Needlepoint Rugs

[SDSinc]

I have (2) needlepoint rugs to clean. Any suggestions? Thanks.

[LisaWagner]

Post a photo.

These need to be cleaned as you would fine upholstery - some can shrink, most are uneven to begin with.

Tack down on wood planks, or a wood floor, to keep its shape during cleaning. Make sure you test those dyes and also check for stenciling that might wick out during cleaning (inspect for this on the back of the rug).

Here are two posts I did on both needlepoint - and also stenciling - Enjoy!

Lisa

Needlepoint rugs - pointers on handling them (click here)

Hooked rugs - dangers of stenciling (click here)

[SDSinc]

Thanks Lisa!

[SDSinc]

Here are some pics...notice the tape on the back of one? Do you think that they put that there to stop or prevent the threads from coming loose? I assume I should take it off prior to cleaning. I asked the custy she had no idea.

[LisaWagner]

I don't think the tape is there for any reason. It's masking tape, not seaming tape, so maybe when it was rolled and delivered originally they used that for some reason. Who knows....

Tack this rug out tight, and clean it as you would fine upholstery. Don't overwet, use an acide rinse. Make sure 1000% that there is no stenciling on this rug. Sometimes there will be straight lines of blue or pink along the length as guiding lines for designs - check the folded edges to look for any of this. If you see nothing, and no ink around any of the designs (bend the area and look on the FOUNDATION fibers to make sure they are pure white - no ink), then go ahead and clean.

You don't need to clean the back side - just vacuum it with a hand tool (no brushes). Clean the front.

Be sure you get EXACT measurements, so she knows it's uneven to begin with (they always are). You can share my blog post on these rugs with her just for her information. They are very pretty - just have a few things to know about them.

Good luck!
Lisa

[the rugman]

Good advice from Lisa as always (HI Lisa!). Here is another way to clean these if you lack a little confidence. Vac really good with a shop vac - these rugs are thin so you get lots of airflow through them. Mix up some encap if you have it (and you should). Lightly spray and brush with a horse hair brush - let dry and vac - repeat if needed. Encap dries pretty fast and cleans pretty well. This rug looks in good shape and would respond well to this. Watch the tape! I had one that had old tape and when pulld off it took lots of fibers with it!

[Rug Washer]

Shop Vac is not a good tool to use as you can suck a good part of the needlepoint into the tool. And if you just vacuumed your floor you'll have all kinds of dust and dirt inside the tool that will get on the piece. If need be, you can use a Needlepoint hoop with fine screening attached to it and then vacuum using the hoop like a barrier so the piece doesn't get sucked up into the Vac tool. Lisa's advise is spot on, if need be look with a magnifying glass for stencils.

[the rugman]

You are correct. I forgot to include the screen in my post. You can also use an uph tool with a screen over it as well. I might also hang the peice on my drying rack and vac it that way instead of on the floor.

[LisaWagner]

Hey Bob - shoot me an email at rugwarrior@gmail.com so I have your current email. By the end of this year I should have a "package" on how to do a strategic sale of a rug cleaning business...so we can ramp things to the next level from what you absorbed in my Rug Secrets coaching program - to how do you create the ideal exit strategy. I'm VERY excited! We can't be cleaning rugs forever... right?

If you have not requested my latest rug report, it's over at www.TheRugChick.com.

Hope all is SUPER in NY!
Lisa

P.S. Ron - spot on - screen for certain. Using two screens sandwiched together also works very well for fragile pieces you can only soak, and not scrub, like old hooked rugs on jute foundations that tend to fall apart. We also use this method for the older pieces we get from the museum as well.

[the rugman]

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