Over the past 36 years, we've received thousands of questions regarding carpet care. Below you have the answers to the top 10 most frequently asked questions. If your question is not listed below, feel free to e-mail it to us at info@bashircarpets.com.

1. How to remove wine spills ?

2. How to take care of your carpets ?

3. How to buy a carpet ?

4. How to know if you are buying a quality carpet?

5. How to know if you are getting a carpet at a good price?

6. How do you place your underpadding ?

7. What about fly by night hotels, customs, liquidation auctions and sales ?

8. Should you consult an interior decorator or designer ?

9. How to store your carpets ?

10. How to prevent water damage caused by plants ?



1. How to remove wine spills ?

Grab table salt, or corn starch, and sprinkle a good amount on the spill area. The salt/cornstarch will act as a sponge, picking up most of the spill. Scoop up the salt/cornstarch with a spoon. Follow by sprinkling some club soda or white vinegar, and then blot the spill dry with a clean terry cloth towel. If the stain is still evident, repeat the process. Please note that if you opt to use commercial stain removers such as, Resolve, test on a obscure area of your rug and wait for the rugs reaction.

2. How to take care of your carpets ?

Beautiful oriental carpets require good care, if they are to be treated like the precious art form that they are. This, according to leading Montreal Persian & Oriental carpet expert Shuja Bashir. Mr. Bashir emphasizes that it's important to take proper care of your carpets and that by faithfully following a few simple rules, you can be guaranteed that you will enjoy their beauty for years to come. In general, caring for carpets is quick, easy and relatively inexpensive. Vacuum frequently, clean up spills immediately and clean your carpet thoroughly from time to time. Preventative maintenance is the best medicine for a carpet.

Vacuuming

Oriental carpets should be vacuumed with the suction part of a vacuum cleaner only, not with the vacuum cleaners main attachment or brush. Use one of the vacuum cleaner’s plastic attachments to suck up dust.

Airing

You have to air your carpet every 2 months in order to prevent moth damage. Flying clothes moths do not eat your rugs, but the females do lay hundreds of eggs each, and the eggs hatch into larvae that consume wool, fur, feather, and silk fibers. Moths and their larvae thrive in dark, undisturbed areas where a rug gets little traffic and is not often vacuumed. A bad infestation sometimes leaves a cobweb-like veil in the area of the damage, along with fine, sand-like debris. An infestation often involves more than one rug, and can spread to (or from) woolens or furs hanging in a closet or sweaters stored in a drawer. A rug damaged by moths is not difficult to repair, but reweaving a large area of the rug can be expensive.

Carpet Fringes

Rugs fringes require extra special care. When you straighten out the fringes, never use the regular roller brush of a vacuum cleaner. Using a regular roller brush vacuum may risk ruining them, or eventually not having any fringes at all as a result of wear and tear. It is best to straighten out carpets fringes with a simple brush. If you don’t have one, you can obtain an inexpensive one at your local hardware store. Should you see edges of fringes coming off the carpet, it should be take care of right away, before they disintegrate further, which will prove to be far costlier to repair in the long run.

Professional Cleaning

Oriental rugs should be professionally cleaned every 10 to 15 years. Although there are many good carpet cleaning products on the market, an oriental rug requires quality care and nothing compares to the experience and knowledge of a professional carpet cleaner. However, one can always wash them with water by simply hosing them down. Steam cleaning is not recommended.

Turning Over Your Carpet

Proper carpet maintenance also requires that once a year, you turn your carpets around so that they get even wear. One year, vacuum your rug from the back and beat it with a stick, so that any accumulated dirt will dissipate. Place the carpet in its original place and then vacuum the top of the carpet as usual. At this time, you may vacuum the pile side of the carpet with the vacuum cleaner’s main attachment using the regular roller brush. Remember, DO NOT over-vacuum a carpet!

Spills

In the case of spills, act quickly. Almost any spilled material will discolor a carpet if left unattended. Blot away excess liquid form the carpet with a wet, white towel using lukewarm water to wipe away whatever the substance is, whether it is milk, juice, or a pet accident. Run the towel back and froth against the rug’s piles until the stain is removed.

Under padding

Having the proper under padding is also important. In addition to providing a cushion, it can also maintain and protect your flooring underneath. It is important to choose the proper under pad as some may stick to wood floors or adhere to other carpets underneath.

Inspection

Like anything else, a good carpet should be periodically inspected. Should the carpet show any sign of weakness or wear, it should be professionally restored. Take the rug to a reputable carpet store for repair. The good news however, is that a good oriental rugs can withstand a lot of abuse.

Vintage or Antique Carpets

Vintage Oriental rugs require special care and cleaning. Cleaning an Oriental rug too frequently or incorrectly can wear out the fibers and ruin the rug. It's important to know the right way to clean a vintage Oriental rug. Since it is best to avoid having to clean an oriental rug at all, the best preventative measure that can be taken is to simply not let the rug get dirty to begin with. Sometimes accidents can't be avoided, but if you never allow anyone to walk on the rug with shoes and keep it away from pets, there's no reason it should get dirty.

1. Vacuum both sides of the oriental rug.



2. Mix cool water and rug shampoo in a bucket. Refer to the instructions on the rug shampoo bottle for the soap to water ratio.



3. Dip a soft, long haired brush into the soapy water and then firmly scrub the pile. Scrub in the direction of the nap in a linear motion.



4. Wet the nap with soapy water until it is very damp.



5. Wash the fringes with a laundry brush and soapy water, brushing away from the pile.



6. Squeegee the excess water out of the rug by wiping the pile repeatedly in the direction of the nap until there is no more water.



7. Lay the rug on a clean, flat surface to dry. When the nap feels dry, turn the rug over. The other side will need some time to finish drying.

3. How to buy a carpet ?

Where do you start ? How do you go about buying a good carpet for the first time ? What are some of the key elements a first time buyer should look for?

The first thing a potential buyer should do is look at the size of the room, the way in which the furniture is placed and what area the carpet is going to occupy. Ideally, in a living room, it should be larger than the coffee table and large enough so that one’s feet can land on the rug.

Selecting a good oriental rug is a major decision because it will affect the appearance of your home for years to come. It should therefore be selected with great care taking in numerous factors into consideration besides color.

First, you have to decide what you want. Would you like to have a dramatic effect or would you prefer a more comfortable, subdued atmosphere ? Would you like everything to blend in or would you like to make statement ? If you find a carpet you really love, you can work a room around the carpet. Ideally, it is better to buy the carpet first. However, if you already have the furniture, then you can find something appropriate.



4. How to know if you are buying a quality rug ?

It is good question witch doesn’t have a simple answer. It depends on numerous criteria such as:

• The number of knots per square inch in the carpet;
• The colors used in the rug;
• The experience of the weaver;
• The visible defects, if any, on the carpet;
• The country of origin of the carpet;
• The quality of the fiber that is used;

Also, good older oriental rugs are usually more valuable if they are in good condition.

5. How to know if you are getting a carpet at a good price?

Bashir says comparison shopping is available, but cautions that since there are so many different types of carpets it can sometimes be very hard to compare. “It each region many qualities are made, so customers have to trust the integrity of the seller. Avoid auctions and buy from a reputable carpet dealer. If you decide to buy at an auction, you must have a thorough knowledge on the subject. You may wish to purchase a particular kind of carpet, such as a Kelim, which is the generic name of a flat woven carpet that has no pile or any investment grade carpet. But investment grade carpetx seldom are showcased at a fly by night auction or auctions that are held monthly (which are actually selling at retail prices their carpets without giving consumers any guarantees.) There are numerous kinds of oriental carpets and a reputable dealer can help you best identify the kind of carpet which is suitable for your needs.

Having a professional decorator or designer help you select a carpet is also recommended. A good decorator can actually help you save money in purchasing carpets and can also help you in blending you previous purchases with your new ones. However, most importantly, a first time buyer should purchase an oriental rug only for their own pleasure. Be sure you love the carpet you are buying.

Shuja Bashir has spent many years searching, buying and teaching others about exquisite oriental rugs. He makes numerous trips around the world each year to gather the most up to date information on this art form. He can gladly offer professional advice and assistance on how to buy an oriental rug and how to decide which rug is right for you. He can offer expert advice based on over 30 years of experience on what a first-time buyer, or any buyer, can reasonably expect to see and obtain in an oriental rug.

If you wish to tag along on one of Mr.Bashir next buying trips you are most welcomed. July and January are the designated times of travel. In July, at times the temperature will be 115 F so dress or don't dress accordingly. Call for times and places to visit. Lately, Kabul is his favorite place to visit.

6. How do you place your under padding ?

As important as it is to maintain and prolong the life of your carpet with a good quality under padding, properly placing the under padding can make a big difference.

We have listed below some tips in ensuring the proper placement of your under padding. When using Dura cushion, the black, rubber side always faces the floor. You may also put the gray side down in case of heavy objects on the carpet suxh as a bed or dining table.

• First, place your carpet in the room, ensuring it is in the exact place you want it.



• Next, using masking tape, mark the corners of your carpet on the floor.



• Carefully roll the carpet up and slightly away from your placement.



• Place your under padding, black side down, within the markings you have made on the floor. The under padding is generally 1’’ smaller all around than the carpet. This is so edge of the under padding will not show when the carpet is properly placed.



• Now roll you carpet back onto the under padding. it should be placed evenly on the padding, with no edges showing.

7. What about the fly by night hotels, customs, liquidation auctions and sales ?

Most auctions and liquidations are held to sell carpets under suspect and fictional claims. Most of the rugs that are sold are of inferior quality, moth damaged or damaged and repaired rejects (rugs that cannot be sold in a reputable place). Also, auction vendors often try to sell their carpets by convincing their potential buyers that the carpet they are interested in may be an opportunity of a life time to purchase (that happens to appear every two weeks). A good majority of liquidations, auctions and bankruptcy sales are commercialized using false advertising. Most of the merchandise being sold is of inferior quality but there are always very rare exceptions.

8. Should you consult an interior decorator or designer ?

Yes, you should consult a designer. You will save money since we offer interior decorators and designers preferred pricing rates. An interior decorator will guide you to buy a rug that fits best in your decor.

My suggestion would be that you buy a certain carpet because it fits into your decor. If the lady of the house loves it, an interior designer approves it and the man does not hate it, then go for it. We recommend that you try the carpet at your location first before you buy it. Carpets should come with a 90 day money back guarantee. It should not be bought impulsively. Bashir Carpets offer a free 90 day money back guarantee. We strive to assist you in purchasing quality rugs that YOU LIKE at a competitive price.

9. What is the best way to store carpets ?

When a rug is to be stored for more than a few months it should be cleaned thoroughly, sprayed with insecticide, and wrapped in protective plastic or a tough synthetic paper like "Tyvek"® building paper so that the carpet has cross ventilation. Don't use newspaper or common brown wrapping paper. These materials are not chemically stable (they are usually quite acidic), and do not provide the protection from insects or moisture the stored rug needs. Make sure the rug is completely dry. Think twice about using moth balls or flakes--these materials have little repellent effect, and the odor they impart to the rug can be difficult to remove. Cedar scent is useless in moth control. Store the rug in a clean, dry place out of the reach of squirrels or other rodents. Periodic inspection of the rug is strongly recommended. It should be opened and vacuumed every 3 months. I have seen too many carpets people leave for storage and then moth develops. They open it after a year or so and the carpet is ruined. However, sometimes it can be fixed depending upon the value of the rug.

10. How to prevent water damage ?

Please do not place your plants on carpets over a long period of time, as it will cause damage to your carpet due to the water and the humidity. We have seen many carpets damaged this way and in order to prevent this from happening, a cork should be placed between the plant and the carpet.

Most varieties of Oriental rugs have wool pile, but many have cotton warp and weft. This cotton foundation can be weakened and sometimes actually rotted, if the rug is drenched repeatedly and not properly dried. A common cause of such damage occurs when potted plants are placed directly on an Oriental rug. The plant is watered regularly, the pot leaks, and the rug under the pot stays permanently damp. Within two or three weeks the foundation of the oriental rug can become so weak that chunks can be torn from the affected area by hand. If you use planters near a rug, try to place them on a slim legged stool, or a caster-based support that lets you see under the pot and allows for ventilation. After watering the plant check to be sure the rug under it is completely dry. It is so important for Oriental rug care.

Another form of water damage can affect rugs used in a basement or other area below grade level. If the basement floods the potential for damage is obvious. The rug must be removed quickly, properly cleaned and allowed to dry completely.

A more insidious form of damage can be caused by using a rug over a damp floor. Even though the floor is not noticeably wet to the touch, there can be enough moisture to allow microorganisms to flourish in the material of the warp and weft and to degrade the strength of the rug's foundation. A rug damaged in this way will often feel peculiarly stiff when manipulated. The rug will sometimes be so stiff it will be difficult to roll, and if you listen carefully to the back of the carpet when it is creased or folded, you can often hear the cracks and popping noises made by breaking warp and weft fibers.