Rug Care Instructions

How to Care for Your Hand-Tufted & Hand-Knotted Wool Rug

A handmade rug is more than a floor covering—it is a piece of craftsmanship designed to become part of your home for years to come.

At Carpitzi, our hand-tufted and hand-knotted rugs are crafted using traditional rug-making techniques in Bhadohi, India, where generations of artisans have developed exceptional expertise in working with natural wool and fine yarns.

Proper care helps preserve the rug's texture, color, pile and craftsmanship while extending its life.

Whether you own a modern hand-tufted wool rug, a traditional hand-knotted rug, an Oushak-inspired design, a botanical rug, a geometric rug or another handmade wool style, the following guidelines will help you keep it looking beautiful.

01 — Unpacking Your Rug

Your rug may arrive rolled and securely packaged for international transportation. After delivery:

• Unpack your rug as soon as reasonably possible.
• Lay it completely flat in a clean, dry area.
• Allow the rug to breathe naturally.
• Open windows or provide gentle ventilation if needed.
• Temporary wrinkles or rolling marks are normal after transportation and generally relax with time.
• Avoid folding the rug immediately after unpacking.

For stubborn temporary creases, gently rolling the rug in the opposite direction can help relax the fibers. Never forcefully bend or fold a handmade rug.

02 — Regular Vacuuming

Regular vacuuming is one of the most important parts of handmade rug care. Dust, dirt and small particles can work their way into the pile. Removing them regularly helps reduce abrasion and keeps the surface fresh.

For hand-tufted and hand-knotted wool rugs:

• Vacuum gently and regularly.
• Use a low-suction setting whenever possible.
• Use a flat or suction-only vacuum attachment.
• Vacuum in the direction of the pile where practical.
• Avoid excessive back-and-forth passes over the same area.
• Pay additional attention to high-traffic areas.

Avoid:

• Rotating brush heads
• Beater bars
• Aggressive motorized brushes
• Excessive suction
• Repeatedly dragging a vacuum across delicate edges or fringes

A vacuum attachment that pulls or catches the yarn can damage the surface over time.

For rugs with fringe: Avoid running a rotating vacuum brush over the fringe. Use a gentle handheld or upholstery attachment instead.

03 — Use a Rug Pad

A quality rug pad is highly recommended underneath your handmade rug.

A rug pad can:

• Help keep the rug securely in place.
• Reduce slipping and movement.
• Protect your flooring.
• Add cushioning underfoot.
• Reduce friction between the rug and floor.
• Help protect the rug from premature wear.

Choose a rug pad appropriate for your floor type and rug size. For larger rugs, make sure the pad provides adequate support without extending visibly beyond the rug.

04 — Spills: Act Quickly

The best time to treat a spill is immediately. Do not wait for the liquid to dry or penetrate deeper into the fibers.

For liquid spills:

1. Blot the affected area immediately with a clean, dry, absorbent cloth or paper towel.
2. Work from the outside of the spill toward the center.
3. Continue blotting until most of the liquid has been absorbed.
4. If necessary, lightly dab the area with a clean, undyed cloth and a small amount of mild detergent diluted with lukewarm water.
5. Avoid soaking the rug.
6. Allow the area to dry completely.

05 — Removing Dry Spills

If a spill has dried on the surface:

• Allow the area to remain completely dry.
• Gently loosen the dried material using a blunt edge, such as a spoon.
• Work carefully from the outside toward the center.
• Vacuum the loosened residue gently.
• Avoid scraping aggressively.

Never use a sharp object that could cut or pull the wool fibers.

06 — What Not to Use

Handmade wool rugs should never be treated with aggressive household chemicals.

Avoid:

• Bleach
• Strong stain removers
• Harsh alkaline cleaners
• Abrasive cleaning products
• Strong solvents
• Excessive amounts of water
• Household carpet-cleaning chemicals unless specifically recommended by a qualified rug professional
• Steam cleaning without professional assessment

Harsh chemicals can discolor natural fibers and may affect the structure of the rug. If you are unsure how to treat a particular stain, professional rug cleaning is the safest option.

07 — Shedding Is Normal

New wool rugs may shed loose fibers during the first period of use. This is particularly normal with handmade rugs because natural wool fibers are cut, trimmed and finished during production.

You may notice loose wool fibers on the surface or inside your vacuum during the first few weeks.

What should you do?

Simply continue with gentle, regular vacuuming. Do not pull individual fibers from the rug by hand. Shedding generally decreases as the rug settles and is used.

08 — Sprouting & Loose Fibers

Occasionally, an individual wool fiber or tuft may appear slightly higher than the surrounding pile. This is commonly called sprouting.

If you notice a sprout:

Simply trim the protruding fiber carefully with sharp scissors so that it is level with the surrounding pile. Never pull the fiber.

Pulling can disturb the surrounding yarn and may create a larger problem.

A small amount of sprouting can occur naturally in handmade rugs and does not necessarily indicate a manufacturing defect.

09 — Protect Your Rug From Direct Sunlight

Natural wool and dyes can be affected by prolonged exposure to strong direct sunlight.

To help preserve the original colors:

• Avoid placing your rug in continuous, intense direct sunlight whenever possible.
• Use curtains, blinds or UV-filtering window treatments in very bright rooms.
• Rotate the rug periodically.
• Distribute sunlight and everyday foot traffic evenly across the surface.

Slight color changes caused by natural light over many years can occur with genuine handmade textiles.

10 — Rotate Your Rug

Regular rotation helps distribute everyday wear more evenly.

For rooms with regular foot traffic, consider rotating your rug approximately every 3–6 months, depending on usage.

Rotation can help reduce:

• Uneven pile wear
• Concentrated foot traffic
• Uneven exposure to sunlight
• Furniture pressure patterns

When rotating a large rug, avoid dragging it aggressively across the floor. Ask another person for assistance when necessary.

11 — Furniture & Pressure Marks

Heavy furniture can compress the pile of a handmade rug. Over time, furniture legs may create visible pressure marks.

To reduce permanent compression:

• Use appropriate furniture protectors where practical.
• Avoid dragging heavy furniture directly across the rug.
• Lift furniture instead of pulling it.
• Periodically reposition furniture where your room layout allows.

Some temporary pile compression is normal and may improve naturally as the wool fibers recover.

12 — Hand-Tufted Rug Care

Hand-tufted rugs require particular attention because their construction includes a backing that supports the tufted yarn.

For hand-tufted wool rugs:

• Vacuum gently using low suction.
• Avoid rotating brushes and beater bars.
• Do not saturate the rug with water.
• Blot spills rather than rubbing.
• Trim loose fibers instead of pulling them.
• Avoid dragging heavy furniture across the rug.
• Keep the rug away from prolonged moisture.
• Use professional cleaning when deep cleaning is required.

13 — Hand-Knotted Rug Care

Hand-knotted rugs are individually constructed by tying yarn around the foundation of the rug. Their craftsmanship can last for many years when properly maintained.

For hand-knotted wool rugs:

• Vacuum gently and regularly.
• Use low suction and avoid aggressive brushes.
• Vacuum in the direction of the pile when practical.
• Treat spills immediately.
• Avoid rubbing or scrubbing.
• Rotate the rug periodically.
• Protect it from prolonged direct sunlight.
• Keep it in a dry environment.
• Have deep cleaning performed by a professional rug cleaner experienced with handmade wool rugs.

Fringe care

• Handle it gently.
• Keep rotating vacuum brushes away from the fringe.
• Do not pull individual fringe threads.
• Straighten the fringe gently by hand when necessary.

The fringe is part of the rug's foundation and should be treated carefully.

14 — Professional Rug Cleaning

For deep cleaning, we recommend using a professional rug-cleaning company with experience in handmade wool rugs.

Professional cleaning is particularly appropriate when:

• A stain cannot be removed with gentle spot treatment.
• The rug has accumulated significant dirt.
• There is an unpleasant persistent odor.
• The rug requires deep cleaning after prolonged use.
• You are unsure which cleaning method is appropriate.

Always tell the cleaner that your rug is handmade and made from wool.

Do not assume that every carpet-cleaning method is suitable for a handmade rug. Hand-tufted and hand-knotted rugs have different construction methods and should be assessed accordingly.

15 — Storage Instructions

Before storage:

• Make sure the rug is completely clean and dry.
• Allow it to air thoroughly.
• Roll the rug rather than folding it.
• Roll it with the pile facing inward where appropriate for the rug construction.
• Protect it with a breathable fabric or suitable rug-storage covering.

During storage:

• Store the rug in a cool, dry and well-ventilated environment.
• Keep it away from prolonged moisture.
• Keep it away from direct sunlight.
• Protect it from household pests.
• Do not place heavy objects on top of the rolled rug.

Never store a handmade wool rug while damp.

16 — Handmade Characteristics

Every Carpitzi rug is individually crafted. Because of this, you may notice subtle characteristics that are part of genuine handmade production, including:

• Minor variations in texture
• Slight variations in pile height
• Natural wool characteristics
• Small variations in color
• Initial shedding
• Occasional loose fibers
• Minor sprouting
• Temporary rolling or packing marks

These characteristics are part of the individuality of a handmade rug and can differ from machine-made carpets.

17 — What to Do If You Are Unsure

If you are unsure how to treat a spill, stain, loose fiber or other issue, do not experiment with strong cleaning products.

Before attempting an unfamiliar cleaning method, consult a professional rug cleaner experienced in handmade wool rugs.

When contacting Carpitzi, you can also provide photographs of the area so our team can better understand the issue.

Customer Support: support@test.satraassociates.in

Quick Care Guide