Elson & Company Tibetan rugs are resilient. The Himalayan wool contains enough natural lanolin to protect them from general dirt if adequately cared for. Do not use Scotch Guard or Fibermark, as these can cause uneven dirtiness. Elson & Company rugs are woven to withstand everyday use and maintain their beauty with proper care.

Upon discovering a stain, gently flush the area with lukewarm water or club soda and gently blot it dry. It is most effective to keep the spot wet and use a vacuum to pull anything from the knotted rug fibers. Do not oversaturate the stained area, but keep it damp until most of the liquid or spilled item has been sucked up with a vacuum. Once the stain has been elevated and removed, gently blot the rug dry. Gently brush the rug fibers in the same general direction as the other rug fibers. Stains may linger as a result of the fibers facing different directions. It is best to work from the outer edges of a stain inwards to stop the stain from spreading.

For mild cleaning, the only cleanser recommended is a pH-balanced hair shampoo or a pH-neutral liquid soap, such as Woolite, diluted in lukewarm water. No detergent, salt, baking soda, acidic products, or commercial cleaning products, such as Resolve Carpet Cleaner, are recommended. Himalayan wool behaves very similarly to human hair. We encourage clients to absorb spills immediately, as permanent stains largely depend on the length of time a substance remains in contact with the fibers.

Silk, like wool, can be spot cleaned. When cleaning silk, use cold water sparingly. Mud should be left to dry and gently brushed to expose the stain before spot cleaning. For oil-based spills, table salt can be applied to the affected area to help absorb as much of the oil as possible. A professional cleaner should be able to handle stains from ink.

We use the highest quality, color-fast, Swiss dyes that offer the most resistance to fading. However, there are no dyes that are completely resistant to fading when exposed to direct sunlight. Over time, rugs left in strong, direct sunlight will fade slightly. The best way to manage this is to turn a rug annually so any fading is even.

New rugs can pill. This is normal. It is helpful to vacuum a rug often initially until the pilling ceases. Vacuums should not be used on the most powerful setting or with a cleaner head with teeth, as this will damage the rug. Regular vacuuming is recommended for all rugs.

If a thread becomes loose in a rug, rather than pulling on it, carefully cut the thread with sharp scissors. This does not damage the rug.

For deeper spot cleaning or annual rug cleaning, contact a local carpet conservator specializing in hand-knotted, pile rugs.

For further cleaning recommendations, please contact us at info@elsoncompany.com or dianeeb@elsoncompany.com