Elettra translates the flecks of cut rock faces into pure wool. Subtle variations of shading in the yarn ignite textural diversity, while the flat soumak weave invites tactile exploration of its unparalleled artistry.
Fiber & Construction:
Composition:
Suitability:
To ensure the longevity of your rug, please follow these few simple rules:
• Vacuum your rug regularly as shedding of loose fibers will occur with a new rug. We do not recommend using rotating or brush head vacuum cleaners on our rugs.
• Promptly clean spills by blotting with a clean, undyed cloth.
• Do not dry clean or use harsh chemicals that could damage or fade your rugs.
• Never fold your rug for storage or keep in an airtight bag.
• Avoid direct or continuous exposure to sunlight and rotate your rug to promote even wear.
• Professional cleaning is recommended on occasion to ensure the long life of your rug.
Treating Spills
1. Carefully scrape up as much of the spill as possible with a spoon or dustpan, and blot any liquid residue with kitchen paper towel or other colorfast absorbent material. Do not rub.
2. Take a clean piece of the absorbent material and fold it into a thick wad. Cover the spill with this and add a weight (heavy book or other flat object) on top to help draw the liquid upward. Leave it for ten minutes.
3. If the spill has left a stain, decide if it is water-based or oil-based and treat it as below.
• Water-based spills include beer, wine (red or white), soft drink, cordial, fruit juice, tea, coffee and urine. They are treated with lukewarm water.
• Oil-based spills contain some type of oil, fat or greasy substance and include ice cream, gravy, mayonnaise, cream, make up and lotions. They are treated with detergent in lukewarm water. As our rugs are crafted from natural fibers, we recommend only using a WoolSafe Approved detergent. Look for the WoolSafe logo when selecting a cleaning product for use on your Armadillo rugs.
4. For both types of spills, the process is the same: Blot – Dilute – Blot.
Water-Based Spills: Blot the spill as described previously. If some stain remains, dilute it with water. Blot this using absorbent material. Repeat this step until no more stain can be removed.
Oil-Based Spills: Blot the spill as described previously. If some stain remains, dilute it with the detergent solution. Blot this using absorbent material. Now dilute the stain with clean water and blot again. Repeat these steps until no more stain can be removed.
5. For both types of spills, finish with a final treatment: In a small trigger spray bottle, mix 1 part of white vinegar and about 5 to 10 parts of clean water. Spray this onto the affected area. Cover it with a thick wad of absorbent material and add a weight (heavy book or flat object) on top. Leave it for 24 hours before removing the weight and wad and allowing the rug to dry completely.
Important Note on Highly-Colored Spills
Highly colored products, such as paint, nail polish, shoe polish, lipstick and glue, will not respond to these simple treatments. We advise you not to treat these spills yourself, as doing so may create a larger or permanent stain. These types of spills are best treated by a professional WoolSafe Approved Rug Cleaner. Find one near you at www.woolsafe.org
Red cordial and other colored drinks contain food coloring. Food coloring is an acid dye that is also used to dye wool and nylon fibers. Putting detergent on this will simply carry it into the fibers of your rug faster and set the stain. If after treating with water the dye stains persist, contact a professional WoolSafe Approved Rug Cleaner.
Treating Gradual Build-Up of Dirt
Even with regular vacuuming and careful use, you may find dirt and debris will build up in your rug. It is possible to refresh your rug with gentle treatment by a professional rug cleaner.
Dry Soiling
Sand, grit, dust, clothing fibers, skin flakes and hair are examples of dry particle soils. Most of these will be removed with regular vacuuming. For those that remain deep within the fibers, a thorough vacuuming should remove them and restore the original beauty of your rug. Do this two or three times each year on a dry day when the humidity is low. Natural fibers tend to absorb moisture from the air, which can bind dry soils to your rug.
Oil-Based Soiling
A build-up of oily soils can result in your rug looking dull and grey, despite regular vacuuming. Pollution, cooking fumes, sweaty feet and road grime are examples of this soiling, which is resistant to cleaning with water alone. To clean this type of build-up, use a gentle WoolSafe Approved treatment, or contact a WoolSafe Approved Service Rug Cleaner.
Water-Soluble Soiling
Some soils, such as mud, salt and sugary drinks, are water soluble and only need water to release the particles from the rug. To treat these, vacuum to remove any dry particles. Wet the stain with lukewarm water, then treat as for water based spills. Once dry, vacuum again.
Dye Stains & Other Color Changing Chemistry
Some spills that are left untreated over time can affect the natural fibers of your rug. These include spills that contain natural and synthetic dyes (cordial and other colored drinks, red wine) and those that change the chemistry in the fiber (fruit juice, urine, bi-carb soda, bleach and other cleaning products). This chemistry changing group can adversely affect the natural proteins (fatty acids) in wool and the cellulose (sugars and tannins) in natural fibers such as cotton, jute and other plant-based fibers.
For this reason, any treatment needs to be extremely gentle. Wet the stain with lukewarm water. Then treat as for water based spills, stopping at the final blotting stage. Do not finish with the vinegar treatment.
It is important not to use any other treatments, as these may cause physical damage or carry the stain deeper into the fiber.