Outdoor Furniture, Outdoor Patio and Outdoor Gardens

Frequently Asked Questions

1. QUESTION:
   Has anyone had wool rugs that shed alot ?
   I bought a new wool rug about 1 month ago. This rugs sheds constantly any suggestions. I vacumn several times each week. Will it ever start to shed less? Is there anything thing I can do to stop it?

   • ANSWER:
     Get it cleaned!

2. QUESTION:
   what can i use to keep moths out of my wool rugs?
   what can i put on my wool rugs to keep moth larvae out of them. something that's not toxic to cats or fish?

   • ANSWER:

3. QUESTION:
   How do I take care of wool rugs?
   I have two rugs....on from pottery barn and one from bomby store........both are gorgeous but the problem is that they seem to be `shedding' their fibres...there are small balls of fibres all over our living room....my husband is so fed up that he feels vacuum cleaners are responsible....he has stopped vacumming....he says there has to be a better way....I am desperate....he is suggesting tossing them out......please help...is there a brush or something more sensitive to rugs and especially made to clean rugs?

   • ANSWER:
     no

4. QUESTION:
   How can I find a dealer who carries 100%new zeland wool rugs I like to find a rug called Antonette?
   I saw this rug in interior decorating place but I would like to see if there is a webside to order directly to get a better price.

   • ANSWER:
     Most of the rugs on this site are made with New Zealand wool. And the prices are about the best that I've seen out there:
     http://www.homedecorators.com/Rugs/material/173/Wool_Rugs/

5. QUESTION:
   Wool rugs vs Synthetics?
   All the expensive persian rugs are made of wool. What are the advantages or benefits of a wool rug vs. a more economical synthetic rug?

   • ANSWER:
     wool - expensive, naturally fire proof, if properly maintained last a long time, however can't always be cleaned, not always stain resistant

     synthetic - much cheaper, much easier to clean, ussually much higher stain resistance

6. QUESTION:
   Does anyone have any experience cleaning wool rugs?
   can anyone offer any advice on how to gently clean a wool rug without damaging the fabric?? Thanks to all who ansewer.

   • ANSWER:
     Physical vacuuming is always the preferred method. Almost all chemicals will eventually harm the fibers.

     Very mild detergents carefully rubbed and quickly removed will work wonders.

     Theres are also sever enzymatic cleaners on the market which are great for stains and small spots.

7. QUESTION:
   how to control the shedding from wool rugs?
   saw this question and the answers to it recently----am hoping someone else can offer more "hope"--have 6 wool rugs,all are over 4 years old and all still shedding like the proverbial dog in summer---am ready to throw them out---do not have the heart to "donate" them to some unsuspecting soul thru a local charity even tho they are beautiful and nice to walk on barefoot--it is impossible to keep the floors from being covered w/ dust and the rugs from looking like pilled sweaters all the time--
   help!!!!!

   • ANSWER:
     They were poor quality when new. They will just keep shedding until they're bald.

     I'd donate them. Someone will buy them.

8. QUESTION:
   How do you remove pet stains from wool rugs? ?
   I have tried all the pet store guaranteed pet stain and odors removal supplies. But the stains are still there. Any suggestion ?

   • ANSWER:
     Have you tried anything w/ that OXY stuff in it?
     I found some at the dollar store, for carpets/stains, soaked the stain [poop an piss]
     scrubbed w/ a stiff brush, blotted, dried over night, and no stain in the morning......no discoloration, this was new carpet, BUT not wool........worth a try for a buck-fifty.................

9. QUESTION:
   What is the best way to hang woven wool rugs, i.e., native American?

   • ANSWER:
     The simplest way is to get a strip of tackstrip from a flooring store., the type they use to attach wall to wall carpet.

     Or

     You could add a pocket on the back and hang it from a decorative rod.

10. QUESTION:
    How can I get rid of moths in my house? They keep having babies and they eat my wool rugs.?

    • ANSWER:
      They do not like cedar.

      You could test a spot with boric acid powder and see if this will harm your rug.

      If not, lighly put powder on the rug and push in with a broom. Let sit for hours and then vacuum.

      Or do the same with soda and salt mixed together.

11. QUESTION:
    my expensive wool area rugs smell bad. How can I remove the smell?

    • ANSWER:
      Try FeBreeze.

      Bert

12. QUESTION:
    how do you wash wool rugs?

    • ANSWER:
      Spot clean it, or take it to a dry-cleaner's.

13. QUESTION:
    Any other wool rugs that don't shed like Karastan?
    My mom has had a Karastan rug for 30 years now and it's in gorgeous condition and it has never once shed. It's also wool. I need to purchase one, but I don't like the old fashion designs on the Karastan rugs...does anyone know what other brand rug is equal to a Karastan rug that doesn't shed? I wish Karastan made more modern rugs in wool.

    • ANSWER:

14. QUESTION:
    How can you spot clean wool rugs? Mainly pet stains.?

    • ANSWER:
      Try a product called Dysolv. It is made by Dyson Vacuum Company and it is probably available at a local store that carries Dyson. Otherwise, it can be ordered on their website at www.dyson.com. It works great on all types of stains and is safe on wool carpeting.

15. QUESTION:
    How do I clean a wool rug?
    I have a shag rug that is made of wool with a rubber slip pad underneath. If its not made of wool than its made of some synthetic material similar to wool. How do I clean these rugs. The tags have been cut off. I usually shake them outside and vacuum with the dustbuster. But they need to be washed.

    • ANSWER:
      http://www.rugrag.com/post/How-to-Shampoo-Your-Oriental-Rug-in-Home.aspx

16. QUESTION:
    how are wool oriental rugs cleaned?
    whats the best method and how effective is dying to cover left behind stains

    • ANSWER:
      Very expensive ones are sent to a rug cleaner. Cheap ones are cleaned with a steam carpet cleaner at home.

17. QUESTION:
    how to get rid of moths in wool rug?
    Some type of moth is eating my wool rugs-what is the best product to use to get rid of them?

    • ANSWER:
      naphthaline and paradichlorobenzene.as used in mothballs can be sprayed into the carpets as a chemical spray.

18. QUESTION:
    How do you stop a wool rug from leaving bits everywhere?
    We have recently bought a 100% wool rug which is dark brown and it sits on quite a light coloured carpet. Every time someone walks on it there is a trail of brown coloured bits everywhere? Does anyone have any tips on how to minimise this problem?

    • ANSWER:
      sorry to say, this is an inevitable problem with wool rugs when you first get them. after the wool has been hooked or knotted, it's shaved or trimmed so that the pile will be all one uniform length. as a result, some of the yarn unravels & dislodges from the weave. it's like when you get a haircut - most of your hair ends up on the floor, but some stays stuck in your hair & comes off on your clothes, comb, or in the shower. Just vaccuum it regularly to get up as much of that excess wool as you can.

      There is a really interesting video about how area rugs are made on this website:
      http://www.arearugfacts.com/watch_rug_making_video.php

19. QUESTION:
    How do you clean a pure wool rug?
    I have a beautiful beige wool rug in my lounge that desperately needs a clean. Can I do it myself or does it need specialist cleaning? If I can do it myself what`s the best cleaning products for it and the best way to do it? Many thanks in advance.

    • ANSWER:
      I have a huge pure wool rug which is all tufty, lumpy and shaggy and if it's like mine then as it's not a flat surface a carpet cleaner, steamer or shampoo wouldn't be any use on such an irregular surface, besides, doing so would shrink it and you'd be left with a carpet for a kids play house! You can either hire a professional or attempt it yourself using a damp towel and either woolite, or - as it's real, natural hair - regular hair or pet shampoo and then blot with a towel and dry as thoroughly as possible, afterwards open the windows and spray the rug liberally with sillicon spray, it's colourless and will make the rug water and dirt repellant, i did this with mine as soon as i got it home but as yours is dirty you will need to be cleaned first...good luck!

20. QUESTION:
    How do you get paint stains out of a wool rug?
    After purchasing a used Oiental rug that I was told had scattered stains and had to be cleaned, I found that some of the scattered stains appear to be paint. My carpet cleaners could not remove the stains. Is there any other method to remove these stains from a wool rug?

    • ANSWER:
      You could try to trim the fibers of the rug area where there is paint. Before trimming, try to remove some of the dried paint using your finger nails. Make sure to cut it very lightly, so it is not obvious that those areas were trimmed. This is probably your best hope.

21. QUESTION:
    How do I repair pulled loops on a wool rug?
    My cat kneads the wool rug runner and has pulled loops up. The loops are not broken, but I know they shouldn't be cut. On a wool sweater, a knitting needle can be used to push the pulled loops to the other side, but the rug is more densely woven with a mesh backing. How do I push the loops back through? Or is there an alternative to repairing this? Thanks!

    • ANSWER:
      If you have a loop here and there. Just a few. On a tight rug you can just snip off the high part. If its lots of loops or a bunch in one area you do the same as a sweater. Use a knitting needle to fix. Once your are done, put Elmer's glue on the back to seal in the wool.

22. QUESTION:
    What is the best way to clean a hand designed wool rug?
    My living room rug is 100% wool and should only be hand spotted. It sits on a rug pad, sheds like crazy and has been in place for two and a half years. I keep it vacuumed and spot clean as needed, but I would like to really refresh it. Any suggestions and what products should I use?

    • ANSWER:
      have a professional carpet cleaner clean it.(M)

23. QUESTION:
    How can I remove the smell from a wool rug?
    I have a wool rug that I left in my garage for many years. Because of that it has developed a musty smell from the humidity. It doesn't have mildew, just a funky smell. What can I do to get rid of it? Thanks.

    • ANSWER:
      Allow a professional certified hot water carpet/upholstery cleaner to take this carpet to his/her shop for a bath type treatment. They have the know how, equipment, and training to safely clean your expensive area rug. Go to www.iicrc.org., to locate a pro near you. Do not take any suggestions to pour powder type fresheners on to your rug. They are extremely difficult to remove, unless the cleaner has a machine called a Rug Badger. These machines vibrate the rug with high intensity vibrations over a stainless steel grid to remove the dirt/soil/ powders, contaminating the rug. Not every carpet cleaner has these machines as they are expensive. Therefore do not administer powder additive cleaners to the rug, as they will be there forever.

24. QUESTION:
    How do I get red gatorade out of a wool rug?
    My son spilled RED Gatorade on our very expensive wool rug. I know I left the room for a second and bought the red gatorade, how do I get it out?

    • ANSWER:
      try some hydrogen peroxide mixed with rubbing alcohol(equal parts)after gently blotting out as much as possible.Several years ago I had a red juice stain on an off white wool carpet I had a Professional cleaner come and that's what he used and I've been using it ever since -will work on dried stains too.

25. QUESTION:
    How do you keep a wool rug clean?
    I just bought a really nice wool rug and am now scared if anything ever happens to it, how to clean. Can I treat it like normal carpet and just use rug cleaner? Soap/water?

    • ANSWER:
      I wouldn't clean it like a normal carpet. Certainly do not steam clean it or use soap and water. There is a dry carpet cleaning method called Capture. You can usually find it at the supermarket near the other rug cleaning products, or at a DIY home improvement store like Lowe's or Home Depot. It comes in a kit. You sprinkle the stuff on the carpet -- its sort of semi-damp and clumpy -- then use the brush that comes with the kit to rub the stuff into the stain or the entire rug. Let it sit for a bit, then vacuum up the residue. I have used this on my wool area rugs in the past and it works great.

26. QUESTION:
    how can i remove stains from dog vomit from my natural dyed wool rug?
    My dog vomited a lot on my natural dyed wool area rug, which I have blotted up, etc. How can i safely clean this area, with no damage to wool or coloring in rug? Can i use a home carpet machine, if so what cleaner can I safely use?
    dark brown vomit. rug is beige in color

    • ANSWER:
      Woolite has a rug cleaner in a spray can. When you spray, allow it to set on the spot a bit so it can do its job. If it's a thick piled rug, you may have to GENTLY work the Woolite into the rug a but with an old soft tooth brush. Then, use a cloth dampened with cold water to wipe up the rest. Then, of course, blot dry.

27. QUESTION:
    How do you get wax out of a wool woven rug?
    i have an authentic Native American wool rug. its very pretty and candle wax got on it. any special way to remove it without hurting it?? anything involving water will hurt it. water causes shrinking spots.

    • ANSWER:
      Get an old t-shirt and an iron. Place the t-shirt on the wax and use the iron on top of it. The wax will melt and be absorbed by the shirt.

28. QUESTION:
    is my wool rug disintegrating into nothing?
    i get all these fuzz fluffs coming off my wool rug. will it eventually disintegrate into nothing?

    • ANSWER:
      Years ago, there were rugs that had fuzz fluffs and the homeowner had a special rake looking type of tool with a long handle that they scrapped across the rug after they had vacuumed it. Needless to say, this was not very popular. Perhaps you have one of those old types of rugs.

29. QUESTION:
    How can I lighten or whitewash my flat-weave wool rug?
    I have a large wool flat-weave rug with a busy Moroccan pattern that is just too dark. Is there any way I can "whitewash" it - the effect I would like is actually to make it look whitewashed and much more pale..
    Watered-down paint? watered-down bleach? What would Hildi from Trading Spaces do (without having something that peels off or cannot be vacuumed)?

    • ANSWER:
      soak evenly in watered down bleach

30. QUESTION:
    when will my wool rug stop shedding?
    I bought this nice somewhat shag wool rug and this thing will not stop shedding. It's been 2 weeks and my swifter sweeper is getting a serious workout.

    • ANSWER:
      Sorry to say that you may have a domestic wool. More suitable for garments, but often used in carpet.
      The fibers are short and soft, unlike wool raised year round in cold dry climates. That creates a longer sturdier fiber.

      Shorter fibers are plied and do untwist sometimes.
      Consider a cotton string. Short fibers spun and twisted.

      Australia has some of the best wools, raised in mountains.

      It should diminish with more vacuuming, but be careful if you have a beater bar.

31. QUESTION:
    How can I remove a Rust Stain from a Cream Wool Rug?!?
    My dog peed on the leg of a settee that sits on a very expensive cream-coloured wool carpet. To make matters worse, it's not mine.
    I've managed to remove most of the pee but the pee itself caused the leg of the settee to leave a heavy rust stain. It's paled somewhat as we've attempted to remove the pee stain, but can anyone recommend anything that might dissolve the rust stain without causing any damage or further discolouration to the rug?

    • ANSWER:
      I haven t heard of salt from carpet manufacturers ( either way, good or bad) but John is right , lemon juice GL

32. QUESTION:
    How to clean a wool chinese kilim rug?
    I have 3 wool Chinese Kilim rugs that need to be cleaned.

    • ANSWER:
      Call a pro. I used to clean carpets professionally and would NEVER touch a wool carpet with steam. We used a cold water shampoo at our shop. Never in-home.

33. QUESTION:
    How do i get rid of wool eating moths in the house?
    The house has wool carpeting and wool rugs throughout.

    • ANSWER:
      First I suspect you may have a meal moth in the house if all you are seeing are small adult moths. Meal moths are much more common than wool eating moths and will live in all sorts of dried food products that are in the house. Ck all dried food products especially dried fruits or cereal products and dried pet food for signs of worms or catepillars especially anything that has been in the house for a long time. Adult moths lay their eggs on dried food products and get brought into the house where the eggs hatch and feed on the dried food and then emerge as adults where they fly around the house. Any thing you find infested should be thrown out. A good vacuum cleaner will help suck up some of the adults that are flying around. I suggest you read the following 2 publications by the University of California. They talk about both types of moths and their ID and control.

      http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn7435.html (clothes moths)
      http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn7452.html (pantry pests)

34. QUESTION:
    how to remove red wine from wool carpet rug?
    From the earth quake a bottle of wine fell from a shelf breaking on my wool rug' Any ideas would help thank you

    • ANSWER:
      Things You’ll Need:

      Paper towels or clean cloth
      Rug Doctor brand carpet shampoo or dish soap
      Warm Water
      Sponge
      Hydrogen peroxide

      Step1
      Blot the spill with paper towels or a clean cloth.

      Step2
      Combine 1 teaspoon carpet shampoo (or dish soap, like Dawn) and 1 cup hydrogen peroxide in a small bowl. Soak a clean sponge in the mixture, squeeze it halfway dry, then gently blot the stain. Continue until the stain lifts.

      Step3
      Sponge the stained area with warm water.

      Step4
      Blot dry with a clean cloth or paper towels.

      *************************
      Tips :

      Act immediately. The longer a stain sits, the harder it is to remove.

      Commerical products like Oxy Clean and Wine Away do an excellent job of removing red wine stains, but try this homemade version if you don't have either of those on hand.

35. QUESTION:
    How long should you leave a 100%wool rug before hoovering it?
    Its shedding bits of wool everywhere.Ive heard your not meant to hoover for a month?

    • ANSWER:
      you need a brush ,just keep useing a brush untill it stops. then you can hoover

36. QUESTION:
    Do all expensive wool area rugs have an odor?

    • ANSWER:

37. QUESTION:
    How do you clean an old wool area rug?
    I purchased an old wool, floral patterned, pile area rug (approx. 8' x 10') at an auction. It needs cleaned and there is not a professional cleaner in my area. Can I clean it with a traditional steam cleaner using cold water? If so, what about the beater bar? Do I need to diconnect that so I don't fuzz the wool? Any help is appreciated. Thanks!

    • ANSWER:
      I am a pro carpet cleaner and have been in the business for 10 years, do not take your wool rug to the laundry mat and do not use your steam cleaner on it. Wool is a very delicate fiber and can therefore be easily damaged. I would definitly see if there is any professional carpet cleaners that will come and pick it up from your house. If your area rug is not to expencive however you may be able to get away with just using the steam cleaner with no beater bar and just water, but if it is expencive the the only way to go it to have a pro do it.

38. QUESTION:
    How do you clean a wool area rug?
    The rug is wool, no backing and about 5x8 and covered in dog and cat hair! Can I do it myself? Or do I need to take it to the cleaners?

    • ANSWER:
      You can use Capture, comes in a bucket (powder) at Lowes in the flooring department. Used it for mine but just didn't do the trick. I talked to friend who sells carpet and rugs and he said for wool my only option without ruining the rug would be to take to Sekurity Amerkanian. It's located in Cincinnati. They said they would dry clean it for me for around 0.

39. QUESTION:
    how can i remove dried chocolate syrup from wool rug?
    chocolate syrup fell on wool carpet, did not
    notice for a couple of days, it is dried up and there is a ring from the glass how do I remove this/should i wet it down with soap and brush or?

    • ANSWER:
      yes get some dawn soap mixed w/ warm water & maybe an old soft brissle tooth brush... && scrub it. when you think the stain has come out pat it dry w/ s towel or cloth. if when the spot is completely dry the stain is still there, just go to walmart & get a good carpet spot treatment & that should be the end of it. hope this helps

40. QUESTION:
    What is the difference between wool pile and fine wool?
    I'm trying to buy a wool rug and what is the difference between wool pile and fine wool? Which one sheds?

    • ANSWER:
      Both can shed, but the wool fiber is twisted differently thus feels different to the touch. Fine wool is soft almost like walking on velvet and pile is denser and a bit rougher. Fine wool does well in low traffic areas whereas the pile is more durable and can handle high traffic areas.

41. QUESTION:
    What is the best way to clean a wool rug?
    The rug is modern-style 6'x9' with many colors. It is generally pretty dirty all over as well as some spots. Can it be done at home or should I have it done professionally?

    • ANSWER:
      For the most part, small to medium-sized wool rugs can be washed at home. In order to wash your rug at home, begin by spot cleaning any stains with an appropriate stain remover. It’s best if you test the cleaner on a small section of rug first. Be sure to use cleaning products that will not damage the integrity of the rug. Take the rug outside on a paved area, like a patio, and wet it down with a hose. Add about two capfuls of a mild detergent in a bucket of water and mix up the suds in the bucket. Wipe up your rug using a clean sponge, rinse the suds away, and roll up the rug in dry towels to soak up excess water. Another option is using a Wet/Dry vacuum to suck up the dirty water out of the rug faster. Once the water has been drained, lay the rug flat to dry, but don’t let it sit in the sun for a long period of time—it can cause the color to fade or the rug to shrink

42. QUESTION:
    A person scuffing her feet on a wool rug on a dry day accumulates a net charge of -52 µC. How many excess elec
    A person scuffing her feet on a wool rug on a dry day accumulates a net charge of -52 µC. How many excess electrons does this person get?
    ?electrons
    By how much does her mass increase?
    ?kg

    • ANSWER:
      charge on electron is 1.6e-19 coulombs
      .52e-6/1.6e-19=3.25E+12 electrons
      Mass of electron is 9.1 e -27kg
      delta M = 3.25e12*9.1e-27=2.97 e-14kg

43. QUESTION:
    how can I get the curled edge of my wool oriental rug to lay flat?
    The rug is wool oriental area rug about 8' x 10' that has developed a curled edge down the long side in the center of the edge. How can I get it to lay flat again? This is fairly recent within the last 2 months. Thank you for any help.

    • ANSWER:
      You could try steaming it with a small hand held steamer or really hot water in a old spray bottle and then laying something very heavy on it until it dries.. That should work for you.

Leave a Reply