rug care and
cleaning
A handmade rug is more than decor — it's a legacy underfoot. Meticulously woven by master artisans, each piece deserves thoughtful care to preserve its beauty, structure, and soul. With proper maintenance, these timeless works can last for generations — even centuries. This guide offers refined care practices tailored to your rug’s materials — from everyday upkeep to long-term preservation — ensuring your investment remains as enduring as the story it carries.
Rug Care & Cleaning Guide
At The Kover Co., each rug is more than a textile — it is a legacy. Designed with both people and spaces in mind, our pieces are woven to live with you for decades — and when cared for properly, for centuries.
✧ Everyday Maintenance✧
To maintain your rug’s beauty and integrity:
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Vacuum regularly using a low-suction setting, avoiding rotating brushes or beater heads that can disrupt the fibres.
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Some initial shedding is natural. These loose fibres result from the weaving process and can be gently cleared with regular vacuuming
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If you notice longer strands after shearing, simply trim them to the pile height using a sharp pair of scissors.
We recommend professional cleaning once a year, or as needed based on use and environment.
✧ On Abrash✧
Our rugs are woven with hand-spun yarns — naturally irregular in thickness and tone. When dyed, this yarn creates a subtle, tonal variation known as abrash — a hallmark of handmade craftsmanship. Far from being a flaw, abrash brings life, movement, and authenticity to every piece. Rugs without this nuance tend to appear flat or machine-made.
✧ On Fading✧
We use premium, lightfast dyes, but no dye is entirely immune to sunlight. To ensure even aging, we suggest rotating your rug periodically if placed in direct natural light. This allows any minimal fading to occur uniformly over time.
✧ On Moths✧
Moths are drawn to natural materials and undisturbed environments. To protect your rug:
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Vacuum regularly — this disrupts moth activity and removes eggs.
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Avoid mothballs; they are ineffective and may damage the fibres.
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If needed, contact a specialist for deep cleaning and treatment.
✧ Caring for Wool✧
We use high-quality wool with naturally rich lanolin, a waxy coating that resists staining and enhances softness. For minor spills:
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Blot gently and spot clean using lukewarm water with a pH-neutral soap (like Woolite).
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Never soak the rug — excess moisture may lead to browning.
For mud or wax stains, allow the material to dry fully, then brush off before spot cleaning. For anything beyond surface cleaning, a trusted professional is your best ally.
Stain Care & Material-Specific Advice
✧ Spills & Everyday Incidents✧
In any lived-in space, the occasional spillage is inevitable. For small food-related stains, we recommend using a gentle enzyme-based cleaner — this accelerates the natural breakdown of both the stain and its odour without compromising the integrity of the fibres.
For grease-based spills, immediate blotting with a clean baby wipe can help lift the excess before it settles. For deep grease stains, professional care is advised.
Red wine is notoriously difficult — and common remedies like salt or white wine are best avoided. These acidic solutions can damage natural fibres. Instead, we suggest applying a small drop of pH-neutral wool wash to a soft, absorbent cloth and dabbing the area gently, working from the outer edge inward to prevent the stain from spreading.
For oil-based stains, a fine layer of table salt can help absorb the spill. Press lightly to ensure contact, then brush off gently before spot-cleaning.
If the stain persists, or if the issue involves ink, nail polish, or pet accidents, professional treatment is strongly recommended to preserve the rug’s surface and colour integrity.
✧ Cashmere Care✧
Cashmere is one of the rarest and most refined fibres we use — combining the warmth of wool, the softness of cloud, and the sheen of silk. Naturally porous, cashmere absorbs dye beautifully, resulting in deep, lasting colour. However, this also means it’s highly absorbent to liquids.
If a spill occurs:
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Act immediately. Blot (never rub) to lift excess liquid
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Use a pH-neutral soap in lukewarm water for spot cleaning
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Avoid heat or wringing
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Lay flat to air dry, preserving the yarn’s delicate structure and form
✧ Silk✧
For centuries, silk has been celebrated for its luminous beauty, natural strength, and status as one of the world’s most coveted materials. When woven into rugs, it brings unmatched richness and sheen — a quiet elegance underfoot.
To preserve its brilliance, vacuum your silk rug regularly using a low suction setting without a beater brush. This helps prevent dust from settling and dimming the natural lustre of the fibres.
For minor stains, silk can be spot cleaned similarly to wool — using only cold water and a pH-neutral soap, applied sparingly. Avoid oversaturating the material. If the treated area feels slightly stiff after drying, gently brush the fibreswith soft, even strokes to restore their natural fluidity.
✧ Bamboo Silk✧
Derived from the fastest-growing plant on earth, bamboo silk offers a sustainable alternative to traditional silk — prized for its soft hand, natural sheen, and subtle tonal depth. Though luxurious, it is a delicate fibre and best suited for spaces with minimal risk of spills or heavy traffic.
In the event of an accident, blot immediately with a clean, absorbent cloth to lift excess liquid. If necessary, spot clean using a pH-neutral soap and very minimal water, taking care not to oversaturate the fibres.
Due to its sensitive nature, we recommend relying on a professional rug cleaning specialist for any deeper treatment or maintenance.
✧ General Care & Maintenance✧
While the remedies we’ve outlined are ideal for minor spills and short-term care, we strongly recommend consulting a professional cleaning service for more thorough treatment. For personalised guidance or cleaning referrals, we invite you to visit one of our showrooms or contact our Customer Care team directly.
✧ Fluffing & Vacuuming✧
It is completely natural for new handmade rugs to shed excess fibres in the initial weeks. This fluffing occurs due to loose yarn remnants from the spinning process — a normal trait of artisan weaving, not a flaw. Regular vacuuming will help the fibres settle and the shedding subside.
To protect the structure of your rug:
Use a low-suction setting
Avoid vacuum heads with rotating brushes or teeth
These can pull or stress the yarns and should be avoided.
✧ Loose Threads✧
If you spot a loose thread, do not pull it. Instead, carefully snip it with sharp scissors, level with the pile. This simple action preserves the weave and prevents unnecessary unraveling — a common and harmless occurrence in handmade textiles.