posted on May 28, 2006 07:48:50 PM new
Well we finished the house. Justa few things to do tomorrow and it's DONE! If I ever decide to go into business doing this kind of thing, I'm hiring a crew. I am tired all over. arms, shoulders, back, legs. Too much lifting of too much heavy stuff.
My friends have two old carpets. On is almost like a tapestry or those middle eastern kind of rugs. She is giving both to me. Boy, can I ever use them. the question is, how do I clean them. They are going to be area rugs on my hardwood floors. Any experience in this area. Do I just vacuum them? or do I clean them? I guess I need to send them out to clean them. These I can NOT do myself. They are both way too big.
posted on May 28, 2006 08:12:43 PM new
The first thing you do is positively identify what you have. The one that looks like it is from the Middle East sounds interesting, and may be valuable. Do you know anyone from the middle east? How about the owner or a clerk at a local Stop 'N Rob? If so, throw it in the back of a pickup and head that way to get a 6 pack. Entice the clerk outside and see if he can give you any info on it, such as if it is Persian or Arabic. Have him interpret any writing, characters or figures that may be incorporated in the design. I can guarantee, that if he knows, he will be more than willing to freely share the information with you. The next thing to do, is identify the type of material it's made of. You can probably do this yourself, but if not, have an expert look at it (NOT an employee of a dry cleaning business) Never lose track of the fact there there may be silk involved, either in the fringes or embedded in the artwork. The cleaning is the easy part. Whip up a couple of Oklahoma engineered rug beaters, throw that carpet over a clothes line, and hire a husky looking neighborhood high school student to get out there and beat the hell out of it. Finish it off with a good vacuum cleaner and lay it on the floor. If there are any stains, you can deal with them according to the type of material you have identified above.
If Murphy's law is correct, everything East of the San Andreas Fault will slide into the Atlantic
posted on May 28, 2006 08:35:27 PM new
There are no stains on either rug but the good rug does show some wear. I am hoping that it's not wear and just squished down over time. There are no stains on either rug and no dirt! Geez, with my kid, one day on the floor and it will be dirty for sure
posted on May 28, 2006 08:59:42 PM new
If you get lucky, you may not have to put it down. An interior decorator may offer to put wall to wall dirt proof carpet in that room in exchange for the rug.
If Murphy's law is correct, everything East of the San Andreas Fault will slide into the Atlantic
posted on May 28, 2006 10:46:33 PM new
My husband's grandparents had a Persian rug which we were given as a sort of throw-away about 35 years ago. It's about 4 x 7. I laid it out in the driveway, hosed it down with water, added some detergent, hosed it again, let it dry. Cleaner, neater, lots of wear, though. We've never had it appraised at all.
Another family oriental rug was given to us. I threw it in the washing machine at the laundromat on gentle cycle with some detergent, clean as can be. This was in the days I didn't know about value, and we've never had that one appraised, either.
The grandparents owned THE big furniture store in L.A. between 1908 and 1932, and the rugs probably came from that store.
I've also discovered by accident something really nifty. You know those colorful striped blankets you buy in Mexico or here at swap meets? Throw them in the washing machine on gentle, dry on low for a while, then airdry; they shrink down beautifully and look like real rugs instead of cheap blankets. You wouldn't believe the difference.
posted on May 29, 2006 07:15:45 AM new
Measure the rugs and see if they are slightly odd sizes, like not quite 5 x 8 but 5'3" by 7'10". That is a sign that a piece if hand woven rather than machine woven. It's easy to program exact patterns into a machine, not so easy with a human and often the rugs run a bit off size. Some wear (not to threadbare but just signs of normal use) actually can make authentic rugs more valuable.
If they are oversized try just renting a carpet cleaner (one where you have the option of heat or not, put it out on the drive then use Water and Woolight.
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People put their hand on the bible, and swear to uphold the constitution. They do not put their hand on the constitution, and swear to uphold the bible.
posted on May 29, 2006 07:37:59 AM new
Fenix, That's a great idea. I'll go measure it before taking it home today. And maybe take some fotos. My driveway is on a slant and it is asphalt. I wonder if the bumpy asphalt will harm it in anyway if this thing is hand made.
posted on May 29, 2006 08:35:02 AM new
There use to be a rug cleaning shampoo that was sold at Flea markets in Florida. The bag I bought was from Sanford. I wish I knew if you can even buy it any more. I removes blood grass, grease. When I bought it the guy took coal soot and used motor oil and wiped it all over a piece of carpet,then took a toothbrush dipped in this carpet solution that mixes in water and removed it. I don't even know the name of it. I use some the other day to clean a carpet that had a mountain dew spilled into it. It was at a Pediatric Rehab center and they said I could only use water to clean it. It looked like brand new when I got done. You just vacuum after it dries.
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Two men sit behind bars,one sees mud the other sees stars.
posted on May 29, 2006 10:15:13 AM new
I just measured the carpet. It is a little off. I took a foto of part of the oriental rug.There was some boxes and things on the carpet when I took fotos of it. So I only took fotos of part of it just to see the pattern. This rug belonged to my 85 year old friend's aunt. The estimated age of the carpet is about 75 - 100 years old. In the dead center of the carpet there is a rectangular shape that is approx 1.5 feet by about 2 feet that is yellowed. I have no idea why. I'll try to take a foto of the entire thing once the boxes etc are moved.
posted on May 29, 2006 05:19:58 PM new
I have oriental "throw rugs" like Pakistani, Iranian, Baluchi tribal etc over my carpeting and my cat regularly throws up hairballs etc on them. I use Resolve liquid spray and that seems to take care of any stain. Ofcourse I do clean up as soon as discovered.
buyhigh
