Put coasters under heavy furniture that rests on carpets. Move the furniture slightly every three or four months. Moisten the depressed areas of the rug slightly with water and plump them up with your fingers to help them regain their shape. Turn your orientals once a year to reduce wear and exposure to sunlight which causes fading. Roll your orientals up when you send them out to be cleaned or put them in storage.
Folding can stretch the carpet's delicate fibers.
Have your orientals steam-cleaned at home. Not only will your rugs not receive the proper dusting and vacuuming, but the cotton foundations may crack if they don't dry properly. It is always best to send your rugs to an oriental rug specialist for cleaning every two to three years. To locate reputable companies to clean, repair, and restore oriental carpets, get recommendations from the curator of a museum or the owner of a gallery. Put an oriental in front of a fireplace unless you protect it with a mesh fire screen.