I have some nice old Turkish kilims. These used to be considered quite chic in the distant 70’s. The Turkish dealer told me the best way to clean these, and I’m told it works for Navajo rugs, Indian dhurries too – any flatweave. I love this.
1. wait till it snows
(2. it has to be a fairly dry snow)
3. haul the rug out onto the fresh snow
4. walk all over it and beat it with a broom
5. flip it over onto another patch of fresh snow
6. walk all over it and beat it with a broom
7. repeat until walking and beating no longer leaves a rug-sized dirt print on the snow
Do you know you need about half an acre per rug to do this?