Steam cleaner question? (heat, cleaning, carpets, washing)

[jojo61397]

I'm renting one of those rug doctors at a local store on Wednesday or Thursday to "do" my carpets. Can I use it on the two area rugs in my home? One of them is from Turkey, the other one is made in the USA. Both are "Oriental" in style.

[Sheepie2000]

I can't give you any official answer, but I have a Turkish carpet too and I'd be scared to use the machine with cleaner, but I might use it with just plain water. Mine is thick wool and when I bought it in Turkey, I was told by the seller to lay it out on the driveway and hose it off as needed!! I've never done that and I doubt I ever will! I would take forever to dry. I have however bought it to a carpet cleaning company that specializes in Oriental carpets.

[FloridaKash]

I used to clean carpets in a former life. Do you know what material they are made out of?

Synthetics are typically pretty good at holding their color. Just turn down the heat and use very little if any solution.

Wools tend to bleed. Use no heat and very little water with no solution (or use wool lite)

Silk - Ha.... call in a pro.

Honestly, I would not clean any of your rugs with the rug doctor unless it's a synthetic mass produced rug.

[harry chickpea]

Like most things, the answer is maybe. Oriental rugs are sometimes washed in big tumble crates, almost like an outsized washing machine. One thing you do have to watch out for is that some rugs are "tea dyed" and washing can remove that dye. It can be replaced, so it isn't permanent damage.