posted on December 12, 2005 11:21:33 AM new
It is vintage 1930's or so. It has some spots which I have spot cleaned but now it looks - well spotty!!! I was thinking of washing it in Woolite or something.
Has anyone ever done this?
posted on December 12, 2005 12:26:49 PM new
Can you tell what fabric it's made of? If the size of it isn't important (that is, if it might shrink and that's okay), I would soak it in Woolite and cold water for a bit and then agitate it gently. I do most everything in my washing machine, but I guess handwashing would work, too. Then put it outside to dry, preferably in the sun. This is what I do with older quilts, and I've never lost one yet.
If you're concerned about colors running, though, you have a different problem on your hands. Would it be worth it for you to have it drycleaned?
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posted on December 12, 2005 01:10:48 PM new
I spot cleaned it with no running of the color so I think it will be ok. I think it is a wool blend.
Thanks - I'll try that.
posted on December 12, 2005 01:46:35 PM new
I put the last hooked rug that I had in the washing machine on delicate with Woolite and Oxyclean. After washing and putting through many clear rinses I laid it flat to dry and it came out beautifully.
[ edited by jtomp on Dec 12, 2005 02:23 PM ]
posted on December 12, 2005 05:29:03 PM new
I had a wool hook rug that my grandmother made. I literally washed it by hand with a bar of ivory soap and cold water from the hose outside. Got it wet on my cement walkway that has a downward slope. Hose on the top part and rubbed the bar onto one area at a time. Starting at the high end. Rinsed until there was no more soap. Then I hung it over the cement retaining wall and let it drip dry. This is the wrong time of the year to do that. You need a fairly warm day. It lasted over 20 years. Gave it to my niece who still has it. Looks just as nice as when I received it from GM
[ edited by paloma91 on Dec 12, 2005 05:33 PM ]
posted on December 12, 2005 06:18:45 PM new
Paloma: That reminds me of another rug in my life. We inherited an old Persian rug, about 4 x 7, badly worn with not much value but still. . . a rug. I washed it in the washing machine and it was on a floor for a long time. Then one day I took it out in the spring sunshine, hosed it down, spread dishwashing soap (Ivory or such) here and there on it, hosed it again, and let it dry in place. We still have it.
At a yard sale in the late 60s, I bought a cedar chest in very poor condition. Took it to the curb, armed with brillo pads, hosed it down, brilloed the finish off it, let it dry and oiled it. It's very pretty and we still have it. $7.50 at a yard sale.
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posted on December 12, 2005 07:36:40 PM new
I actually got the idea to clean it that way from my GM. In her day, they didn't have all of these brands of soap. They either made their own or bought some in bricks or blocks. You cut off what you want to use. Anyway, she called it castile soap. I am sure you can buy it in specialty stores or whole food type stores. Anyway, Ivory was the closest to it that she and I could come up with that was bought in the store. So I just used that.
