Tips for buying the perfect carpet

Now that you've made the decision to purchase an authentic Oriental carpet, here are a few things to keep in mind before you start shopping:

Oriental carpets with the "genuine" label must be 100 percent handmade. This means that the actual manufacturing process of weaving or knotting must be performed by hand. Authentic Oriental carpets contain only three materials: cotton, silk and wool. Misleading terms like plant silk, artificial silk, or tree silk refer to other fibers (synthetics, viscose, cotton) and not to genuine silk. These fibers are not necessarily a sign of low quality, but they do not warrant the same high price of a genuine pure silk carpet.


GLOSSARY OF TERMS

Hand-woven is a term applied exclusively to carpets manufactured by interweaving warp and weft threads by hand. These carpets are usually described as "kilim" or "kelim." Hand-woven carpets are two-dimensional.

Hand-knotted refers to carpets created by interweaving threads around the so-called "warp." The weaving or knotting process creates the carpet pile, which is made up of either wool or silk threads. Hand-knotted carpets are three-dimensional.

Warp This refers to the thread that forms the backbone of every hand-knotted carpet. The warp threads are set up vertically on the carpet loom. Depending on the type or origin of the carpet, these threads can be made of cotton, wool, or silk. In the finished rug, the warp threads create the decorative fringe typically found on Oriental carpets.

Pile The pile is created by intertwining threads of various colors around the warp thread. This ultimately determines the color and pattern of the carpet. This process produces the knots, although they are not actually knots in the traditional sense. Highly skilled, experienced weavers are able to create rugs with a higher number of knots. The more knots a carpet has, the finer and more precise its pattern will be. Even more important than the number of knots are the materials used in creating the pile. A first-class Oriental rug requires top-quality wool or silk. A carpet made from low quality wool will be of limited use regardless of how many knots it has. The raw materials are the most important determinant of the durability and potential uses of a carpet. Low quality raw materials inevitably produce a less durable carpet that is limited in terms of everyday use. Such carpets have a lifespan of 10 years or less. They are also hard to maintain because stains are often difficult, if not impossible, to remove.


FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How big should my carpet be?
A carpet should add to the overall character of a room without overpowering it. A good rule of thumb: the carpet should cover no less than one-third, and no more than two-thirds of the total floor area. The size also needs to match the intended purpose. For example, a carpet placed under the dining room table needs to be considerably larger than the table itself so that chairs don't slip over the edge of the carpet when pushed back from the table.

What material should the pile be made of?
For the hallway, foyer, dining room, living room, or anywhere else where the carpet will be subject to frequent traffic, the pile should be made of wool. Silk is an option if you plan to hang the carpet on the wall like a painting or use it in a room that people don't often walk through, like a bedroom or guest room. Although silk is an extremely durable fiber, its care and maintenance are relatively difficult. Once silk becomes soiled, it is often impossible to clean.

How do I go about buying an Oriental carpet?
Once you decide on the size and material (see above), you can start taking a closer look at what is available. Take your time and keep an eye on the local carpet market in your area over several weeks or months to obtain a clear overview of local prices. One good way to do this is to read newspaper inserts advertising Oriental rugs.
Go window-shopping to compare prices. Check the Yellow Pages for carpet stores and compare the listings with the names of the stores you have visited and their owners. Try to avoid businesses that have changed names and/or ownership recently. This could be a sign that the stores are operated by unscrupulous businesspeople who repeatedly advertise "Going out of business sales" yet sell their merchandise at massively inflated prices.

Once you have found a carpet that you are thinking about buying, make sure you try it out at home first. You can usually put down a deposit and take the carpet home for a day or two. You can also make arrangements with the dealer to bring the carpet to your home.

If you feel uncertain whether your chosen carpet is really worth the price offered by the retailer, call the local Chamber of Commerce. They can usually suggest an appraiser in your area who, for a fee, can assess the actual value of the carpet and tell you whether the carpet is worth the price. Sometimes an expert can discover hidden flaws that escape the attention of a layperson, allowing you to bargain the final price of the carpet.

Where should I purchase my Oriental rug?
Oriental carpets should only be purchased from retail specialists, major department stores, or furniture stores. These are the only places you expect to find well-trained personnel. Never buy a carpet from a door-to-door salesman. Even if he seems honest, it's most likely that he's trying to cheat you. Be on your guard and call the police if necessary.

In general, you should avoid buying carpets when you are on vacation in foreign countries such as Turkey, Tunisia, etc. Enjoy the atmosphere in the markets and use the experience gained when you make your purchase back at home in your own city. Most travelers end up paying up to 70% more for carpets in these countries than they would at a local retailer. Under no circumstances should you consider buying a high-priced silk carpet while traveling. Around 80 percent of these carpets are cheap replicas made in China and worth only 10 to 20 percent of the quoted price. That's an expensive purchase, even if you skillfully negotiate what seems like a low price at the bazaar.

How do I to take care of an Oriental carpet?
Feel free to vacuum your rug from the first day on. But never vacuum or comb the carpet fringe. Keep in mind that the fringe is part of the backbone of your new Oriental carpet. If the fringe becomes damaged, the carpet will start to unravel.
Rotate your carpet 180 degrees from time to time. This will help prevent moths from settling into your carpet and also ensure that each part of the rug receives equal exposure to sunlight.

Take your carpet in for an expert cleaning every 2-3 years, but NEVER take it to an ordinary carpet cleaner. These services generally use harsh chemicals that can lead to two major problems. First, the cleaning process robs wool of its natural oils, causing fibers to dry out, become brittle, and break. Secondly, these chemicals, including at least one known carcinogen, remain trapped in the fibers and can pose a health risk to young children and others who come into close contact with the carpet.

Carpet cleaning firms specializing in Oriental carpets use special soaps and a lot of water. In the final cleaning stage, the carpets are treated with lanolin to keep the carpet fibers pliable. This re-oiling process helps protect the carpet from stains and maintains its durability so that you can enjoy your Oriental carpet for many years to come.