October, 1915 
25 
Perfect, 
could 
New 
The hole when woven will not be detected 
As the result of good care by its 
owner in the Orient this antique 
Bergama prayer rug is in perfect 
condition 
This latter point is the doom of 
most rugs, for it is estimated that 
seventy-five per cent, of the new 
rugs on the market are washed in a 
process in which chemicals are 
used, with a view to toning down 
strong colors found in new rugs. 
They succeed in this aim, but re¬ 
duce the vitality of the rug by half 
its wearing quality and oftentimes 
more, depending on the quantity of chemicals used. This 
will explain the complaints of the modern housekeeper when 
she finds that her rugs do not live up to the reputation of 
Orientals, by failing to give the many years of wear that is 
expected of them. 
Second, it must have reasonable wear. No rug can be left 
at the entrance of a hall and be continually tramped upon 
with the product of every kind of weather during all seasons 
of the year, and withstand such a test. With a view to hav¬ 
ing the rug’s surface wear evenly, it would be wise to change 
the position of a rug occasionally, or, if the rug is a large 
one, covering the entire floor, its position had better be re¬ 
versed once or twice a year, which may be every time the 
rug is taken up for cleaning. 
Third, the rug must be kept clean. This is important. A 
rug that is kept clean, dustless and stainless, will last twice 
as long as a rug that is neglected in this respect. A rug that 
except that the ends have worn off. It 
have been saved by overcasting the ends, 
warp was given it, and reweaving started. 
This old Chinese rug has been rav¬ 
aged by moths. Although lackin 
the fine weave of the Turkish, th 
Chinese have remarkable color 
is not cleaned every year and 
wash-cleaned every other year, 
can never last the many years dur¬ 
ing which it is passing through 
the process of antiquity. The rea¬ 
son they last so long in the Orient 
is because their owners there keep 
them scrupulously clean, washing 
them usually in rivers or making 
use of plenty of water elsewhere. 
A rug poorly cleaned will become dirty more quickly, and 
moreover, poor cleaning is injurious to its life. For exam¬ 
ple, under the process of renovating or scouring used exten¬ 
sively in this country, which is the use of a soap-like ingre¬ 
dient upon the surface followed by scraping, it is impossible 
to remove the soap. Water only can accomplish that end, 
and lack of it will leave the rug sticky and saponified and 
full of soap dust, which makes the surface more susceptible 
to dirt and stains and a breeding place for moths. 
How often a rug should be cleaned depends upon the ex¬ 
tent of the use it receives, and the climate of that part of the 
country in which it is used. In New York washing once 
every year, or once every two years is sufficient. In the 
middle west more often is necessary. In many of the cities 
there it is customary to have rugs washed twice every year, 
a practice highly to be recommended in any locality for 
(Continued on page 66) 
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