Caring For Your
Kaleen Rug And Broadloom

All Kaleen products are unique by nature. Routine care and cleaning are vital to maintaining the long-term durability and appearance of your product. For maximum appearance retention, rotate for rugs every 3-6 months. Keep your rug out of direct sunlight as much as possible. With the exception of our Indoor/Outdoor products that have been UV protected, rugs in direct sunlight will fade over time.

For maximum appearance retention, rotate your rug every 3-6 months. Kaleen’s outdoor products come UV treated to prevent fading from the sun. Rugs placed in direct sunlight will fade at a faster rate than rugs that are not.

How to Clean Spills From Your Rug

INDOOR RUGS – Spills must be cleaned immediately after they happen. Once a stain is set, it becomes difficult to get out. You should never rub a spill, as this will force the spill deeper into the rug’s fibers. Gently blotting the spill with a clean white cloth or paper towel is the preferred way to absorb any spills. Use lukewarm water on wool rugs to remove any residual spill, as wool is prone to bleeding and staining. Clean water and dry towels should be used to absorb any residual cleaner or moisture.

SPILLS – Minor spills on your Kaleen rug or broadloom except for our hand-processed Jute, Tensil OR Viscose products, may be cleaned by first scraping off any visible debris with a dull instrument. Then mix a minimal amount of dish soap with a cup of lukewarm water. With a clean sponge and your soap mixture, gently remove the remainder of the stain (Avoid using excessive water). Blot the area with a dry cotton towel or white paper towel and allow it to dry thoroughly. Professional cleaning is always recommended to achieve the best results.

OUTOOR RUGS – To clean your indoor/outdoor rugs, use a spray bottle and combine 2% dish soap to 98% cold water and mix well (do not shake). Using the spray bottle, apply the detergent and water solution to the entire top side of the rug. Let the solution sit for a few minutes and then rinse using your garden hose until the water runs clear, and your rug is clean. Do not use any harsh chemical cleaners or power washers on your rug as this may speed-up the fading and affect its durability.

• To remove stubborn stains on natural fiber rugs such as wool, professional cleaning is recommended.
• Jute rugs are extremely sensitive to moisture and humidity. We recommended these rugs to be cleaned professionally if necessary.
• Tencel/Viscose rugs and broadloom are extremely sensitive to moisture & humidity. Under no circumstances should these products come into contact with water as discoloration may occur.
• Synthetic fiber rugs made from materials such as Olefin, Polypropylene, or Nylon can be cleaned with ordinary household cleaners such as Fantastic or Formula 409 to remove more stubborn stains and grease. Do not use cleaners that contain bleach.
• Viscose & Chenille blended yarns rugs are not suitable for high traffic area.

WARNING: Attempting to clean your rug with any of the following, including, but not limited to, hot water extraction, carpet shampooing, or commercial aerosol foam products intended for synthetic fiber carpet may permanently damage your rug and void your warranty. Excessive exposure to water must be avoided with all-natural fiber products. Kaleen recommends professional cleaning only.

Vacuuming Your Rug

Canister vacuums without beater bars are the preferred type of vacuum to use on rug. Brooms and manual sweepers are also gentle and effective tools for cleaning your rug.

Many of the upright vacuums of today are designed to be extremely powerful. The high rate of suction can pull out the threads from the back of a rug and loosen its fibers. To avoid this, you should use the handheld attachment to vacuum your area rug whenever possible.

If you choose not to use the handheld attachment on your upright vacuum, make sure to turn off the vacuum’s beater bar, as it can pull fibers from the face of the rug and cause it to become disheveled. If the beater function can’t be turned off, set it to the highest pile cleaning position before vacuuming.

EDGES – If the rug has serged (finished) edges, refrain from continuously running the vacuum over the edges. This may loosen fibers along the edges and cause them to deteriorate.

FRINGES – Avoid running the vacuum over the fringes, as fraying may occur. To clean fringes use the handheld attachment.

REVERSIBLE – If a rug is reversible, make sure to vacuum both sides to remove dirt that can prematurely wear your rug out.

Professional Cleaning

Kaleen always recommends using a professional area rug cleaning expert. Cleaning handmade rugs requires a process different than cleaning wall-to-wall carpet. Before cleaning you should inspect the rug with the rug cleaning expert. Get a signed receipt and guarantee of work before the job is performed.

Get To Know Your Rug

All rugs are either handmade by skilled artisans or made by machines and are inspected after finishing, making sure they meet Kaleen’s strict quality standards. Here are seven simple facts that will help you to understand your rug and prolong its beauty.

COLOR VARIATION – No two rugs are alike. Slight color variations are normal for handmade rugs as dye lots may change between manufacturing periods.

ODOR – Odors can be caused by several things such as dyes, yarns, and from being sealed in protective wrapping for long periods. Most odors will dissipate within a week after the rug has been removed from the protective wrap.

SHEDDING – All wool rugs will shed. Shedding will subside over time, depending on the traffic and amount of wear. Typically shedding will subside after the rug has been vacuumed approximately 20-25 times. Some rugs will shed for their lifetime, which is perfectly normal.

FADING – Rugs that are exposed to direct sunlight will fade at a faster rate. We recommend always rotating your rugs every three months for even exposure. Fading over time is typical for all rugs, even rugs treated with UV protectant.

CREASES – If your rug was rolled or folded during shipping, it might have creases. Creases should disappear within a week or two after the rug has been laid flat. Reverse rolling the rug and leaving it overnight will help reduce creases and even out the edges. Fading over time is typical for all rugs, even rugs treated with UV protectant. We recommend always rotating your rugs every three months for even exposure.

WEAR – Rugs of any material wear over time due to how much foot traffic they receive. To get a longer life out of your rug, we recommend rotating them every 3-4 months, which will help to balance color and evenly distribute wear.

LOOSE FIBERS – Loose fibers are a normal part of the break-in process of handmade rugs. To remove these, just snip them off even with the pile using a small pair of scissors. Pulling the fiber out can cause a deterioration of the backing.

VISCOSE MATERIAL – Although Kaleen uses the highest quality materials in all of our rugs, some materials may require special care. For example, while viscose adds sheen and softness, it is made of wood pulp that is broken down and formed into fibers. Viscose is more delicate than wool and not advised for high-traffic areas. Special care must be taken when cleaning rugs that contain Viscose material.

Using A Rug Pad

Extend the life of your rug and reducing wear and tear by adding a rug pad. Rug pads enhance air circulation between the rug and floor and prevent accidents by holding the rug in place. Rug pads also add extra comfort underfoot by providing additional cushioning and support while also protecting your floors.

Fibers

The starting point of any rug is the fibers. Fibers are best described as fine threads that are twisted (spun) together to create yarn. There are seven primary fibers used in rugs today: Wool, Cotton, Jute/Sisal, Silk/Viscous, Nylon, Polypropylene/Olefin, and Polyester.

WOOL

Wool is the classic choice for floor covering material. Since ancient times, wool has been used to weave rugs and carpets and will last for years. The superior properties found in wool assure quality, function, and design. Wool is an animal fiber taken from the hair of the sheep. These protein fibers have characteristics that make wool the premium rug material of choice. At Kaleen, we source our wool globally to ensure consistent quality.

NYLON

Nylon is a petrochemical synthetic fiber made from carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, and hydrogen. Nylon has good resilience, abrasion retention, durability, and color retention. In areas regarding issues such as soiling and cleaning, nylon performs very well and is resistant to staining if it receives a stain-resistant treatment. These properties of nylon make it easy to clean and care for.

POLYPROPYLENE/OLEFIN

Was first introduced into the carpet industry from Italy in the late 1950’s. Offers good stain and moisture resistance.Proven performance features, unique aesthetics and exceptional value for both residential and commercial carpeting. These yarns are offered in a range of deniers, which are twisted and heat set. Polypropylene is the fastest growing carpet fiber in popularity. It is naturally stain and fade resistant.

TENCEL

TENCEL® is a natural, human-made fiber derived from wood pulp (Eucalyptus) sourced from sustainable tree farms. Tencel® textiles are created through the use of cutting edge green technology with a minimal impact on the environment.

BLENDS

Different fibers can be combined to create yarns with various qualities in performance and style. One of the more popular blends is 80% wool and 20% nylon. These two fibers combined create a more durable and stain-resistant yarn that just wool alone. More modern blends combine polyester with nylon, as well as various acrylic blends.

SISAL

Sisal is a natural fiber derived from the ‘agave sisalana’ cactus plant native to southern Mexico. The largest producers of sisal are in northeast Brazil and Africa. Sisal is not the same fiber as coir or Jute. Sisal is stronger and more durable than other natural fibers. This makes sisal rugs perfect for high traffic areas such as living rooms, family rooms, hallways, and more. Natural fibers provide a massaging underfoot, preferred for places where you do not sit on the floor. Sisal should only be used in a covered area protected from the elements. Natural fiber rugs should never be exposed to rainfall or allow to become water-saturated (i.e., sisal and seagrass are NOT for bathroom, sauna, Jacuzzi, uncovered patio deck, swimming pool or rooftop patios).

JUTE

Although traditionally used as carpet backing, Jute is also used for area rugs and carpet. Jute is a long, shiny fiber that can be spun into coarse, strong threads. The Jute fibers are composed primarily of the plant materials cellulose, lignin, and pectin. Jute is a rainy season crop that grows best in warm, humid climates. China, India, and Bangladesh rank as the top producers of Jute. Other than area rugs Jute can also be woven into curtains, chair coverings, carpets, and burlap. The soft texture of Jute rugs makes it the perfect choice for bedroom floors, but not practical for high-traffic areas.

INSTALLATION: BEST PRACTICES FOR KALEEN BROADLOOM:

• Check dye lot colors before seaming from different rolls.
• Only use a loop pile cutter to make cuts for seams.
• Only short side seams are recommended, no butt seams.
• All trimmed edges should be treated with a latex seaming adhesive to assure that loose and cut yarns are not left to ravel or pull out.
• Power stretchers and knee kickers should have teeth on a lower setting to prevent damage to material and/or subfloor.
• Lay carpet pieces side by side to make sure you have a pattern match before cutting.

In the event, you are having issues getting the seaming tape to stick to the secondary cotton canvas backing or if it appears the secondary backing is loose.  You can remove the backing at the site where the seam tape will be applied to ensure you are seaming to the primary action back of the carpet and then proceed with seaming as per the guidelines above.