A good practice for cleaning an antique rug is to take fine window screen and create a small square frame, approximately 2" X 2" and mount the screen on that. Make sure the screen is a stable material, such as nylon. This frame will be used to place over a vacuum nozzle so that the rug can be gently vacuumed at low suction. Someone else might have more suggestions to add to mine, but this is a start.
Jim Sturgill