Vacuuming
Vacuum hand-knotted wool rugs once a week under normal foot traffic, twice a week in high-traffic areas. Use suction only — turn off the beater bar/rotating brush, since it can pull at the knots and loosen fibers over time. Vacuum in the direction of the pile, not against it. On fringes, vacuum lightly or use a hand brush; a vacuum brush head can catch and fray the fringe threads.
Shedding
New hand-knotted wool rugs shed for the first 6–12 months. This is normal — it's loose fiber left over from weaving, not a sign of poor quality or a rug falling apart. Shedding tapers off naturally with regular vacuuming. If a rug is still shedding heavily after a year, that's worth checking, but early shedding on its own is not a defect.
Spills
Blot immediately with a clean, dry white cloth — don't rub, and don't scrub. Rubbing pushes the spill deeper into the pile and can distort the fibers. For liquids, blot from the outside of the spill inward to stop it spreading. For solids, scrape off gently first, then blot. If needed, use a small amount of mild, pH-neutral soap in cold water, applied to the cloth and not directly on the rug. Avoid hot water, steam, and household cleaners with bleach or ammonia — these can strip natural wool dyes and damage the fibers. Let the rug air dry fully before walking on it; a fan or open window speeds this up. For wine, ink, or pet stains, professional cleaning is the safer option — DIY treatment can set the stain permanently.
Cleaning Hand-Knotted Wool
Hand-knotted wool rugs should get a deep clean every 1–2 years, or sooner in homes with pets or heavy traffic. This should be done by a professional rug cleaner experienced with hand-knotted pieces, not a standard carpet cleaning service — hand-knotted rugs are woven differently from machine-made carpet and can be damaged by high-pressure steam cleaning or harsh chemical treatments.
Between professional cleans:
- Rotate the rug every 6 months so wear and sun fading are even.
- Keep rugs out of direct, prolonged sunlight where possible — wool dyes fade over time with UV exposure.
- Use a rug pad underneath; it reduces friction wear on the backing and prevents slipping.
- Never machine-wash or dry-clean a hand-knotted wool rug at home.
With this care, a well-made hand-knotted wool rug will hold its color and structure for generations — that durability is part of what you're paying for with hand-knotted craftsmanship over machine-made alternatives.