Kilim, a word of Turkish origin, denotes a pileless textile of many uses produced by one of several flat weaving techniques that have a common or closely related heritage and are practiced in the geographical area that includes parts of Turkey (Anatolia and Thrace), North Africa, the Balkans, the Caucasus, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Central Asia and China. However, cleaning a Turkish kilim can be difficult.

Here are the step-by-step instructions that you can follow to clean your Turkish Kilim rug.

• Sweep it manually using a stick broom, or even vacuum works. Just do not use the revolving brush. Clean the other side as well and avoid the fringes.
• Now place it somewhere flat where you can use water. It could be your driveway as well.
• Use some gentle, organic soap or baby shampoo to clean the carpet. Alternatively, you can also use a carpet shampoo. Make a diluted soapy mix and add one tablespoon of vinegar to it. While the soap will clean the dirt, the vinegar will bring back the shine and glaze to the wool of the Turkish kilim rug.
• Use a bristle brush and dip it in soapy water. Now start working from one corner of the Turkish kilim rug and with gentle short strokes, move down vertically. Move the dirt from one end to another.
• Once you are done vertically, repeat the same steps horizontally. Remember, do not do a vigorous rubbing or brushing as it might damage the Turkish kilim rug.
• Use a pipe with running water to thoroughly clean the soap from the carpet.
• Brush the Turkish Kilim rug once before drying it.
• Place the carpet on a flat surface for drying. It is best if it dries naturally. Keep flipping the carpet now and then to ensure it is dry all over.
• It might take up to two days to dry completely. It is essential to check that the carpet is not damp when you put it back inside. If it is cloudy for days and you are not getting enough sun, put the carpet in a room with central heating and let the warm air dry it up.
• Once it is dry, use a soft brush to brush it. The carpet should be soft to touch once it is clean and dry.

Turkish kilim rugs should never be cleaned in washing machines. Harsh chemicals in detergent powders, the vibrations, and hot water might destroy it completely. You will find several carpet cleaning services if you look around. However, those services are great for machine-made carpets. Handmade rugs like a Turkish kilim rug is best washed manually at home.