How to Maintain Antique Rugs and Carpets

Rugs are susceptible to various types of damage

• Wear due to to foot traffic and rough vacuuming
• Damage due to moths and other insects, stains from food or beverages
• Burns from smoking or fireplaces
• Damage to edges from roller brush vacuum cleaners

Any such damage if left unattended, will eventually unravel and wear down to foundation or deteriorate further into an actual hole, tear, or gap. Any such losses to the fabric – holes and torn edges – must be repaired as soon as possible to prevent them from getting larger and then requiring more extensive repair.

Prevention

The best way minimize such damage is simply to avoid it.

• Be on guard for the tiny moths that eat rugs. Check the underside of your rug periodically to look for evidence of moths, especially the white silky cobwebs of the larvae.
• If you store rugs folded or rolled, use moth balls or cedar shavings, and check the rugs every month or two.
• Some residences tend to have moths. If you fall into this category use moth spray periodically, even on the reverse side of rugs in active use.

Cleaning

Rugs will be come dirty in time no matter how careful the owner. Accumulation of dust and silt also contributes to wear.

• Every four years or so, a rug should be washed as routine maintenance. Urban environments will deposit airborne grime and soot on rugs and textiles. Rugs can also dry out from central heating, and washing not only cleans the rug but re-moisturizes the wool.
• Spot cleaning may be necessary in the case of stains from spills, but do not use any chemical cleaners or stain removers, since they may damage the rug irreversibly. Red wine, tea, coffee, milk, and pet stains require immediate attention. Such spills should be blotted up and then flushed with water. This can be done by putting a disposable towel or cloth under the rug and pouring water through it until the stain is rinsed out. Test the rug with a bit of water first to make sure that the colors do not run before flushing extensively with water.
• Red wine spills can also be treated by putting table salt on the stain after blotting and flushing, but the salt should be removed after five minutes or it will bleach the rug.
• If you soak an area on the rug, lift it from the floor surface to allow air circulation on both sides until it is thoroughly dry. A damp rug left on the floor may lead to dry rot. Major washing and even spot cleaning are best left to professionals. A professional cleaning service can do wonders getting out stains, especially if one has the rug attended to quickly.

Foot Traffic

Even the finest rug will wear down if subjected to repeated traffic.

• It is important to rotate the rug every two years or so that traffic is spread evenly over the
  piece.
• Frequent vacuuming is essential to remove dust and grit which will wear the pile down under foot traffic. But it should be ordinary suction vacuuming.

Light

Contrary to popular opinion, vegetable dyes do not fade substantially when exposed to light. It is synthetic dyes that will fade extensively. But prolonged, intense sunlight is not good for textiles of any type. Intense light will dry and oxidize the wool, weakening the fibers.

• If you have rugs in a very sunny room with southern exposure, it is advisable to use shading, not to block the light, but to reduce it somewhat.
• It may also be advisable to use UV films on the windows.

Things not to do

• Do not store rugs in a closet or attic without checking every month or so for moths.
• Do not store rugs in a basement, which will lead to irreparable dry rot.
• Do not leave a rug that is damp or wet directly on the floor surface. Moisture that cannot escape from under the rug may also cause dry rot.
• Do not use vacuum cleaners with brush roller bars, unless the roller feature can be turned off. Roller or beater bars can cause the ends and sides of the rug to fray, leading to extensive loss or damage to the pile.
• Do not attempt to treat stains with chemical cleaners. These may make things worse and prevent a professional cleaner from removing the stain later on.