Rug Care GUIDE
Allure - Ivory
Rug Care 101 Welcome to the world of Rug Culture rugs! At Rug Culture, thought and consideration goes into selecting every last piece. Our rugs are made with quality craftsmanship, overseen by the best in the industry and made to our stringent standards. Knowledge is power—get to know how rugs are constructed, how different materials will wear and serve your lifestyle. Understanding the inherent qualities of different collections will help you make a more meaningful choice when selecting a rug for your space. There are no strict rules when it comes to picking your perfect rug, but our Rug Guide provides you with valuable tips and resources to help ensure your rug can be enjoyed for years to come.
The Rug Culture Team.
Living Room Placement When choosing a rug for your living room, less is NOT more. Smaller rugs can make a space look smaller or cluttered in comparison to larger rugs which give the illusion of a more spacious room. For a classic living layout, place the rug in the centre of the room and place the front legs of your sofa and armchairs on the rug. This will help create a better aesthetic and cleaner appearance.
Living Room Placement Guide
Bedroom Placement
A rug in the bedroom is all about a warm and comfortable underfoot, especially for those with hard flooring! For those wanting a larger rug for the room, we recommend a rectangular rug that sits right under the lower end of the bed and extends at least 50cm beyond the sides of the bed (depending on the size of your bedroom). For those who don’t want a large rug but still want a warm underfoot when getting out of bed, we recommend a round or runner rug to place at either side of the bed.
Bedroom
Placement Guide
Dining Room Placement
Scale and proportion is key when placing a rug in your dining room. As a rule, you want your rug to be large enough to accommodate all the dining chairs, even when they are pulled out from the table. We recommend your rug be large enough to extend around 60-70cm beyond your table. For high traffic, spill-risk areas like the dining area, we recommend a low-pile rug and easy-to-clean material like polypropylene for a rug.
Dining
Placement Guide
Maison - Noah
Rug Materials Guide
Choosing the perfect material for your lifestyle There are so many materials available when it comes to rugs and many may think that a wool rug is superior but this is not necessarily the case. Each material has specific benefits and characteristics that are unique based on origin.
Natural Materials Natural fibres like jute and hemp are environmentally friendly grass fibres that have a versatile look and feel. These fibres are durable and great for adding a touch of natural texture and effortless style to a space. Great for high-traffic areas, these fibres are commonly found in flatwoven or hand-knotted rugs. These fibres are strong and durable but are prone to tufting and some shedding. Softness will vary based on pile height and constructions. Rugs made from these materials are not recommended for moist/damp spaces such as the bathroom, kitchen and dining areas, as this will cause the materials to get mouldy.
Wool A popular natural fibre, Wool is a soft and warm fibre with excellent insulating properties. Delightfully textured and incredibly durable, wool is a classic choice for any space. Great for high-traffic areas, wool is commonly found in tufted, flatwoven, and shag rugs. New wool rugs may experience some shedding within the first few months, however this will diminish overtime with frequent vacuuming.
Viscose & Tencel Expect a lush shine and an oh-so-plush feel. While viscose is a bit more delicate, it's a great choice for many rooms in the home. Ideal for low-traffic areas and commonly found in tufted or hand-knotted rugs. Colours will appear soft and saturated, and may vary depending on viewpoint. Viscose and Tencel are silk-like material made from plant fibres. These are more delicate fibres so they can crush easily under heavy furniture. Any spills will cause irreversible damage and staining to the pile, therefore these rugs are best for low traffic areas.
Polypropylene Almost indestructible, polypropylene is an affordable, durable and easy to clean synthetic fibre. Polypropylene fibres are non-shedding and have very consistent colours as it is added during creation of the fibre rather than the yarn being dyed after. This is the perfect fibre for high traffic areas and for anyone worried about children or pets getting their rug dirty.
Polyester Often more affordable than natural fibres, polyester is durable and easy to clean. Very soft underfoot and good for high traffic areas, this fibre has minimal to no shedding.
Cotton
Generally more affordable than wool, is easy to clean and is a natural fibre.
Huxley - White
Construction Guide
Rug Materials—Choosing the perfect material for your lifestyle There are so many materials available when it comes to rugs and many may think that a wool rug is superior but this is not necessarily the case. Each material has specific benefits and characteristics that are unique based on origin.
Hand
woven, braided, loomed
Due to the way these rugs are loomed, they do not have a pile and can sometimes be reversible. Yarns are braided or woven directly onto a loom for a tight, long-wearing weave with a flat, low profile.
Machine made & Power-loomed Machine made rugs have a consistent design and pile as well as being durable and affordable.
Natural Materials Hand knotted rugs are of the highest quality and durable construction. These rugs are made by hand using traditional techniques and are heirloom rugs that will last a lifetime. Due to their handmade nature, no two rugs are exactly alike. The weft yarn is wrapped and knotted by hand around each warp thread for comfort and quality. Each yarn is then hand-cut and hand-tamped for tightly constructed knots that stand the test of time.
Tufted Tufted rugs are made of the highest quality and durable construction. Using a tufting tool, yarn is passed through a frame-stretched fabric backing onto a drawn pattern using loops instead of knots. This creates a plush and textural pile. These rugs may shed more than woven or knotted rugs.
Miller - 741 - Bone
FAQ’s My rug is shedding, what is going on? Shedding is caused by fibres in the yarn that are cut short and got detached from the pile. Sometimes it might seem like a lot of fibre is coming out of the rug, but this is normal for a new rug and should reduce within a couple of months (but will not stop completely). Wool and viscose are both high shedding fibres. If this is something you would rather avoid, a polypropylene or polyester rug would be more suitable as these are low-shed.
My rug smells, is that normal? In some cases, your rug might have a distinct musty or chemically smell. This smell is non-toxic and will subside after you keep the rug out in the air for a period of time. In some cases, the rug has been wrapped up for a while and has not had a chance to “air out”. The smell will dissipate in a matter of days or weeks.
Should I rotate my rug? Rotating the rug 180 degrees every 3-6 months will ensure that the rug wears and fades evenly.
FAQ’s Do I really need a rug pad? We recommend a pad under every rug. It will keep your rug in place and lay flat, extend the life of your rug, prevent it from curling, wrinkling and slipping. A rug pad will also help maintain the rugs shape and protect floors and carpets against possible colour transfer from the rug.
Which fibre is best for an area rug: natural or synthetic? Natural and synthetic fibres each possess unique characteristics. Synthetic fibres like polypropylene and polyester offer a high degree of durability and stain resistance, meaning it is difficult to wear them out. Natural fibers like wool and cotton have been around for centuries and offer vivid colours, excellent wearability and great appearance retention.
Should I have my area rug professionally cleaned? We recommend having your rugs cleaned only when it is needed. If your rug gets heavy use, cleaning once a year is fine. Average wear and tear necessitates a professional cleaning only once every 2-3 years. Regular vacuuming is recommended to keep your rug in the best shape possible. Use extra caution when cleaning handmade rugs, professional cleaning is recommended.
FAQ’s How do I store my area rug? A rug in storage, especially if it has not been professionally cleaned and properly prepared for storage, can be damaged in a relatively short time. Rolling it for storage is generally the most beneficial. Wrap your carpet in a breathable fabric like a cotton sheet or muslin to keep it protected. If you want expert-level protection, consider wrapping your rug in a polyurethane rug wrap. These rug wraps are designed to provide a superior barrier against dampness and insects and will be more effective than muslin. Do not use plastic to wrap your rug, since it will keep it from breathing. Store the rug off the ground in a cool, and in a dry environment, checking the rug for any signs of damage every few months.
Why is my area rug fading? When exposed to sunlight, rug colours typically fade over time, even if they are fade resistant. Direct sunlight will cause fading faster than indirect sunlight. Jute and wool will fade the fastest. Polyester, acrylic and nylon will fade slower than natural fibres and polypropylene is the most fade resistant. If the rug is partially covered by furniture, you may notice that the exposed portions of the rug have changed colour - this is a normal occurrence. We recommend that you keep the shades drawn during the time of day when the rug is exposed to direct sunlight.
FAQ’s My rug is creased/not lying flat - what do I do? Buckling/creasing or not lying flat can be common with new rugs. The best way to speed up the rug relaxing flat is to reverse-roll / back-roll the rug and apply pressure at the same time on the area where the rug is creased / folded. Leave it back-rolled for a few hours or overnight to give the rug some time for its tension to relax. Then, lay it out again and see how well it worked. If needed, redo your reverse roll and repeat. If the above does not work, also try lying the rug out in the sun for a couple of hours to warm up and loosen the back of the rug to help it lie flat.
I am putting a rug in my childs room, is it safe? All of our rugs are safe for household use under Australian law and regulation. Wool and jute rugs do shed, please note this if you have a young child that may put these fibres in their mouth. Polypropylene and polyester are great options as they do not shed and are incredibly durable. Ensure to air the rug out before putting into the room as they can have a chemical smell when first unwrapped.
FAQ’s Can I put any rug outside if it is under shelter? Only use a rug made for outdoor use outside. Our outdoor rugs are UV stable for up to 100 continuous hours and are able to get damp unlike indoor rugs. To extend the life of your rug, it is suited to a partially/fully covered outdoor area and it is best to avoid allowing the rug to get wet where possible as this will make it heavy and difficult to dry. To assist with drying, lay the rug on a flat, elevated surface with airflow. Hanging over an object when drying may cause it to warp slightly.
What chemicals are used in my rug? All of our rugs are safe for household use under Australian law and regulation and are non-toxic.
There is a tuft sticking out from my rug, what do I do? If your rug is hand made, woven, braided, woven in anyway, there will be imperfections and inconsistencies. Tufts/sprouts are perfectly normal, especially where the end of the yarn pops up from being tucked under the weave. You can push these tufts back in using a blunt instrument.
FAQ’s Why does my rug look different in my house compared to online?
Our images are taken in a studio which has a professional, white lighting and expensive camera equipment, so we can give the best indication of what the product colours are. Your home will have darker lighting and different coloured lighting. The rug will look darker with less natural light and in any warm lighting. There is an element of risk in purchasing any home décor product online. Even when purchasing in a retail store, a product may not appear the same in the customers home as in the store.
Keeping it Clean
The same consideration should go into caring for your rug, as you would do for a beautiful sweater—is it wool, it is cashmere, do I need to hand wash or dry clean? Your rug you will thank you with years of service.
Vacuuming Canister vacuums without beater bars are the optimal type of vacuum to use on rugs Brooms and manual sweepers are also a gentle and effective way to clean rugs If you must use an upright vacuum, use the handheld attachment whenever possible Refrain from running the vacuum over the edges of the rug or the rugs. Instead, use the handheld attachment or carefully place the vacuum on the rug If a rug is reversible remember to vacuum both sides. For hand woven rugs, use extra caution when vacuuming as the suction can pull the weave, alternatively, you can take the rug outside to shake it out
Rotate It is highly recommended to rotate your rug 180 degrees every 3-6 months to balance appearance, fading and to distribute wear evenly.
Outdoor Rugs Outdoor Safe products require regular care and cleaning
To extend the life of your outdoor rug store the rug rolled and in the shade when not in use
Leaving an outdoor rug in direct or indirect sunlight outdoors may cause fading
Professional cleaning & Handmade rugs Use extra caution when cleaning handmade rugs, professional cleaning is recommended.
When in doubt, spot clean and use a professional cleaner
(Wine) Spills and Stains Clean spills immediately
Once a stain is set is becomes much more difficult to clean
Blot the spill with a dry cotton cloth or a clean paper towel
Work from the outer edges of the spill towards the centre to prevent spreading
Never rub a spill as this forces the spill deeper into the rug
To remove any residual staining, dampen a cotton cloth or clean paper towel with clean, cold/lukewarm water. Gently blot with the damp cloth and quickly absorb the moisture on the rug
Please note that Viscose and Tencel rugs should never be cleaned with any water or liquid