Material
Persian rug
Hand knotted wool, often on cotton, with dyes that can run. Minimal moisture, no alkali, no bleach, and a dye test before anything else.
- SurfacePorous
- WashingSpot only
- Colour run riskHigh
- Reviewed7 September 2026
What persian rug can and cannot take
- Heat Use with care
- Water and soaking Use with care
- Acids, including vinegar Use with care
- Strong alkalis Avoid
- Solvents Use with care
- Chlorine bleach Avoid
- Abrasives Avoid
Always test on a hidden area first and let it dry before you treat the visible mark.
General rules for persian rug
The dye test comes before the cleaning, not after it. Press a damp white cloth on a hidden part of the pile, look at the cloth, and stop there if there is colour on it.
After that: blot from the outside of the mark inwards with a plain white cloth, use as little liquid as possible and apply it by cloth rather than pouring, and never rub.
Bleach, biological detergent and strong carpet shampoos are all off the list. Wool is damaged by alkali, and the dyes are the other thing at risk.
Check the label
A hand knotted rug is wool, sometimes with silk highlights, on a cotton foundation, and its dyes are frequently not fast to water. Test a hidden area with a damp white cloth before anything else. If colour comes off on the cloth, home cleaning is finished and a specialist is the answer.
Stains on persian rug
- Baby sick Press a damp white cloth on a hidden part of the pile first. If any colour comes off on it, stop and call a r...
- Blood Blot first, then use cold water and a tiny amount of compatible detergent. Work from the edge, rinse or blot...
- Body oil Blot loose surface oil from persian rug only if the surface is stable and it can be touched without damage. A...
- Breast milk Blot persian rug promptly with dry white cloths. Do not add a wet carpet cleaner, enzyme laundry detergent, b...
- Bronzer Lift loose bronzer from persian rug before it is rubbed in. Blot cream bronzer, follow the material or care l...
- Coffee Blot persian rug immediately with dry white cloths. Do not add household detergent, vinegar or a wet carpet s...
- Concealer Lift thick concealer from Persian Rug, blot without rubbing, then use a very small amount of diluted washing-...
- Cooking grease Lift and blot cooking grease from Persian Rug, then use a small amount of diluted washing-up liquid only if t...
- Deodorant Lift loose deodorant from persian rug with a dry white cloth, then wipe the remaining film with cool water an...
- Hair dye Blot Persian Rug dry without rubbing or adding household cleaner. Keep the dye box and ask the appropriate le...
- Lipstick Lift lipstick from Persian Rug with a blunt edge, blot without rubbing, then use a very small amount of dilut...
- Motor oil Blot motor oil from Persian Rug, absorb as much as possible, then use a small amount of diluted washing-up li...
- Nail polish Touch off accessible free polish at the surface without rubbing. Do not use clothing remover or pour nail rem...
- Period blood Lift any tissue with a spoon edge, then blot. Use cold water and a tiny amount of compatible detergent for th...
- Pet urine Blot until nearly dry, then use only the cool-water quantity persian rug can tolerate. Use a labelled pet uri...
- Sweat Blot sweat from Persian Rug, use a hidden-tested cool detergent solution with very little moisture, remove re...
- Tomato sauce Lift tomato sauce from Persian Rug, blot from the edge with a tested cool detergent solution, remove residue...
A Persian or oriental rug is wool pile knotted onto a cotton foundation, and it is a textile with a value that usually exceeds the cost of getting it cleaned properly.
Wool and alkali
Wool is a protein fibre. Strong alkalis attack it, which rules out biological detergents, soda crystals and most general purpose cleaners. Wool specialists are direct that ordinary washing up liquid and household cleaners cause problems on wool pile as well.
Dye bleed is the expensive failure
Older and hand dyed rugs frequently have dyes that move when wet. Once red has run into a cream ground it is a restoration job, and it happened in the first minute of cleaning. Hence the test.
Fringes and foundation
The cotton fringe and foundation react differently from the wool pile, and they brown and rot when they stay damp. Water that goes through to the foundation is a different problem from water in the pile.
Sources
What we checked and when. Where a manufacturer instruction disagrees with anything here, follow the manufacturer.
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How to clean a Persian rug safely at home, Rugs of Dorset
specialist
UK rug specialist guidance to blot a spill immediately with a plain white cloth working from the outer edge inwards and never rub, to use minimal liquid applied by a damp cloth rather than poured on, to test for dye bleed first by pressing a damp white cloth on a hidden area, to keep bleach, biological detergents and strong carpet shampoos away, and to use a professional for silk, antique or bleeding rugs.
Checked 7 September 2026
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The safe way to care for your wool carpets and rugs, WoolSafe
trade body
Wool carpet certification body guidance: deal with a spillage the moment it happens, blot and do not rub, work through cold water then warm water applied to a white cloth rather than poured on, and never use washing up liquid, soaps or general household cleaners on wool because they cause rapid resoiling and colour bleeding.
Checked 7 September 2026
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Sick happens: how to get vomit out of carpet, National Carpet Cleaners Association
trade body
UK carpet cleaning trade body method for vomit: scrape solids with a blunt spatula or spoon, apply equal parts white vinegar and water, blot gently working towards the middle of the mark rather than outwards, never scrub because that drives the vomit deeper and damages the carpet, use only a small amount of warm water on a dried mark, and expect rehydrating it to release the smell again so ventilate.
Checked 7 September 2026