Advice on purchasing antique rugs

Antique rugs are beautiful and an eye catching accessory to your home.  Not only are they a practical piece of art that welcomes visitors to your home but they are also useful in protecting the floor below.  Once only available to the wealthy, and never intended to use on the floor, antique rugs have in more recent years become available to a broader spectrum of consumers.   When buying an antique rug, like with all art, you are making a financial investment.



How can you be sure of you are investing wisely?

Aesthetic appeal and quality greatly define the rugs worth, and will possibly be the primary connection you make with the item as you consider its potential in your home.  However the age of a rug is the indicator of its antiquity.  And this definition as Antique makes a significant difference to the value.

What is the defining age of an old rug before it transcend to the status of antique?

Principally, it is very difficult to determine the exact year the rug was made, so only a rough ageing is determined.  But with in-depth knowledge of the history of rug making a trained professional calculate an estimated date of production by the type, colour, size and style.  Like a wine connoisseur, a rug expert can “read” the rug: where the rug was woven, the language or dialect of the weaver, and often her religion. Generally, antique status is given to a rug that is determined to be over 100 years old.

When buying your rug it would be wise to perform some research to educate yourself on some of the key points in rug making history so that you can be prepared to question the seller on details about the rug, allowing you to make your own informed decision on your investment.

Art of Clean is a specialist cleaning firm in: 

Wood Floor Sanding,

Stone floor Cleaning,

Carpet Cleaning,

Rug Cleaning,

Upholstery Cleaning 

Leather Furniture Cleaning, 

CLEANING PRODUCTS

Working for domestic or commercial clients throughout Cambridgeshire, Essex, Suffolk and Hertfordshire.

For more information on our services contact our friendly team on 01223 863632 or email us at info@artofclean.co.uk

3 Simple tips to redesigning your home | Art of Clean

Now the warmer weather and longer days have arrived, generally our thoughts turn to doing those jobs around the house such as interior decorating but if you don’t want the upheaval of a full redecoration, here are some great simple tips for changing the style of your room which you can do yourself.

Floors

If you have carpets on the floor, either you can call in a professional cleaning company to give them a good clean, which will leave them smelling fresh and clean, alternatively if you think your carpet is looking past its best, lift up a corner and take a look underneath.  If you find floorboards, get them sanded and sealed by a professional floor sanding company and then put a rug down.  It will dramatically change the look, feel and aspect of the room.  

Handmade rugs are particularly on-trend at the moment in the interior design world and with Cambridge at the forefront of UK fashion trends, there is no better time to purchase a new rug.

Contrasting colours and asymmetric patterns are becoming increasingly common in modern homes across Cambridge and that means it's important to know how to care for them. Of course, there's no substitute for a professional rug cleaning service, but to maintain your lovely rug to look as good as possible you should be aware of the following points:

Avoid Moisture: Water is handmade rug's worst enemy and you should avoid spillages as much as possible. Of course, accidents happen, but the key to maintaining a handmade rug is to dry it as soon as comes into contact with moisture. Doing this will keep it fresh and looking great for years to come. 

Rotation is Crucial: Wear, tear and sunlight can play havoc with a handmade rug and to properly look after it you need to keep it moving. Rotating a handmade rug is the key to avoiding fading and uneven scuffs.

Underlay that Protect: Handmade rugs offer a plush surface to walk on and to properly care for it you need to return the favour with some underlay. Protecting a rug from hard surfaces using underlay will not only give your carpet some extra lift but extend its lifespan. 

Lighting 

Lighting is crucial for a room.  In the living room take away the side tables and have free standing lights or you could get small uplighters and put them by the curtain and they will light up the ceiling and that will give it a whole new look.

Colour of the walls

And the next thing you could do is change the colour of the walls. According to HouseBeautiful magazine, current interior wall paint trends for 2016, will be lilacs and purples, milky blues, dark teals and my favourite neutrals paired with jewel tones.

Caring for a handmade rug takes time, effort but, ultimately with the help of a professional, it will be easier for you. In addition to following our three steps to interior design, you should find a professional rug cleaning and floor sanding company in Cambridge to provide regular treatment for your prized possession.

Art of Clean is a specialist cleaning firm in: 

Wood Floor Sanding,

Stone floor Cleaning,

Carpet Cleaning,

Rug Cleaning,

Upholstery Cleaning 

Leather Furniture Cleaning, 

CLEANING PRODUCTS

Working for domestic or commercial clients throughout Cambridgeshire, Essex, Suffolk and Hertfordshire.

For more information on our services contact our friendly team on 01223 863632 or email us at info@artofclean.co.uk

Transformation on a patio in Cambridge!

Our client was over the moon when she saw her lovely patio looking like new again! Sometimes pictures speak for themselves so no need to write more words...

If you decide to have your patio clean, always ensure a sealer is applied.

If you are looking to have your patio, driveway or external surfaces clean and don't know where to start, just give us a call on 01223 863 632 and we will be happy to help.

Art of Clean is a specialist cleaning firm in: 

Wood Floor Sanding,
Stone floor Cleaning,
Carpet Cleaning,
Rug Cleaning,
Upholstery Cleaning 
Leather Furniture Cleaning, 



Working for domestic or commercial clients throughout Cambridgeshire, Essex, Suffolk and Hertfordshire.

For more information on our services contact our friendly team on 01223 863632 or email us at info@artofclean.co.uk

How often should you clean your mattress?

Winter is on its way and it's time to get ready to hibernate! Cosy long morning lie-ins as the wind and rain tap a you window are on their way.  So perhaps it's time to give your bed a little TLC.

It's advisable to give your mattress a clean every six months.

Dust and dirt will work its way through your sheets and eventually come to rest on your mattress.  This debris will attract dust mites.  If we're lucky enough to get breakfast in bed now and again there may also be the odd tea or coffee stain on there....it happens!

• Vacuum the top of the mattress fully
• Remove any marks with a clean cloth and some upholstery shampoo.  Don't be too liberal with the solution, you don't want to leave the mattress wet else damp and mild will set in.

We are a professional cleaning company who specialise in Carpet, Rug, Hardwood floor, Stone floor, Upholstery and Leather cleaning for domestic an commercial clients.

 For more information about our services contact the team on 01223 863632 or at www.artofclean.co.uk to find out more.