We know that you will enjoy it for years to come. Area rugs are one of the easiest ways to freshen the look, color and style of your home. Like any investment, a rug must be properly taken care of if it is to last. Following are tips for extending rug life.

All rugs are handmade by skilled artisans in a specialty manufacturing facility and are checked to meet quality standards before shipment.

The following seven simple facts will help you to understand your rug and prolong its life:

1) Color

No two rugs are the same. Slight color variations are common for handmade rugs, as dye lots may change over a period of time.

2) Shedding

All wool rugs will shed. Shedding will subside over time, depending on traffic and wear. It typically takes 20-25 vacuums, at a minimum, to curtail shedding. Some will shed for the lifetime of the rug.

3) Sprouts

Loose fibers, or sprouts, are a normal part of the break-in process of handmade rugs. To remove sprouts, use a small pair of scissors to snip them off even with the pile. Do not pull the fiber out, as this can cause a deterioration of the backing.

4) Creases

If your rug has been rolled or folded for shipping, it may include creases. Creases should disappear within a week or two when the rug is laid out flat. Reverse rolling the rug overnight will help.

5) Odor

Odors are caused by dyes, yarns and shipping for long distances in sealed wrap. Most odors dissipate within a week once the rug is removed from the shipping wrap.

6) Fading

If exposed to direct sunlight, rug colors typically fade over time, even if they are fade resistant.

7) Wear & tear