Before discussing different ways of maintaining a rug, it is important to mention that even though a handmade rug is a work of art, it is made to be used and walked on. Traditionally, handmade rugs, especially in the Middle East, were the only type of furniture; people slept, ate, and sat on them. Older rugs are expected to look worn. With usage, as the top layers of pile (in most cases wool) break, the pile looks shinier and smoother, and with light exposure the colours look more harmonious. With proper use, handmade rugs generally become more valuable. Remember that handmade rugs are not easily damaged, so enjoy your rug without any worries. Meanwhile, you can take the following few steps to make sure that your rug is aging gracefully:

• Vacuum or sweep your rug as you would wall-to-wall carpeting. The only exception is that you need to be careful that the fringes do not get pulled or sucked in by the vacuum cleaner.
• Rotate your rug 180 degrees every few months depending on the extent of traffic. Rotation is necessary for two reasons. First, all parts of a rug should be exposed to light equally so that the colours fade evenly. When colours are exposed to the sun evenly, they become harmonious and the rug ages nicely, but if different parts of the rug receive unequal amount of sun exposure, overtime, one side might look over faded and one side too bright. The second reason for rotation is traffic. All parts of the rug should be exposed to equal amount of traffic so that the pile wears evenly.
• Every two to three years wash the rug professionally. It is important to have it washed professionally, because as the rug is used, dust, dirt and broken fibre get into the foundation. Professionals dust the rug with special equipment to get all of these elements out of the foundation before washing the rug. Then, they usually wash by hand using natural soap. They will also make sure the rug is dried from the surface to the foundation before it is used again. It is important to inquire about their method of wash before choosing a cleaner. Do not take the rug to general carpet cleaning companies because the techniques and chemicals they use for wall-to-wall carpets may not be appropriate for handmade rugs.
• If the rug is to be stored for a long time in a place without exposure to light or air, first vacuum or broom it. Then use mothballs in order to protect it against insect damage. It is best to put the mothballs in the middle of the rug and roll the rug reasonably tight against its nap (against the direction the pile faces) so that it looks like a cylinder. Then the rug should be stored in a dry location.
• In case of water spill, dry the wet spot immediately with a hairdryer on warm temperature. Try to dry both sides of the rug if possible.
• In case of soft drink or alcohol spill, apply salt or baking soda to the spot for a few minutes to absorb the colour of the drink. Then vacuum off the salt or baking soda. After vacuuming, use a wet towel to gently wipe the stain in the direction of the nap (the direction the pile faces). You can wet the towel with regular or carbonated water. Be gentle; do not scrub the rug.
• For old stains, take the rug to a professional handmade rug retailer. Do not try to clean old stains yourself.
• Should you have doubts; take your rug to a reputable retailer for further advice.