You should vacuum across ways (across the width) instead of length ways (up and down the longest length) as this helps to work with the weave.
• Shake outside of the house every now and then to get rid of any dust or mites that prefer to get inside and hide in dark corners. When doing this, if possible and if it's in a safe location, we recommend letting your rug out in the sun for a few hours to help prevent mites from trying to set up a home in it (as with any natural textile product).
• Rubber matting (sometimes called rug non-slip underlay) can help preserve the weave and make it non-slip on thinner or older pieces. To guarantee that the rug and the floor beneath it are not damaged, we recommend using a high-quality underlay. 
• For any spills, use a damp clean cloth with tepid water (make sure the cloth isn’t coloured as this could transfer to your rug). A clean white tea towel is great! 
• We clean all of our rugs at home once in a while for a nice freshen up. This is not a regular thing and doesn’t need to be done often, or even annually. You should be able to find a rug cleaner close to your area. 
• In Morocco they often rotate their rugs a few times a year to ensure even wear. Our homes and spaces tend to have a lot less foot traffic but it's worth considering doing this if your rug will be in a heavily used space or used a lot more on one side or in one area in particular.
• Please, if you're storing your rug for an extended period of time, make sure it's well sealed and consider using a moth repellent. Moths and mites LOVE dark spaces and if there is a way to get in, they will typically find it. Wool is a natural product that requires air to breathe. Even if your item is in storage, we recommend that you try to air it out on a regular basis.