Silk rugs are far more difficult to care for than rugs that are made using wool or a synthetic fiber. As silk is a protein which closely resembles human hair it is damaged easier than other fibers used in the rug making industry. There are very few silk rugs that are machine made, because they are handmade, oriental rug cleaners in New York City use a hand cleaning process which ensures that the quality of the rug is preserved. The prevention of damage to the rug is paramount; hence the cleaning method is considerably more difficult and certainly more time consuming.
All oriental rugs made from silk should be reserved for areas where little traffic is expected and in an area that is not in the direct rays of the sun during the day. If the rug is located in an area of reasonably high traffic then it is important that it be rotated periodically, in this way the wear pattern is kept reasonably even. If the rug is located in an area where it will be in the path of direct sunlight the colors may fade. This is less of a problem in newer homes or homes that have had the windows replaced as modern windows filter UV.
In the event the rug is stained by a spill or animal urine the first thing is to determine if it is pure silk or made from a blend of silk and wool. A rug which is made from a silk-wool blend is more resistant to stains and more durable. Since this blend of materials is water resistant water will bead. A true test is to pull a loose thread from the reverse side of the rug and burn it. As silk is protein it will smell like burning hair and the ash will ball up into a small pile, not so with synthetic fibers as they smell like plastic or paper and melt into a globule when set alight.
Professional oriental rug cleaners in New York City always test for color fastness before they proceed with the cleaning process. This is often done by subjecting a corner of the rug to a tiny amount of water-based detergent. When the area is rinsed with clear water color should not bleed. When the rug rinses clear the stain can be soaked with vinegar and water or club soda, either of which should remove the stain. When the rug needs complete cleaning an organic rug cleaner should be used.
