Everyday Care

In the direction of the nap or pile…

1. Upright vacuum once a week or more, and/or

2. Sweep with a soft brush or straw broom to freshen.

3. Keep a cotton or terrycloth rag nearby for spills and messes (“insults”).

DO NOT RUB SPILLS AND STAINS

This will only work the insult into the fibers deeper. If the stain persists, call a local professional cleaner immediately.

Your rug should be professionally cleaned every 3-5 years or when you notice the colors to be less vibrant. Carpets in extremely high traffic areas may require more frequent cleaning.

WINE SPILLS / SUGARY DRINKS

1. Prepare Detergent / Vinegar Solution

   • 1/2 pint warm water

   • 1 tsp neutral detergent (e.g. Woolite)

   • 1 tsp white vinegar

2. Blot up the surplus spillage with cloth.

3. Dampen new cloth with detergent/vinegar solution, working from the outer edge of the stain towards the center.

4. Blotting up remainder with other dry cloths to soak up excess wetness and leave the area to air dry.

COFFEE / TEA

1. Prepare Detergent / Vinegar Solution

   • 1/2 cup warm water

   • 1 tsp neutral detergent (e.g. Woolite)

   • 1 tsp white vinegar

2. Blot up the surplus spillage with cloth.

3. Dampen new cloth with detergent/vinegar solution, working from the outer edge of the stain towards the center.

4. Blotting up remainder with other dry cloths to soak up excess wetness and leave the area to air dry.

POOP

1. Carefully without pushing it into the pile, pick up the solid insult.

2. Mix one part water and white vinegar

3. Pour it on a clean rag, then blot the stain.

4. Use a dry cloth to soak up excess wetness and leave the area to air dry.

5. Then vacuum.

URINE / BLOOD

1. Blot up as much as possible with a clean cloth.

2. Mix one part water and white vinegar

3. Pour it on a clean rag, then blot the area.

4. Use a dry cloth to soak up excess wetness and leave the area to air dry.

5. Then vacuum.

CHOCOLATE/FOOD

1. Scrape up excess with a blunt knife.

2. Prepare Detergent / Vinegar Solution

   • 1/2 pint warm water

   • 1 tsp neutral detergent (e.g. Woolite)

   • 1 tsp white vinegar

3. Dampen new cloth with detergent/vinegar solution, working from the outer edge of the stain towards the center.

4. Blotting up with clean dry cloths frequently.

5. Prepare Ammonia Solution

   • 1 cup of warm water

   • 1 tbsp. ammonia

6. Dampen new cloth with ammonia solution, working from the outer edge of the stain towards the center.

7. Blot dry with clean dry cloths.

8. Vacuum

WAX

1. Freeze the Wax - To prevent the wax from getting wet, put ice cubes in a sealed plastic bag on the spilled wax. Get the wax as cold as possible so it will solidify and lift more easily.

2. Scrape up wax with a blunt edge knife.

3. Remove Remaining Wax

   • Set iron at low temperature

   • Place a cloth or paper towel or heavy brown paper on top of the wax

   • Gently iron the stain over the material to absorb the wax

   • Repeat over all areas of stain until the wax has been absorbed into the cloth or paper

   • IMPORTANT: Do not use steam or excessive heat, which will damage the rug!

4. Prepare Detergent / Vinegar Solution

   • 1/2 cup warm water

   • 1 tsp gentle detergent (e.g. Woolite)

5. Dampen new cloth with detergent/vinegar solution, working from the outer edge of the stain towards the center.

6. Blotting up with clean dry cloths frequently.

7. Vacuum

Materials & Sustainability

Hand-knotted rugs are the best choice for your home and the planet.

1. Renewable natural fibers

2. Durable construction will look great for a lifetime

3. At end of life, damaged and used rugs will decompose in landfill

Wool is a protein-based fiber containing natural lanolin oil. Lanolin is the oil sheep secrete to protect themselves from the elements such as rain and cold. Lanolin in combination with the natural construction of wool, makes it very resilient to stains and easier to maintain than most synthetic fibers.

Not only naturally stain resistant, wool is also naturally fire retardant.

Silk is a protein-based natural fiber and, contrary to popular views, very strong – and, of course, beautiful.

Silk has strong tensile strength, and apparently has unique properties beyond making fabulous looking textiles, see the video below for the full story!

Very hard to ignite, silk is also a natural fire retardant.

Note: Rayon and viscose, both names for fake silk fibers used by value focused rug companies, are very weak, fade to disappointing shades, and even break under moderate foot traffic. Plant based, they perform like cotton, at best.

GoodWeave

As members, all of our rugs are woven on certified looms and our rugs carry the GoodWeave Label.

Label Criteria

Licensed producers must meet the requirements of the GoodWeave Standard–a standard rooted in three unwavering principles:

• No child labor is allowed

• No forced or bonded labor is allowed

• Workplace conditions are documented and verifiable

GoodWeave makes regular, unannounced inspections of all production facilities that cover tier one factories and all outsourced production, including homes, to verify compliance with this Standard.

These producers also undergo a separate annual audit to document their performance against the Standard’s following progress principles:

• Freedom of association and collective bargaining are recognized

• No discrimination is practiced

• Decent working conditions are respected, including workplace safety and health, wages, working hours, and disciplinary practices

• Negative environmental impacts of production are identified and minimized 

Label Issuance

GoodWeave certification labels are issued to licensed producers selling products to licensed importers.

• Only licensed producers can use the GoodWeave label

• Producers must first be approved by GoodWeave’s Certification Committee in order to be licensed and use the label

• Licensed producers and their subcontractors must comply with the GoodWeave Standard

• The Certification Committee reviews all cases of noncompliance

Credibility

Meaningful labels help guide informed purchasing decisions. Use the following criteria when evaluating any label claim:

• The claim is clear and free from misleading details

• It is based on substantiated evidence

• Its system is transparent  and information about the claim is freely available and accessible

• There are significant controls as to how the label is issued and used

As a full member of the ISEAL Alliance, GoodWeave complies with ISEAL’s Codes of Good Practice, which are seen as a global reference for developing credible standards. As part of this compliance, GoodWeave is independently assessed by the IOAS against the ISO 17065 standard, which ensures that the organization is free of external pressure, is transparent, has quality control, and producers are treated equally.