Tribe Home | Rug Care and FAQs

Rugs are an investment piece of every home; therefore, it is essential to take care of them to ensure their longevity.

How often should I vacuum my rug?

Dirt, dust, and other debris can rub against the fibres of a wool rug and damage them. It is very important to use a quality vacuum to remove this debris on a regular basis, at least once or twice a week. In the first few years of a rug’s life it will shed the excess wool fibres left over from the weaving process and are easily removed by vacuuming a few times each week.

How do I vacuum my rug?

The vacuum’s height should be set to 'high'. Ensure your vacuum is set to the lowest setting and does not have a rotating head, as too much agitation will damage the wool fibres which could lead to pilling. For the greatest suction, the vacuum bag or canister should be kept less than half full. The vacuum should be moved in a ‘V’ path instead of back and forth in straight lines. Alternating the direction of the vacuum’s path prevents the fibres from being crushed. Wool rugs can be turned upside down and the underside can be vacuumed as well. The more regularly you vacuum your wool rug, the quicker the shedding of loose fibres will subside.

When and why should I 'professional clean' my rug?

To brighten and extend the life of your rug you should aim to have it professionally cleaned about once a year. This is due to wool rugs needing a thorough cleaning to remove general grime that a vacuum cannot touch. Wool fibres can be tricky to clean and work with, which is why professional cleaning is usually the best option. Wool absorbs much more water than synthetic fibres do, which makes them hard to dry , and (for area rugs) heavy and difficult to manoeuvre. Additionally, many available carpet cleaners these days are simply too alkaline for wool fibres. Please also keep in mind that while carpet manufacturers generally recommend professional cleaning of wool carpets every 12 to 18 months, there are several circumstances that may warrant more frequent cleanings. This includes if you have indoor pets, have young children with a tendency to spill sticky substances on the carpet, or tend to see oily dirt tracked into the home.

What kind of cleaning products should I avoid?

Some cleaners can severely damage a wool rug and should be avoided. Including the following: Dry Powder cleaners: These can leave a residue that is virtually impossible to remove.

Oxygen-based “oxy” cleaners or hydrogen peroxide.
Alkaline cleaners.
Bleach.

My rug is slightly smaller/larger than the size I ordered, is this normal?

All of our rugs are handmade which means they can experience a 3-5% industry variance in both size and colour. This means that your rug may be a few centimetres longer or shorter on either side. This is completely normal and something that helps add to your rug being a one-of-kind finish that is unique to you alone.

In a nutshell:

Do not pull loose threads or pop ups as we sometimes call them, please tuck them back under. You may reinforce them with a small amount of fabric glue to avoid it reoccurring. These are not classified as a fault in the rug. Alternatively, if it's a flat weave, you can trim them with scissors to the original pile height.
Remove spills immediately. If liquid is spilt blot with a clean white cloth by pressing around the spill.
Light vacuum using a high brush setting regularly, one or twice a week. Don’t allow dust and dirt to settle into the fibres.
Exposure to direct sunlight may result in colour fading. Rugs placed in direct sunlight areas should be rotated often.
Pile shedding is a normal characteristic of a textured rug and should settle after 6-12 months. The more you vacuum your rug to remove loose fibres, the quicker the shedding will subside.
Do not dry clean a wool rug.
Use a rug underlay to maintain the life of your rug and avoid slippage.
Never drag furniture across your rug
Each handmade rug attracts a one of a kind finish, please expect a 3-10% variance in size and colour of your rug.
Viscose and Bamboo Silk rugs can be delicate, we recommend contacting a professional and attending to stains immediately.

This guide will help you understand what to expect from your rug, assist with the cleaning and maintenance of your rugs to keep it looking it’s best and ensure its longevity.

Authentic Silk

Silk rugs are durable and will stand the test of time if properly cared for. Great for high traffic areas when Fibre ProTector is applied.

Cleaning

Blot with clean undyed cloth or paper towel.
Ensure all excess liquid is removed, carefully scrape any heavier spills.
Mix one-part white vinegar and one-part water· Use a little solution to blot any excess stain.
If the stain persists, contact a professional cleaner as soon as possible.

Maintaining

Occasionally there will be loose fibres which fall out, they can be vacuumed up or trimmed if still attached to your rug.
Never pull at loose fibres, always trim with sharp scissors.

Linen

Linen softens over time, and rugs made from linen are durable and long lasting. Being a porous fibre which doesn’t react well to spills and stains, we suggest you protect your rug with a protectant such as Fibre ProTector.

Great for high traffic areas when Fibre ProTector is applied.

Cleaning

Blot with clean undyed cloth or paper towel.
Ensure all excess liquid is removed, carefully scrape any heavier spills.
Mix one-part white vinegar and one-part water
Dampen a cloth with this solution to blot any excess stain.
The less liquid used, the less likely the area of linen will stiffen.
If the stain persists, contact a professional cleaner as soon as possible.

Maintaining

Occasionally there will be loose fibres which fall out, they can be vacuumed up or trimmed if still attached to your rug.
Never pull at loose fibres, always trim with sharp scissors.

Wool

Wool rugs are durable and great for families as they are easy to clean.Flat-weave wool rugs are also fantastic for high traffic areas. Textured loose weave designs are a little higher maintenance and best for medium-low traffic areas.

Cleaning

Blot with clean undyed cloth or paper towel.
Mix one-part wool safe detergent, two-part warm water.
Blot stain with mixture and a clean cloth.
If the stain persists, contact a professional cleaner as soon as possible.

Maintaining

Flat weave rugs will subtly shed small tufts of wool that can simply be vacuumed up or trimmed back, this may subside and reduce over time.
Loose knit weave rugs will need some extra love to keep it looking perfect. You can expect your rug to shed, pill and occasionally have loose yarns pop ups however with regular vacuuming, trimming and rotation you can keep your rug looking beautiful.
Raw wool rugs will need some extra love to keep it looking its best self. You can expect your rug to shed, pill and tufts of yarn to come loose, however with regular vacuuming, trimming and rotation you can keep your rug looking beautiful. Our Raw wool rugs are considered high shed rugs, you will experience more shedding with these designs, however, it will subside over time.
Wool/Viscose BlendWool/viscose rugs are durable. Flat-weave wool/viscose rugs are also fantastic for high traffic areas. Textured loose weave designs are a little higher maintenance and best for medium-low traffic areas.

Wool/Viscose Blend

Cleaning

Blot with clean undyed cloth or paper towel.
Ensure all excess liquid is removed, carefully scrape any heavier spills.· Mix two parts white vinegar and one part cold water.
Dampen a cloth with this solution to blot any excess stain.
The less liquid used, the less likely the area will stiffen.
If the stain persists, contact a professional cleaner as soon as possible.Maintaining
Flat weave rugs will subtly shed small tufts of wool that can simply be vacuumed up, this should subside and reduce significantly over time.
Loose knit weave rugs will need some extra love to keep it looking perfect. You can expect your rug to shed, pill and occasionally have loose yarns pop ups however with regular vacuuming, trimming and rotation you can keep your rug looking beautiful.

Viscose, Bamboo Silk, Tencel

Viscose, bamboo silk and tencel are all very porous fibre and once it absorbs liquid it is very hard to get the stain out. We highly recommend using a protectant agent such as Fibre ProTector to avoid irreversible stains.

Cleaning

Blot with clean undyed cloth or paper towel ASAP.· Ensure all excess liquid is removed, carefully scrape any heavier spills.
We then suggest you leave this to the experts. A professional cleaner is best to manage spills and stains on a 100% viscose rug as the fibre is a little more delicate.
Never use water or a home cleaning agent to remove a stain.

Maintaining

Occasionally there will be loose fibres which fall out, they can be vacuumed up or trimmed if still attached to your rug.
Never pull at loose fibres, always trim with sharp scissors.
Viscose, bamboo silk and tencel are softer fibres so it’s best to use felt furniture pads to reduce harsh furniture indentations.
Due to being a softer fibre occasionally viscose and bamboo silk rugs can arrive with creases due to their position when being shipped. These will fade over time with regular use and vacuuming. This process can be sped up by reverse rolling your rug with the pile facing outwards and being left for at least one night.

Polypropylene

Typically used for outdoor rugs, polypropylene is very durable. Rugs made of this can stay outside for the duration of the year, however, we suggest rolling it up during off peak seasons to increase its longevity. Polypropylene should withstand fading for 12 months and will last you 12 months to 5 years, depending on how much you care for it.

Cleaning

Get your hoses out! No need for detergents/solutions, just a blast with some water and you’ll see the dirt and grime wash away.

Maintaining

We also recommend that you rotate and flip the rug regularly to avoid colour fading in the long term and to once again increase its longevity.
Roll your rug up over off-peak seasons.

Hand-woven

There are two styles of handwoven rugs, both made on a horizontal loom. Flat weave rugs are a great low maintenance option. The nature of a flat woven piece reduces shedding, avoids heavy pilling and is perfect for high traffic areas. Loose knit weave rugs are amazingly textured and stylish. The nature of a loose knit rug requires a little more attention by vacuuming and trimming them to preserve the woven design. Best for medium to low traffic areas within a home.

Hand-knotted

Hand-knotted rugs are the most time consuming and highest quality of hand carpet making techniques. It typically takes one weaver 4 to 6 months to create a single hand-knotted rug. They are most durable and long-lasting rugs attributed to the ancient craftsmanship skills.

Hand-loomed

Hand-loomed rugs are often a flat weave pile crafted by three or more people on a horizontal look with a wood beater that knocks each row of yarn tightly together, making a hand-loomed rug durable and perfect for families with children and pets.

Hand-tufting

Hand-tufting is a refined technique on a vertical carpet hanging stand. One weaver maps out a pattern and uses a hand operated gun to follow the design on the stretched frame. The hand-tufting pistol pinches yarn through the pattern to build taut piles making each hand-tufted rug durable and easy to maintain.