A well-made hand-knotted wool rug is built to last generations — many of the antiques we curate are over a hundred years old and still beautiful. A little routine care is all it takes to get there. Here’s everything you need to know.
Start at the front door
The biggest thing that wears a rug out isn't footsteps — it's the fine, abrasive grit shoes carry in, which grinds at the base of the knots like sandpaper. Stop that grit before it reaches the wool and you've done more for the rug than any cleaner can. Put a doormat at every entrance (one outside to scrape, one inside to wipe), keep a shoes-off habit indoors, and set rugs back from thresholds and the kitchen sink, where grit and damp collect. It's free, invisible, and the single most effective thing on this page.
Everyday care
- Vacuum gently, without the beater bar. Use suction only (turn off or lift the rotating brush). The beater bar pulls at the knots and pile over time. Vacuum in the direction of the pile, and avoid running the vacuum over the fringe.
- Rotate twice a year. Rugs wear and fade unevenly depending on foot traffic and sunlight. A 180° turn every six months evens that out so the rug ages gracefully.
- Use a rug pad. A good pad keeps the rug from slipping, cushions every step, reduces wear on the foundation, and improves airflow underneath. We recommend one under every rug.
- Mind direct sun. Strong, constant sunlight will slowly soften any natural dye. Rotating the rug and using sheers during peak sun keeps the color even.
- Go gentler on washed, soft or silk-blend rugs. On our Serenity line and any silk or bamboo-silk blend, vacuum suction-only on the lowest setting and keep the head off the fringe — the same routine, with a lighter touch.
Spills and spots
- Blot immediately — never rub. Press a clean, dry cloth straight down to lift the liquid. Rubbing pushes the spill into the foundation and distorts the pile.
- Work from the outside in so you don’t spread the spot.
- Cold water only for most fresh spills. Skip harsh chemicals and avoid soaking the rug — too much water can affect the dyes and the foundation.
- For anything stubborn or set-in, stop and call us before you experiment. A professional hand-wash is safer than a product that might bleed the colors.
What’s normal (and not a defect)
- Shedding. A new wool rug will shed loose fibers for the first few months — this is the short, leftover pile working its way out, and it slows and stops naturally. Vacuum gently and it passes.
- A wool or natural-dye scent when a rug is new or freshly unrolled. It airs out within a few days in a ventilated room.
- Small variations. Slight irregularities in pile, knotting, color, and dimensions are the signature of a handmade piece — proof a human, not a machine, made it. They are character, not flaws.
- The fringe is structural. On a true hand-knotted rug the fringe is the warp — the foundation threads the rug is tied onto — not a decoration sewn on afterward. Treat it gently.
Professional cleaning & restoration
Every few years, a hand-knotted rug benefits from a proper professional hand-wash — not the machine or steam cleaning used on wall-to-wall carpet. We clean, repair, and restore rugs by hand in our own workshop — re-fringing, re-weaving, water-damage repair, and full restoration — for the rugs we sell and the ones you already own. Learn about our cleaning & restoration service.
Storage
If you need to store a rug, have it cleaned first, roll it (never fold — folding creases the foundation), wrap it in a breathable material (not plastic), and keep it somewhere dry. Air it out periodically to protect the wool.
Common questions
How often should I vacuum a hand-knotted rug?
About once a week in normal use, more in busy areas — always suction-only with the beater bar off, in the direction of the pile, and keep the head off the fringe.
Do doormats really protect a rug?
Yes — more than almost anything else. Most wear comes from abrasive grit tracked in on shoes; a doormat at each entrance plus a shoes-off habit stops most of it before it ever reaches the wool.
Can I use a steam cleaner or carpet shampoo on a wool rug?
No. Steam, machine cleaning and supermarket carpet shampoos are made for synthetic wall-to-wall carpet and can felt the wool, bleed the dyes or harm the foundation. A hand-knotted rug should be hand-washed by a professional.
Is shedding normal on a new wool rug?
Yes — a new wool rug sheds loose fibres for the first few months as leftover pile works its way out. It slows and stops on its own; just vacuum gently.
How often should a hand-knotted rug be professionally cleaned?
Every few years for a rug in normal use, and sooner after a flood, pet accident or set-in stain. In between, your at-home routine is all it needs.
For the full owner's deep-dive — prevention, spills, storage, and the kind of rugs that reward this care — read our complete rug care guide. When a rug needs more than a vacuum, see professional cleaning and repair & restoration, or book a viewing. Questions about your specific rug? Email us — we're glad to help.