Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-04-30

wcrshipers of the rug that at least once a
year these beautiful floor coverings re-
quire a good bath. Indeed, Turkish women
wash even new rugs in cold water, rub
blng their surfaces vigorously with bunch
of tWigs and soapsuds. They are mighty
careful to rub with with the warp and not
against it in order to bring out the original
IuSter of the material. Sunlight and water
are wonderful agencies in the care of the
eastern rug. The colors are made of vege-
table dyes; they cannot fade, and the nat
ural wool but tightens In the process OF
washing and becomes firmer and more dust
proof
1t is much the safer rule to wash the
rugs at home, as the treatment is sure
then to be beneficial if the following sug
gestions are followed. But before washing
the rugs must be thoroughly shaken, not
bea ten. The sight of an oriental rug on
back yard clotheSline being beaten to death
would wing tears from the eyes of its
weaver. In the orient rugs are always
shaken, but if there are germ crazy house
keepers who think beating is essential to
their hygienic salvation then by all means
let them see to it that the rug is manipu-
lated on the face side. If beaten on the
back the threads are broken.
x x
When the dust is out of small rugs they
may be placed in washtubs filed with plain
cold water. Now begins ablution with
a brush and soapsuds of the entire surface,
rubbing in the direction of the warp. Then
a rnsng in clear cold water is necessary.
To clean large rug stretch and tack it
upon a clean floor preferably porch floor;
then scour it thoroughly with soapsuds in
which has been dropped a little household
ammonia. After securing ii must be rinsed
to remove all traces of soap. The rug
should then be left in the same position and
the lacks not removed until it is perfectly
dry 4 this is done the rug will not shrink
II mill NOV fsrtII tllt 1trnn
Very large and heavy orientais after
shaking and beating in the direction toward
which the wind blows may have the gar
den hose turned on them with advantage
and then should be allowed to dry in the
sun.
secret of oriental rug washing has re-
Gently been disclosed which is doubtless
very effectual but will not l afraid,
be universally adopted by occidentals. that
of soaking them in milk, rubbing them
clean, rirsing and again rubbing until dry
Another eastern method more likely to sue
coed in becoming formula in America is
to rub the rug with a little fine rice meal.
But in most instances washing in soapsuds
Will be considered sufficient treatment once
year. Priceless Daghestan prayer rugs,
which are almost impossible to procure
now, might be soaked in milk and cleaned
according to this method with great sue
cess. In these exquisite squares the ton
ing is soft and lovely, and the milk helps
to preserve the coloring.
x =
When closing the house for the summer
or after the annual bath the rugs should
be rolled up with tobacco, cedar shavings,
camphor or moth balls and securely COW
cred with newspaper. Over this wrap
ping of unbleached muslin is sewed.
Creases and ridges that look like imper-
fections in the weaving are often found in
rugs that have been packed away. This is
invariably due to the fact that the rug has
been folded and not rolled.
Oriental rugs are SO beautiful and add so
materially to the quiet elegance of a room
and very essentially also to the humor of
the occupant that their selection should be
one of prayerful consideration. More Is
required in their choice than the fact that
the coloring harmoniZes with the other
tones employed in the apartment. This is
very important. to be sure, but there are
few other points which should not be over
looked.
and land that 1t is necessary to ship and
reship them many times. and in this trans
portation the graphing hooks often make
rents In the rugs. 1t is very necessary to
look out for these holes when buying a
rug. OF course, If the tears are not large
or extraordinarily shaped an experienced
member will find no trouble in hiding them
with few careful stitches. Lay the rug