Protection
There are many elements that can cause damage to your rug. By protecting your rug from them, you can help keep it looking new, longer.

The first harmful element is the sun. Sun damage can appear in the form of fading or discoloration of your rug. To protect your rug against sun damage, you should place it in an area that doesn’t get much sunlight or use a window treatment to block the direct sun. Also remember how important it is to turn your rug once a year. This will ensure equal amounts of sun exposure over the life of your rug.

The second factor you should keep in mind is protecting your rug from water damage. Do not place potted plants directly on your rug. If you do, water can leak out of the pot and onto the rug. Moisture could potentially build there for weeks and ultimately weaken the foundation of your rug. Also, be mindful if it's in your entryway, dining or living areas. Rain droplets or spilled liquids should be dried immediately.

Lastly, you will want to protect your rug from your lovable pets. That’s right, cats and dogs can cause serious damage to rugs. Often times, dogs will use them as chew toys and cats will use them as claw-sharpening devices. Employ proper obedience methods in order to protect your rug from pet antics.

Process & Materials
The quality of a rug is often determined by two factors: process and materials. Handmade, natural material rugs may be more expensive than machine-made synthetic ones since hand-weaving is such a time-intensive process. While a hand-woven rug is considered quite luxurious, the machine-made rug process has been diligently perfected over the years. This is a good option to get the handmade look without the handmade price!

Materials used in rugs can also make a big impact on cost and quality. Wool is used in many countries, as it is a durable substance and seen as the most traditional material. Although this is the component of choice, less expensive synthetic materials are also common in the man-made marketplace today. The type of material used often varies by the country of origin. For example, Persian rugs usually incorporate soft wool, while silk is the material of choice for Chinese rugs.

Rug Producers Asia is at the forefront of the rug industry. China, Turkey, India and Pakistan are all major exporters. It is difficult to say when rug-making began in these countries, but it can be traced back as far as the 13th century. China produces rugs mainly for the purpose of exportation, which is why they are one of the largest handmade exporters in the industry. India and Pakistan began producing rugs in the 16th century and still hold an important place in the market today. Middle Eastern countries are known for producing very diverse pieces and are themselves passionate purchasers of the rugs made in their countries.