Each year between Christmas and New Years we take a day off of work and spend time together. Last year we went to a center that had several homes that had been replicated. Each home was from a different country and was decorated for the holidays in the traditions of that country. The houses were spaced several yards apart.
There were also old world shops set up to create a small village atmosphere. The homes were life sized and had actors dressed for the time period and country that they were suppose to be representing. You had your choice of walking through the village and having a sleigh ride back to your car, or you could take the sleigh ride to the far end and work your way back. It was a very cold day so we decided to begin walking to the closest house.
The first house was from German decent. The first thing I noticed as we walked in was the beautiful braided rug. I am from German ancestry so I knew that the area rug was an authentic handmade piece. My grandmother always had a colorful braided rug in front of her kitchen sink. She would make them during the winter months.
The woman that was dressed in period costume was sitting in front of the fireplace and was sewing the strips of fabric together that would be used to make the area rugs. All kinds of scrap fabrics are cut into strips and are sewn together to form ropes. The ropes are then braided together. Once the ropes are long enough they are wrapped around each other until the desired size is reached. The braided rug is then stitched together so that it will not uncoil.
My husband and I have talked about learning these braiding techniques to make our own rugs. The women told us that after the holidays are over the different houses stay opened and they have classes to teach the various old world crafts. She was going to be teaching rug braiding in January.
We continued on our tour of the different houses. Each ethnic group has added a different way of celebrating the holidays. It was very interesting to discover where some traditions have originated. We thoroughly enjoyed our day and my husband and I have promised each other that we will learn how to make a braided rug.
So you are the proud owner of braided rugs and you really feel to display those to your friends and guests who frequent your house. In fact even when nobody is due to come in the evening for a sumptuous dinner, you still spread those out because you really love them. Actually you are so much attached to them that unless they are spread out you don't think that the house really becomes home!
Well, I have got nothing against your love for the braided rugs. Indeed they do emit an old world charm and grace and some of the contemporary designs are so attractive that an ordinary room gets converted into a plush royal suite the moment you spread them out neatly on the floor. Some of these rugs become the focal point of attraction in the entire room, especially if they are the products of Thorndike Mills or Colonial Country, just to name a few. And, frankly speaking, you have spent a decent sum of money on them, so why shouldn't you enjoy them to the fullest?
So, these rugs are spread at the entryway, maybe at the patio or even the kitchen and definitely one in the dining room and that large grand wool area rug which you had purchased after so many visits to various websites and retail stores, resides majestically right in the middle of the drawing room, am I right? Well, I may be slightly off the mark! During winter the wool area rug actually goes into the bedroom to give you that snug and cozy feeling and a good night's sleep.
So far so good! But you must be realizing what I am hinting at. All these rugs need to be cleaned regularly so that they actually improve the ambience of the room.
Cleaning The Rugs
Let us first discuss the details of cleaning the wool rug.
You begin by thoroughly vacuuming both the sides of the rug. Then lay it on a large sheet of plastic to protect the floor underneath. Use a carpet cleaning machine that sends out jets of water and then suck it up. I would like to add a word of caution here. Don't use carpet cleaners that have rotating brushes. They will ruin your rug. Use a mild rug cleaner and warm water to clean both sides of the rug. Continue using warm water till the soap is completely removed. Then suck out as much water as you possibly can.
Then leave the carpet to dry flat on the plastic. It may have to be turned over quite a few times to ensure that it is completely dry. Remember a wet wool rug becomes as heavy as an elephant! Never try to handle it alone.
Ensure that the rug has dried completely; otherwise it will start giving off a sour smell! Also you need to be careful that rug retains its shape. So, keep it flat on the plastic for as long as required and after you are absolutely sure that it has indeed become dry, sling it over a sturdy railing to air it from both sides. Very soon you will get back the gleaming carpet which you had originally brought home proudly from the shopping mall!
You have to follow similar steps while cleaning cotton based rugs but you may need to use more water as dirt and grime tend to stick more firmly to cotton than wool.
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