Product Care

Cactus Silk Care Instructions

 

The Cactus Silk used to make our amazing Cactus Silk Cushion covers, are all handmade by artisans in Morocco.  The wonderful Cactus Silk fabric is also known as Sabra Silk. It's loomed by hand from the fibers of the Agave Cati or Saharan Aloe Vera plant that is found in the Sahara Desert and is used to create a textile that's distinctively strong, yet soft to touch.  Then they are dyed with vegetable dyes and hand embroidered, and then often left to dry in the Moroccan sunshine for a few weeks.  

To care for your Cactus Silk Cushions and rugs, avoid using water as this may cause the vegetable dyes to run and discolour which may change the look of your cushion. However, if you don't mind if your cactus silk item changes its look, or colour then feel free to wash it.  Otherwise, it is recommended to dry clean these lovely pieces.  Also, please advise your drycleaner that they are dyed with natural, non-chemically treated vegetable dyes, to ensure the appropriate care is applied.

Some would also suggest to use canvas spray's as used for shoes, to repel liquids. But a test area on the inside would be advised to ensure that the fabric is suitable to take to the spray. 

Rug & Handira Care Instructions

Moroccan rugs are made to be super resistant and last a lifetime.  Here at ALM, we would suggest that if you are worried about harming your beautiful rug during the cleaning process, then please refer to a professional to have your rug cleaned.  

“A Little Morocco” provides these guidelines for your assistance, however, due to the fact that each individual piece is different in terms of materials, colours and age, we suggest you satisfy yourself that the delicacy or suitability of cleaning your rugs, Kilim cushions or Handira’s items (Moroccan Wedding Blankets, or cushions), in accordance with the following, is undertaken at your own volition.

Otherwise, here are some helpful hints to care for your rugs at home:  

All "A LITTLE MOROCCO" rugs are washed before leaving Morocco. You may find some loose fibres due to the recent washing which will only occur for a short period of time. Even though they are thoroughly cleaned, some rugs will still retain some fine grains of desert sand as some are placed directly on the floor in more remote areas of the Atlas Mountains (sand loves to get in everywhere).

This will also reduce after a few household vacuums. Wool is a resilient material and is pretty resistant to wear and dirt which makes it perfect for rugs! These rugs are pretty resilient and robust and have lived a lifetime before even reaching us. All this being said our A LITTLE MOROCCO rugs are carefully selected vintage piece’s; some may be more delicate than others and to ensure the longevity and value of your piece care should be taken when looking after it.

  • Vacuum frequently to free your rug from any dust or loose debris. You should vacuum across ways (across the width) instead of length ways (up and down the longest length) as this helps to work with the weave and not apply stress to the base loom fibers.
  • Shake outside every so often to free it from any dust or mites which like to get in and hide in dark places. We suggest leaving your rug out for a few hours in sunshine if possible, when doing this and if it's in a safe space as this also helps prevents mites from trying to set up home in it (as with any natural textile product).
  • on thinner or older pieces, a rubber matting (sometimes called rug non-slip underlay) will help to preserve the weave and aid in being non-slip. We prefer a good quality underlay to ensure It doesn't damage the rug or the floor beneath. 
  • For any spills use a damp clean cloth with tepid water (make sure the cloth isn’t coloured as this could transfer to your rug). A clean white tea towel is great! 
  • We clean all of our rugs at home once in a while for a nice freshen up. This is not a regular thing and doesn’t need to be done often, or even annually. You should be able to find a rug cleaner close to your area. 
  • In Morocco they often rotate their rugs a few times a year to ensure even wear. Our homes and spaces tend to have a lot less foot traffic but it's worth considering doing this if your rug will be in a heavily used space or used a lot more on one side or in one area in particular.
  • Please! If you put your rug in storage for any length of time, make sure it's very well sealed and even consider using a form of moth deterrent. Moths and mites LOVE dark spaces and if there is a way to get in, they will often find it. Wool is a natural product and should be allowed to breath. If your item is in storage will still recommend trying to air it out on occasion.