Showing posts sorted by relevance for query bath rugs. Sort by date Show all posts
Showing posts sorted by relevance for query bath rugs. Sort by date Show all posts

Thursday, August 25, 2011

Bath Rugs Are An Intregral Part Of The Bathroom

The term bathroom given to a certain room in the house or any establishment for that matter, does not come without its set of expectations and responsibilities. It denotes being able to really feel at ease while going about crucial hygienic pursuits such as answering to the call of nature and showering or bathing. Think about how calming and relaxing it is to be able to quietly unwind in the bathroom after a prolonged day's work. When such space is not able to project the level of consolation preferred, a sensation of incompleteness ensues that tends to disrupt other pursuits you have within the day.

Thanks to human ingenuity in the field of home decorating and interior designing, individuals now have various selections to pick from in decorating their bathroom. Amongst the most wanted accessories of the bathroom are bath rugs. Not only do these serve to break the monotony of your floor area, but it also has a useful goal of guarding one from unintentional slips or falls when moving about a moist floor, which is very widespread.

It can be fun to shop for floor coverings as you get to know different makes, styles, forms, designs, and colors?from the most conservative to the most eccentric, from the most elegant to the homiest. If one does not know what distinct kind to get for their bathroom space, they can always look at home improvement periodicals and tv shows for inspiration. A good aspect about consulting such resources is being able to get other ideas for decorating your space. Another option is to visit various local or online stores and ask what kind of bath rug will be suited for you.

If you are not the inventive type then it would be good to invest in bath rugs sets. This will give you bath rugs that are comparable in patterns and makes, but of various colors and sometimes style. Not only will this allow you to conserve time in selecting alternating rugs to use when cleaning one, but it can also be simpler on the spending budget. This is because bath rug sets are comparatively cheaper to obtain as compared to acquiring per piece. Rugs sets are also beneficial if you have more than one bathroom in your house. With practice and the correct resources, you can later on mix and match rugs in one area as your first try at interior decoration.

Thursday, July 16, 2009

Moroccan Rugs - How To Cheer Up Your Home Decor

Adding a touch of ethnicity to your home’s interiors by using furniture, furnishings, and rugs is a sure way to brighten the atmosphere! Over the past few years, decorating homes in ethnic styles has become extremely popular. Sensing the demand for original tribal art from various places around the world, even big stores such as Target have been known to launch complete furnishing lines that reflect a particular culture or region such as Indian or Japanese home furnishing lines.

One of the most popular emerging styles is Moroccan, especially in the rugs and carpet industry. Hand-woven Moroccan rugs are a fantastic way to invite warmth and create a bright and charming atmosphere in your home.

Moroccan rugs have been infusing the magic of color and art to the homes of millions over the world. Moroccan rugs and art have been widely connected to the west and examples of this can be seen in Bauhaus movement or in the works of American designers like Billy Baldwin during the 1960’s and 1970’s.

The simple geometric patterns of Moroccan rugs have been used for long to lend a stylish, urbane and sophisticated look to most of the modern furnishings. The famous pile carpets from the Middle Atlas Mountain region of Morocco are proudly displayed in renowned historic houses such as Frank Lloyd Wright's iconic Fallingwater and Charles and Ray Eames spectacular Pacific Palisades house in California.

And with the late 1990’s, Moroccan rugs revival was imminent as designers and public showed a renewed interest for elements of the 1960’s and 70’s era both in terms of style and color. Bright and warm hues of oranges and saffron yellows reflecting in Moroccan rugs geometrical patterns were scene stealers. Moreover, these rugs are made from spun wool and had an authentic indigenous character making them ‘one-of-a-kind’ with a quality that was hard to find in their synthetic factory made modern cousins.

Moroccan rugs were and are still being made by the Berbers, who are an indigenous tribe of North African region living in Morocco. These weavers use hand-dyed wool to weave the rugs and each rug is unique in its design, use of colors, and patterns. The designs of Moroccan rugs are often similar to those found in the weaving of Native Americans.

Another type of Moroccan rugs are ‘kilims’ or ‘hanbels’ though these are lightweight, flat in weave and motifs are made with variations of red, blue, green, yellow, mauve and white. The price of Moroccan rugs and kilims are usably determined by the size, quality of the design and the colors used.

Why Buy Moroccan Rugs?

A holistic mix of modern and ethnic styling and design, Moroccan rugs lend a distinctly stylish look to your home decor. Warm and bright, they can simply liven up any space and make it look trendy, colorful and luxurious. Romance is an integral part of Moroccan culture and your Moroccan furnishings can bring some of that feeling in your room or home.

Rectilinear Moroccan carpets and rugs are visually striking and rich, and vivid with interesting motifs, making them a perfect flooring accessory for your living room or bedroom. Made from organic, hand woven wool, Moroccan rugs can be hung on walls hanging or used as a throw.

Let’s look at some of the things you should know before you set out to purchase Moroccan rugs for your home:

Rugs Authenticity –Always shop around. Extremely low priced rugs may mean that the products are not authentic. All Moroccan rugs are made from wool and have very bright colors. Also, good quality rugs should have 120 knots/square inch of weave; turn the carpet over to look at the knots. Handmade carpet will feature variations in the knots as compared to factory made carpets. Ask the shopkeeper if you can burn a small bit of the fringe to check the authenticity of the material – silk and wool being natural fibers will smolder when burnt.

Rugs Design—Bold patterns, visually enticing motifs and sparkling colors, Moroccan rugs are eye-catching to say the least. If your room already has a lot of visual movement and your furnishings are heavily designed then opt for a less conspicuous pattern.

Rugs Formality—Casual and comfortable appeal of the Moroccan carpets is a reflection of the tribal heritage of the indigenous people. You may not be able to achieve an authentically layered look as the Moroccan rugs are made in larger sizes to fulfill modern living room requirements.

Keep these things in mind when buying Moroccan rugs and enliven your home decor today!

Tag : rugs,moroccan rugs,bath rugs,braided rugs,home decor

Wednesday, December 29, 2010

How to Remove Dog Pee Out of Rugs

After a long tiring day at work you come home only to have your nose bombarded with a horrid smell. You start your investigation to find the source of the foul odour and to your horror it is your favorite area rug carpet. Your beloved dog has peed on it while you were away. Upon further investigation you also find that this wasn't the only time your rug was used as an indoor bathroom. Now what do you do? First don't panic, I know easy to say not always easy to do. Grab some COTTON Towels, do not grab any cleaners or spot removers, just cotton towels.

Depending on if your rug is wool, synthetic, or another fiber type and if your rug is hand-knotted, hand tufted, or machine-made will decide how easily urine will be removed from your rug. These tips are at your own risk since I do not know your exact type of rug. Getting a professional WoolSafe area rug cleaner to deal with urine is always best.

The thing about pet urine is the older it is the harder it is to get out of area rugs. When you get a new puppy it almost guaranteed they will pee on your rugs, A LOT. Do not wait until your puppy is fully trained to get the rug taken care of. When you first notice that your rug is used as a bathroom get it professionally cleaned and afterward if you don't need to use the rug keep it stored away until your puppy is fully trained.

Another fact about your dog peeing on your rug is when you catch them doing it, it probably isn't the first time they have done it. Depending on the type of construction your rug has it may be hard to see where your dog has peed. The only real way to tell is to get to down and start smelling your rug. Dogs tend to like to pee in the corners, the middle of the rug if it isn't covered by furniture, near furniture legs and by entrance doors. A round or oval urine stain is from a female, and of course a splatter is from male.

When you do find that your rug is being used as an indoor bathroom this is what you can do:

  • If the urine is fresh place cotton towel on the floor under where the urine is and take a folded white cotton towel and blot the spot by stepping on the towel all around the urine. When the towel has become too wet, use another clean, cotton towel and continue to step all over the spot until you are getting no more wetness on the towel. Check the towel underneath your rug to see if it is getting too wet. Change the towel as needed to protect your floor from the urine.
  • Now dampen a towel with water and blot the top of the rug where the urine was. DO NOT RUB your rug in a circular motion. This causes pile distortion which is permanent. Keep the urine spot moist until you can get your rug to a professional wool safe area rug cleaner the next day.
  • Do not wait days or weeks to get your rug taken care of. The longer the urine is in your rug the harder it is to remove. If you are unable to personally take the rug in see about getting the cleaners to pick it up.

When you have not seen your dog peeing on you rug, but find out from the odour, or you were moving the rug and noticed your floor has evidence of urine spots, there isn't much you can do to fix the rug yourself. When the urine is absorbed by your rug and is now dry and any efforts you make by applying miracle cleaners from bottles will completely ruin your valuable rugs.

The best and safest thing to do is get it to your WoolSafe area rug cleaners as soon as possible. Anything you may try can ruin your rug. Here at Luv-a-Rug Cleaners in Victoria BC, Canada we see rugs all the time that have been permanently damaged by DIY (Do-It-Yourself) cleaning. It isn't worth the hassle or expense to try to clean your rug yourself when it comes to urine removal or for that fact most spills.

Whenever you are in doubt call your professional area rug cleaners.

Since there are more than enough articles written about DIY rug and carpet cleaning here are some things to avoid using on area rugs:

  • Baking Soda, it can discolour wool area rugs, plus it is not made for used on rugs
  • Oxi-sprays, not made for any type of area rugs period! (read the fine print on the bottle, the risk is all yours)
  • Hosing your rug with a power washer, can cause the pile to change texture, your rug to warp or worse your rug to start coming apart
  • Any cleaners or spot removers that are not WoolSafe, if they don't say anything about being safe for wool they can cause permanent damage to your rugs
  • Ammonia, it is not made to be used on area rugs
  • Bleach and any cleaners with bleach, not made for use on rugs

Things that are safe to use on most rugs for spills:

  • Water to dampen the area, not wet the area. getting some area rugs wet causes damage
  • Salt to absorb red wine spills and most wet spills, make sure it is regular white salt, not a flavoured salt
  • Oatmeal/ Quick Oats absorbs wet spills
  • Vinegar mixed with water in a 2 parts water to 1 part vinegar for urine on wool rugs or if your rug bleeds dye easily
  • A dry cleaning product called Host Sponges. Call around to carpet and rug cleaners to buy this moist cleaner that absorbs dirt. Made from corn husks and citrus. It is designed to clean your wall to wall carpet and is Wool safe

To help prevent your dog from starting to use your rugs as indoor bathrooms:

  • Sprinkle your rugs with Pepper when you first put them down, either as a new rug or after it was cleaned. As long as the pepper doesn't get wet it won't stain your rugs and you can vacum it up after a couple of days. This is good to do when you get a puppy or a new dog in your house, and after you move to a new place.
  • When you go away for vacation and have someone house-sitting roll up your rugs and put them in an unused room. Pets don't like their routines messed with and when you are not there they can act out of character and pee on your rugs.

Check the floor where your rug covers and the backs of your rugs if you suspect they may have been peed on. Whenever your dog stops following their regular bathroom routine it may because they found a more convenient place to go, your rugs.

There is no magic solution for urine removal at home. There are products made that promise you great results, but most cover up the odour and are not made for every fiber type used to make area rugs. The best thing to do is to get your rugs professionally cleaned as soon as you know they have been peed on. Pets will always seek out your rugs for their business because they are absorbent just like outdoors, even if you only own one rug they will target it.

Tag : rugs,bath rugs,area rugs,floor rugs

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mary_J_Morris


Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Living Room Rugs Can Bring A Profound Impact To Your Home's Decor

Living room rugs are a great way to update, refresh, and transform the look of virtually any room. Many living room rugs also look great in kitchens, dining rooms, bedrooms, and even children's rooms. For a nominal cost, a living room rug can transform the look of the room without changing anything else. Decor, paint, and professionally installed carpet can be very costly. A vibrant and complementary living room rug can breathe new life into a room and make it fresh again.

Living room rugs come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Accent rugs are typically a few feet wide and a couple of feet long. These look great in the entryway of a home or as a bath mat in the bathroom. Colorful accent rugs also look great under tables and consoles on hardwood floors. Runners are long, skinny rugs that are often perfect for displaying in hallways, entryways, and foyers leading to the living room. They have a "red carpet" feel to them that makes them inviting and special. Area rugs come in a variety of sizes and are generally square or rectangular, although some can also be round. They are often several feet long and wide and feature intricate patterns, colors, borders, and really become the centerpiece of the room. Area rugs look great under a coffee table in the center of the room. Others purchase area rugs for use under a dining room table or to place under a decorative wingback chair or sofa set.

Rug prices can range from a few dollars up to thousands of dollars. The materials used to make the rug, design processes and manufacturing required to produce the rug, and the designer can all affect the bottom line. Wool, silk, and real fur rugs are often hand-tufted, handcrafted, and can be very expensive. Avid rug collectors visit galleries and manufacturing plants to acquire unique pelts and pieces that are assembled from the finest crafters in the world. A mid-priced, well-made, colorful rug manufactured by mass retailers and merchandisers is sufficient for most homes.

Choosing a pattern or color scheme for a rug is always the most difficult part of the process. Some choose a rug to essentially act as floor art, becoming the focal centerpiece of the living room. Others choose living room rugs that will complement an already-existing color palette or design theme. Living room rugs can feature scrollwork, sports themes, novelty designs, braiding details, color blocking, flowers, polka dots, stripes, and virtually every pattern in between. Many floor and rug centers will happily provide swatches to customers. These small pieces of fabric can be brought home and compared to existing furniture, painted walls, and other rugs to ensure that it will look good in the room before purchasing.

Those will small children or pets will enjoy purchasing cotton blend rugs that can be machine-washed or spot cleaned. Spills and stains are easily treatable on cotton blend rugs. Cotton rugs can also withstand repeated washing and hold colors truer longer. For those that enjoy luxurious fabrications, wool and silk-blend rugs are elegant, yet durable, and can easily last a lifetime. Eco-conscious consumers can purchase rugs that are constructed from recycled plastic bottles, bamboo, and other green materials.

Most living room and area rugs can be vacuumed and cleaned with a professional carpet cleaner or home steam-cleaning unit. It is always best to check the manufacturer's guidelines and care instructions to determine the best method of keeping the rug clean, vibrant, and looking great for many years. rugs made of natural fur, animal skins, or other delicate materials may need to be professionally cleaned by a leather specialty shop or professional dry cleaner.

Whether the rug is small, large, round, rectangular, expensive, less costly, colorful, or muted, living room rugs can instantly transform the look of any room. Area rugs look great on bare hardwood floors and carpeted floors.

Friday, January 7, 2011

Get A Rug, Add Lots Of Style To Your Home

Searching for flooring possibilities can lead you in many directions. Carpet, hardwood, laminate and ceramics all provide intangibles that add a certain style to your home. Area rugs are no different. They offer a good source of design inspiration mainly because of their variety and functionality.

Below are a few of the advantages that adding an area rug can provide your residence.

- Rugs can be easily moved and adapted throughout your house. Moving your rug from one room to another is straightforward, and it is possible to even select to rotate rugs based on the season or to give your room a new look. You're not resigned to making use of the rug you select just for one single area.

- Depending on the room you place it in, an area rug can play different roles. Rugs can emphasize or accent your design, whether it really is the finish of your table or the color of your wall. They may possibly also act as the centerpiece of a room inside your residence. The foyer or living room provide areas where your rug can stand out on its own and construct the feel of a room.

- Like carpeting, the textures of rugs can vary to match the desires and requirements of you and your property. Thicker, fuller rugs will present your residence with comfort and elegance while sturdier, rougher rugs will protect your high traffic areas and add traction for slippery floor surfaces.

- Rugs establish spaces, especially in huge rooms. Your area rug can help divide a room inside your residence into a far more manageable shape if you're unsure what to do with an unusually wide or long space. Your rug can also separate a section of a room for dining and amusement purposes.

Area rugs are able to adjust to the multiple wants of your residence, creating a number of styles in the process. They add just another choice to think about when you are trying to find flooring.

Tag : rugs,area rugs,bath rugs,kitchen rugs,floor rugs

Sunday, April 26, 2009

Bathroom Rugs - The Centrepiece Of Your Room

No modern bathroom is truly complete without a bathroom rug of some kind. These rugs are available in a wide variety of shapes, sizes and styles - there's something for everybodys taste out there. From your contemporary round bathroom rug to big shaggy bathroom rugs you're spoiled for choice when shopping online. Another nice thing about a rug like this is that it allows you to update the bathroom itself by just changing the rug and some of the basic accents and accessories in the bathroom - you don't always need to redecorate the entire room.

This can obviously save you a lot of money down the line as you won't need to totally redecorate your bathroom to give it a fresh look and feel each time you want to change it up a bit. Visualize your bathroom as it currently is and then change it a bit by changing the bath rug for a new style or color. Visualize how this can and will change your bathroom. Isn't it amazing how such a small change can make such a big difference to the entire room?

Bathroom rugs are popular for a lot of reasons but the main one is safety - their original purpose was to stop people from slipping on a wet or dramp floor after bathing or showering. The bathrug eliminates this fear because it gives the bather a stable and comfortable surface to dry themselves on. Bath rugs are really useful in a busy house with kids where you'll have the shower in use for hours at a time. If you have a very large bathroom rug then it can span that distance between the shower and the sink so you can move from showering to brushing your teeth and shaving in safety too!

These days bathroom rugs have moved beyond mere function. They obviously do still serve a purpose in terms of providing a safe surface to stand on after showering or bathing. It's just that they've also become a very real and very common bathroom accessory and are now normally integral in the design or remodelling of any bathroom; in much the same way that carpets or throw rugs are in any other room. Bathrooms are now becoming as much a statement of a persons individual style as they are a functional room that all humans need. In a way your bath rug will form the centerpiece of the room and will attract a lot of attention from visitors and say a lot about your taste and style.

Some people worry about being able to find the perfect rug.... don't worry it does exist and will complement your bathroom completely. It doesn't matter what style or pattern you're looking for you'll be able to find a match for it in at least one of the online stores and at a great price too. Some of my own personal favourites are dolphin designs (how can you not like dolphins?) and the new wooden duckboard mats that would be ideal for a more rustic bathroom design.

Your bath rug gives you a real chance to add a major dash of your own personality to your bathroom - make the most of this opportunity!

Saturday, August 1, 2009

Safe and Colorful Area Rugs For Your Home

Accidents are common in many households in the United States, and even in other parts of the globe. One of the common types of these household accidents is sliding or slipping on floors that result to mild or serious injuries.

The group of persons who are at high risk or prone enough to meet this type of mishap are those that belong to a very young age or toddlers and kids, and those who are in an old age group. But anyone can meet this injury, especially when being extra careful inside the bathroom, in the kitchen, or when crossing a wet floor is not observed properly.

The best solution for this predicament at the household is to place area rugs on spots where there is a greater possibility of sliding or loosing balance to occur, especially on bathrooms or near a bathtub shower.

Area rugs are effective in holding a person in place, especially when balance control is interrupted. The frictional force between the rug and the floor is responsible for the hold phase. So instead of the person getting injured, his safety is secured.

But the right kind of the raw material it is made of when choosing area rugs should be considered as the top priority. There are those, which are made from poor quality of textile that instead of helping you stand in place causes added risk for injury.

There a variety of materials used for area rugs, but the best ones are made from wool. Wool has a greater frictional force that holds a person in place when balance is getting out of control. It even works for heavy persons.

There are also area rugs that are well braided and that give creases or uneven surface. These creases are responsible in keeping the person from sliding. Compared to a smooth textile, braided rugs are more effective for ambulation control.

Area rugs can also be use as decorative materials inside your home. These can be used as centerpieces on your living room floors, or it can add hue to your bedrooms. It comes in many different colors; others may have patterned lines and shapes.

In choosing which one fits your home makeover, it is best to consult experts on home arrangement and decorative art. It is also best if you will associate the designs and colors to your personality.

If you are more than a happy person, with lots of blissful vibes, and who is always on the go, you can opt for a brighter shade. Such as bright red, orange, yellow and yellow green colors. If you are quite reserved, you can have blue or darker shades of green. If you are more of a romantic person, red is simply the best.

You can also match it on the theme of the spot on your house. There are area rugs that are well crafted from native and indigenous materials, and these are perfect if you want to go oriental. Velvet designs are ideal if you want your area to look a little bit luxurious.

Just bear in mind that in purchasing the perfect area rug for your home, always consider first the safety it can give, then the beauty it can add to your home.

Tag : rugs,area rugs,bath rugs,cheap rugs

Thursday, August 27, 2009

Outdoor Rugs - Bring Fun and Color to Your Patio

If you are trying to find a way to bring color and fun to your patio or yard, a couple of outdoor rugs might be the answer. These rugs are durable and waterproof and you can use them indoors or outdoors to suit any of your purposes. They are usually all weather rugs which means they can withstand whatever nature throws at them. What's also great about them is that they can take heavy traffic from children and pets. There are several ways you can use an out door rug around the house some which include doorway traffic, patio deck or even by the poolside.

Using moving blankets at the entrance of your house is very helpful when it comes to cleanliness. Wherever there is foot traffic there is always dirt especially if shoes are involved. If you put an outdoor rug outside the front door of your house it will take most of the dirt off the shoes that enter your home. This reduces the grime that makes it's way indoors. It would be a good habit to train family members to wipe their feet on the rug before they come in.

If you like to have barbecue parties and you have a patio deck it would be very smart to have one of these durable rugs right on top of the deck. Choose colors that are very inviting to make your guests feel comfortable. Some of the colors and designs are fun and flattering; your guests would surely love it. You don't have to worry if someone spills some soda or ketchup on the rugs because it will simply wash off with a garden hose.

Outdoor rugs are the best solution for slippery areas at a poolside. Slippery areas near a pool could be very scary and very dangerous especially if you have children. A waterproof rug will provide enough traction so that even if someone is carelessly running around it would be hard for them to slip. Some people like to have outdoor rugs all along the sides of a pool and some people only need to put one at a hazardous area. Either way, it's always better to be safe than sorry.

These are the most common ways to use outdoor rugs. If you are using them for foot traffic, on a patio or even at a poolside you don't have to worry about cleaning them or fading. Since they are all weather this means that the sun will not fade them and they don't even fade from washing. The best thing about them is that they rinse off very easily and dry up immediately.

Thursday, February 12, 2009

How to Identify A Real Silk Rugs

We don't mean to be alarmist, but we sometimes see "silk rugs" that are made of something other than genuine, natural silk. This is not a problem if you know that the rug you are considering is made of artificial silk, but sometimes rug dealers neglect to pass on this information! The problem happens most often with just a few rug types sold in tourist markets in Turkey and India (and sometimes in Pakistan).

Real Silk
Real silk is produced as the cocoon covering of the silkworm, the pupal form of the Asian or mulberry silk moth, bombyx mori. The cocoon is spun by the silk moth caterpillar of a single silk fiber that can be up to several thousand feet in length. To harvest the silk, completed cocoons are boiled or heated to kill the silkworms, then laboriously unwound into single fibers which are plied together and spun into thread or silk yarn.

Artificial Silk
Artificial silk is everything billed as silk that doesn't come from the silkworm cocoon. Most often this means mercerized cotton; sometimes it means a manufactured fiber like rayon or a blend of chemically altered and/or manufactured fibers. It's not that artificial silk is intrinsically evil, it's just that the whole point of using artificial silk in a rug is to save the cost of real silk. It is not nice when this cheaper, artificial silk rug is misrepresented and sold for the price of a real silk rugs.
Mercerized cotton

A ripening cotton boll can contain as many as 5,000 separate cotton fibers, each fiber growing from a tiny seed and formed as a hollow cylindrical sheath of as many as thirty layers of almost pure cellulose. Cotton fiber is mercerized by being stretched under controlled tension at room temperature while being treated with a 21 solution of caustic soda (NaOH). The effect is to swell the fiber and make its surface much more reflective, thus dramatically increasing its luster (and also its tensile strength). After the chemical treatment, cotton yarn is often singed to remove whatever small amount of fuzz remains on the surface of the fibers. Sometimes cotton is calendered by being passed between heated rollers. The effect is to increase the luster and sheen of the fiber still more. However it is treated, cotton remains cellulose: C6H10O5.

Rayon
Like cotton, rayon is made of almost pure celulose, but rather than being grown, rayon is produced by first dissolving cellulose (obtained from cotton or woodpulp) to produce a thick yellow liquid called viscose. The viscose is extruded through tiny holes into a chemical bath that produces long filaments which can be spun into thread and yarn. Viscouse rayon was the first man-made fiber. In 1920, DuPont bought from the French the technology for making viscose rayon. DuPont first called the material "artificial silk", and formed a company (The DuPont Fibersilk Company) to manufacture it. Other artificial fibers would follow quickly: acetate (also derived from cellulose) in 1924, nylon, (commonly, adipic acid reacted with hexamethylene diamine) in 1939, acrylic (from acrylonitrile, a petrochemical) in 1950, polyester in 1953, and triacetate in 1954.

With all these artificial fibers around, how can you identify a rug woven with natural silk?For example handmade area rugs,silk rugs,persian rugs,oriental rugs,wool rugs
First of all, pay attention to whatever clues the dealer--or the rug--gives you. For instance, we have seen many artificial silk Kayseri rugs (and some Hereke rugs), both Turkish types. In Turkey, a real silk Kayseri is an ipek Kayseri: ipek is "silk" in Turkish. An artificial silk Kayseri is a flos Kayseri ( a yun Kayseri has a wool pile). The dealer might be accurately describing the piece to you as a flos rug, but by not explaining the difference between flos and ipek, he lets you jump to the intended assumption, and you unwittingly buy an artificial silk rug.
Indian rug dealers are seldom as delicately circumspect as some of their Turkish counterparts. Artificial silk rugs in India are often blatantly sold as real silk, complete with certificates of authenticity and written guarantees. For many years Kashmir in northern India has been the major source for both real and artificial silk Indian rugs. Look carefully at the "silk" rug: it should be tightly woven (with more than 200 knots per sq. in., and often with 500 or more knots), intricately detailed, closely clipped, and it should have real silk fringe that is clearly an extension of the rug's structure, not sewn on or sewn into the ends of the rug. Artificial silk rugs often have only medium weaves (less than 250 knots per sq. in., and sometimes less than 150 knots per in.), and often have cotton fringe. Good quality real silk rugs always have real silk fringe. In Pakistan we often see rugs called jaldars. These wool pile rugs often have "silk touch," meaning that there is artificial silk inlay in the pile (often outlining part of the design). This artificial silk is almost invariably ivory in color, and is made of mercerized cotton.

Tests for Silk
OK, you're looking at a nicely woven, nicely patterned, closely clipped "silk" rug with what appears to be real silk fringe. You still might be looking at a rug made of artificial silk. Here are three field tests that might help you distinguish real from fake. No guarantee; your mileage may vary.

Rub it! It is sometimes claimed that you can tell real silk from artificial silk by vigorously rubbing the pile with your open palm. The real silk rug feels warm, the artificial silk rug stays cool to the touch. We sometimes think we have felt this difference. Of course, it helps to have a real silk rug with you so that you can compare a known quantity!

Burn it! This test is at least good theatre, and actually can be helpful. Clip off a small piece of the fringe, or pull a knot out of the rug from the back (why should the owner object?). Burn it. Look at the ash and smell the smoke. If the material was cellulose (rayon), the ash should be soft and chalky, and the smell should be like burning paper (most paper is made of cellulose). If the sample is real silk, the burning sample should ball to a black, crispy ash, and the smell should be of burning hair (you're burning protein, the same stuff your hair is made of). You've got to be a little careful with this test to avoid smelling the smoke from the match (and to avoid igniting yourself or the rug dealer's shop).

Dissolve it! The most accurate test is one that chemically differentiates protein from cellulose or petrochemicals. One such test: at room temperature, mix a solution of 16 g copper sulfate (CuSO4) in 150 cc of water. Add 8-10 g glycerine, then caustic soda (sodium hydroxide: NaOH) until a clear solution is obtained. This solution will dissolve a small sample of natural silk, but will leave cotton, rayon, and nylon unchanged.

About the Author

Steven ZHAO is the CEO of http://arearugs2door.com .An award-winning retailer, wholesaler, and manufacturer of handmade area rugs,silk rugs,persian rugs,oriental rugs,wool rugs etc.

Article Directory: http://www.articlerich.com

Monday, February 16, 2009

Buy Sensation Yet Practical Rugs

When decorating your house, it is important to use the right kind of rugs at the right places to get the best out of them aesthetically and practically.

Area rugs in general add atmosphere to a room and make them intimate or larger depending on the rug. Area rugs are available in a variety of materials, textures and styles not to mentions colors and shapes. You have the choice to decide the ones that suit you and your home. Whether it is an exotic real animal skin rug, an exquisite Persian rug, a warm natural fiber rug, or homely rag rug, it is all up to you.

In addition some floor rugs are useful for practical reasons. Here are some considerations that you should be mindful about when choosing them.

Hearth or fireplace floor rugs are an almost essential item in every house with a fireplace. Regularly used fireplaces can be dangerous due the flying sparks or logs rolling out. Even if they do not cause a fire they can ruin your floor. Additionally ash from the fire place is sure to stain the floor near it. If the floor is covered in a wall to wall carpet it can be hard to clean. Best method to prevent such annoyances is to place a fire resistant hearth rug near the fireplace. Fireplace floor rugs that suit almost every taste are available.

For outdoor use you should avoid rugs that cannot face extreme weather conditions. Do not use natural fiber area rugs as outdoor rugs. Best out door rugs should be easy to clean using a jet of water.

Almost same requirements apply to kitchen rugs. If there is heavy foot traffic and soiling in kitchen, say due to access to a back garden, it is best that you buy a floor rug that can be cheaply replaced periodically. On the other hand if your kitchen does not come in for heavy use you should make a decoration oriented decision.

For bathroom you should choose a rug that doesn’t get ruined due to water. It should also be easily cleaned with water and resistant to mildew. Keep the bath room rugs clean and dry as much as possible. High friction bathrooms rugs also prevent people from slipping in wet floors.

Nursery rugs are essential for any household with small children. A light weight large floor rug make a portable and safe play area. It should be well padded and comfortable. And as always the rug should be easily cleanable.

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Saturday, March 7, 2009

Area Rugs Will Add That Special Look And Feel To Your Home

Decorating with area rugs is one of the easiest ways to update, revitalize and beautify your home. Rugs can add dramatic color and design to every room; create a focal point or define areas; add warmth to the look and feel of tiles, stone, or concrete; protect hardwood floors or wall-to-wall carpeting; and tie elements of a room together. You can change rugs when the seasons change and take them with you if you move. It is not surprising that area rugs are of great interest to the do-it-yourself decorator.

Some Things to Think About

Color is probably the most important element in decorating and should top the list of your requirements when selecting area rugs. If a room has a lot of bright colors and looks very busy, choose a neutral color and a subtle design for the rug. If the colors of the room are soft and neutral, you can add a splash of color and interest with a bright rug and a dramatic design. If you want to enhance the color scheme that exists in a room, select a rug that repeats the dominant or accent colors; if the color scheme hasn’t been chosen, buy the rug of your dreams and decorate the room around it.

The pattern on the rug must not clash with patterns on the wallpaper, window coverings, cushions, and other fabrics in the room. Dark colors add warmth, and light colors will make the room appear more spacious. The amount of traffic is also a consideration. If there are children or pets, or the rug will get steady use, dark colors and intricate patterns will not show dirt as much or as quickly as light colors.

If you buy a rug for the bathroom, make sure the colors are compatible with the color of the bathmat. (Or buy a new bathmat.) It is also important that a rug in the bathroom not be adversely affected by moisture especially if it will be underfoot when you step out of the shower or bath. Maintenance is an important consideration when choosing rugs not only for the bathroom, but also the kitchen, the hall, or the room of a child. Select designs and colors that don’t show the dirt, and are stain resistant and easy to clean.

It is a good idea to add padding under a rug because it will not only keep the rug from moving, it will also extend its life, absorb sound, and make vacuuming easier. If you are placing a rug over wall-to-wall carpeting, choose a thin under-pad coated with an adhesive.

Check the Size You Need

If you want an area rug to cover most of the floor in a room, the same amount of bare floor should be exposed on all sides of the rug, even if the room is an irregular shape or there is a closet or fireplace extending into it. If you are not able to arrange that, try and have the same amount of floor showing on two parallel sides.

When defining an area – a conversational grouping, for instance – there should be no more than two feet of empty rug extending out from behind the furniture. A rug used in this fashion will unify the items placed around it if the rug is large enough to accommodate at least the front legs of each piece of furniture.

If you are going to place a large rug in the bedroom, it need not be centered but the same amount of floor should be visible on two or three sides of it. In the dining room, the rug should extend eighteen inches to twenty-four inches beyond the table. An eight- by ten-foot rug will work in most living rooms and dining rooms. A six- by four-foot or a six- by nine-foot rug will be fine if it is for a small area, such as under a coffee table, in which case, the entire coffee table should be on it and all other furniture set back from it at an equal distance.

If you have trouble visualizing what a rug will look like in a room and can’t decide what size would be best, use masking tape to define the space. If that doesn’t help, cut pieces from a paper roll or lay out bed sheets to cover the area before you decide what size to buy. You don’t want any surprises.

Create Special Effects

If a rug is to be the focal point of a room, consider purchasing one with a central medallion, which is a popular design for an oriental rug. If the medallion will be hidden for the most part by a piece of furniture – the dining room table or a bed, for example – forget the medallion and select a rug that has an allover design, or one with detail on its borders.

Oriental rugs – a term which refers, in decorating lingo, to rugs from any Asian country – are popular in modern as well as traditional homes. Expect to pay more for an imported Persian rug, considered by many to be superior to all other oriental rugs. Tibetan rugs are also a beautiful and popular choice and not as expensive, or you can choose a rug from Afghanistan, Egypt, Pakistan, China, or from many other Asian countries.

If the room has an early American theme, a round braided rug, popular since the early settlement of North America, will probably be very suitable. Using a Navajo rug, with its geometric designs and flat weave, can reinforce a southern or desert theme. If your tastes run more to the comfort and appeal of animal fur or wool, forget the tiger skin and look for a flokati rug – a hand-woven Greek woolen rug with a thick, shaggy pile – it may create just the look you want.

Contemporary rugs come in every variety of color, design, texture, size, and price. Don’t overlook them when you are searching for the perfect area rugs, even if your house is decorated in a traditional style. Just as a traditional rug can look great in a modern home, a contemporary rug can add to the appeal and charm of a traditional home. Let your creative spirit soar – and make sure the rug can be returned or exchanged in case you discover your creative spirit soared in the wrong direction.

Cost is a Consideration

The cost of a home rug is closely related to the fiber from which it is made. The most expensive natural fiber will be found in a wool rug; other less expensive natural fibers are cotton, jute, silk and sisal (hemp). Popular synthetics favored for quality rugs are acrylic, polypropylene (olefin), and nylon.

If you are on a tight budget, look for discount and bargain outlets, but be sure the dealer is reputable, there is a wide selection, and check the warranty and the return policy before you buy.

Area rugs are available in a wide variety of styles, and there are sizes to fit every room and prices to fit every budget. Shop until you find exactly what you want.

About the Author:
Scott Gray is currently a freelance writer and enjoys providing tips to consumers who are in the market for all types of cheap area rugs, contemporary rugs, and persian rugs.

Wednesday, December 31, 2008

How Rugs Enhance A Room

There are hundreds of different types of rugs available. They come in many shapes, sizes, and designs. Rugs can make any ordinary looking room look divine. It is amazing what a rug or two can do to brighten up a room, and they can totally transform an area.

Besides being decorative, some rugs have different purposes. These purposes can vary, depending on the person, or where the rug is.

Some rugs, which are almost always referred to as door mats, have a few purposes.

The main purpose of a door mat is to allow people entering the home to wipe their feet on. Their shoes could contain snow, water from rain, or any other type of debris. The door mat eliminates, or at least minimizes the amount of dirt that is tracked into a person’s house. Another purpose of a door mat is simply to add to the décor in the room.

The mat could be purchased to match the furniture, or several different mats can be interchanged according to the time of the year. There are some really lovely Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas mats available. There are even some mats available for the patriotic people out there. These special mats come in various types of flag colors.

Another type of rug, the outdoor rug, is quite popular. These rugs are constructed from very durable and weather-proof material. They are available in numerous styles and colors, and can add definition to a patio or backyard.

Many rugs not only enhance the beauty of an area, but can also help keep a person’s feet warm. Countless people choose to have hardwood floors in their homes. In the winter if left bare, these types of floors tend to become very cold. For those who like to walk around the house in their socks, or even barefoot, this can be a problem. With the addition of a beautiful new area rug, it will not only add attractiveness to the room, but will allow coverage of all or most of the floor, providing warmth.

Not many people like to leave their bathroom floors bare, not matter how nice the linoleum may be. Bathroom rugs look great, even if it’s not anything fancy. As long as it matches the other décor in the room, it will make it look good. Besides, who wants to get out of the bathtub and step on a cold, bare floor? Not many people would, so this is why having a rug, especially a special bath mat is a smart idea.

So no matter what room you’re looking to decorate and make look good, rugs are a must-have. Our links are great websites to visit.

Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Tip For Shopping For Cotton Bathroom Rugs

Finding cotton rugs isn't rocket science. All you have to do is type "cotton bathrom rugs" into a search engine and voila you'll have thousands of results from online and offline stores. Any one of these suppliers will be more than happy to sell you anything you wish from their selection or rugs.

So the first step in finding the perfect cotton rug for your needs begins with making up your mind about what you're looking for in the first place. Smart consumers always comparison shop to make sure they're getting the best deal - even it's not a big ticket item it's always a good idea to compare prices in at least 3 different stores. There's nothing worse than finding the same product at 50% off in another store one hour after you bought it.

Another important thing to consider when shopping for cotton bathroom rugs is the importance of safety. More accidents occur in the bathroom than in any other room in the home. It does not matter how beautiful the colors and design patterns are, if your bathroom rug is not safe, you do not need it. Make sure that the rug you select is slip resistant for you and your children, if you have any. You can always buy slip resistant coating in sheets if you find a rug that you love but doesn't seem to be safe.

Aside from being slip resistant, you should select a bathroom rug that is water absorbent and quick drying. This creates another hazard if the rug remains wet for a long period of time after you step out of the bath or shower. Taking care of safety in your bathroom is critical; your life could, quite literally, depend on it.

Once you have taken care of safety features, think about the color and design of your cotton bathroom rugs. Many stores and manufacturers offer a wide variety of selections to choose from. Also, you can buy your rug as part of a matching shower curtain and towel set to make sure your bathroom stays consistently beautiful.

You'll often see rugs advertised as 100% cotton but this isn't always the truth. Usually you're buying a cotton blend which is no problem - as long as you're not paying inflated prices for it. 100% cotton generally costs more, depending on the manufacturer. Even the color can make a huge difference in the price so if it looks to good to be true.... well it probably is folks.

This is why shopping around before making a purchase is the best idea. You will know what to expect and be able to make the right selection based on your own knowledge, not on what the salesperson or store advertising is trying to sell you. Just because the bathroom rugs cost more does not necessarily mean that you are getting the highest quality.

If you decide to make your purchase online, know what the return policy is, and whether or not a warranty is offered. Again this is where comparison shopping becomes something you need to pay attention to.

Thursday, December 16, 2010

An Easy Guide to Good Rug Care

When you choose an area rug for any room in your house, one of the things that you have to take into consideration is how to keep it clean. This does not only mean how to train the residents of your home not to spill things on it or to how to avoid damaging it, but how well it washes and how to keep it looking good for as long as possible.

Let's look at the various kinds of rugs and a selection of ways to look after them:

- No matter what your rug is made from, keep it away from direct sunlight. Rugs tend to fade very easily, especially if they are under a large window. If this is not always possible, then at least rotate it fairly often so that it is not left with unsightly, faded patches. Similarly, rotate the carpet every so often that it will also be trodden down on all sides, rather than in one direction, which could make it end up looking quite weird after a while.

- Vacuum your carpet or rug often to remove grit, which is anathema to any carpet, but don't overdo it as you could end up stretching the fibers, which is not a good idea. In most places, once a week is sufficient.

- Occasionally, you may feel a need to wash your rugs, though this should not be done too often. Obviously, the first thing that you need to do is read the washing instructions and then follow them absolutely religiously. Don't try to be too clever - you could end up messing up your rugs if you do.

- If you have a natural flokati rug, you are best off brushing it. However, if you wish to wash it, you are probably best off hand-washing it. The best way to do this is to put it in the bath and clean it with cool water and a very gentle wool detergent. Remember: hot water may cause shrinkage, so do not use it. Soak in the water, agitate by hand, and then rinse again with cool water. Hang the rug to dry in a place that is free of sunlight as this could cause damage.

- If you want to clean a bamboo rug, this may prove more difficult because excessive moisture could easily cause mold. But do not think it is impossible. Use some household detergent on a cloth, and wipe clean any marks or mildew. Otherwise, stick to dusting, sweeping, and shaking it out.

- Make sure that it is totally dry before placing it back down, especially if you have wood flooring as the moisture can damage both the floor and the rug.

- Whatever happens, and no matter what your rug is made from, it is always extremely important to clean away stains as soon as possible, before they set in and cause permanent damage to your rug.

Caring for your rug, therefore involves a lot of common sense more than anything else. Remember reading the manufacturer's instructions, as we mentioned above, so that the rug will not get ruined when you tried to clean it. Do your best to keep it clean, and put a lot of effort into it, and you will soon see some very positive results.

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