Cleaning Vintage Rugs

A beautiful vintage rug can be a piece that pulls an entire room together, adding depth, color and texture to your space. Yet as romantic as a one-of-a-kind antique rug sounds—not to mention the high craftsmanship and exquisite patterns it brings to the table (er, floor)—it can also introduce decades or even centuries worth of dirt and dust from everyday use into your home (gross). You don’t have to compromise on style, though, as cleaning a vintage rug can be quite simple—as long as you know the dos and don'ts. Here’s how to weave your way through it.

DO: Learn the rug’s history.

Because most vintage rugs are made of wool, they require professional hand washing, says Ben Hyman, cofounder and CEO of Revival Rugs, a company that works with artisans in Istanbul to to offer high-quality carpets online. “Before purchasing the rug, ask the seller the last time the rug was professionally cleaned,” he says. Ideally, this will have been done prior to you making your purchase.