Handmade textiles, passed down for generations, are magical. Wrapping yourself in an old quilt can feel like a loved one’s embrace, and walking across a venerable old rug connects you to faraway places and times. Buying an antique rug is a sustainable way to bring a work of art into your home, a luxury that can’t be cloned by machines or measured by currency alone.
My husband and I have collected and cared for antique and vintage rugs from Persia, Nepal, and Tibet for almost two decades. At the end of an exhausting day, our heirloom carpets bring us together, as we get lost in their charming designs of tigers, lions, birds, and butterflies.
But unlike art that hangs on a wall or sits on a shelf, rugs take a daily beating. Grime, oils, and dust dull colors and hurt fibers. They absorb odors, pollen, and pollutants, releasing them back into the air if not cleaned frequently.
If you inherit a well-loved rug or discover a neglected beauty in a thrift store or on Facebook Marketplace, chances are you can bring it back to life.
Professional rug cleaning is pricey, and in certain cases, you should leave it to experts. But many handmade rugs can be cleaned at home with the right tools, some muscle, and lots of patience. It can be pretty fun, too.
