The biggest dangers for rugs placed in storage are bugs, floods, and thugs. Regardless of where you store it, insects, water damage, and theft are the most common problems we hear from clients. Learning how to store a rug is important to preventing damage.
Many place their high-value oriental rugs in a storage unit or tucked away in their home. Often, storing occurs when remodeling a home, during summer sunlight, or even holding for a family member. You want to guarantee you are not causing damage by improper storing.
Gatesway Cleaning & Restoration recommends a professional carpet cleaning before any long-term storage of an area rug. If you are planning on moving or using temporary storage, use these helpful carpet storage tips to ensure you do not ruin your family heirloom.
Safe Area Rug Carpet Storage Tips
Do clean and moth-repel rugs before wrapping for storage.
- You must clean your area rugs of food and liquid material. While moths reign as the storage bad guys, any insect will eat food stuck to the fiber. An insect repellant, safe for carpet fibers, will make your rug unappetizing to moths.
Do roll your rugs starting at the bottom to the top end, fuzzy side inside.
- To find the bottom end of your rug, you want to ‘pet’ your rug to determine which direction the nap is going. When you run your hand with the carpet nap, it will take you to the tassels of the bottom of the rug (where the weaver began weaving your area rug). Roll from this end. Folding area rugs causes cracking over time, so do not fold before storing.
Don't roll your silk rugs with the fuzzy side inside.
- Wool and cotton rugs have more give than silk rugs. So when placing silk rugs into storage, roll them with their fuzzy silk side outside.
Do wrap your rugs in Tyvek® or brown acid-free paper.
- Wool has a moisture content even when it is dry, so changes in heat will cause it to sweat. Because of this, you can never wrap wool rugs in plastic, or you will create a mildew problem. Tyvek® paper is best as it is torn and water-resistant.
Do elevate your rug packages off of the ground.
- Storage facilities are often located in lowlands, which tend to flood during bad weather. So whether in your home or their location, you want to keep rugs at least six inches off the ground in case flooding occurs.
Don't stack anything heavy on top of your rugs.
- Heavy items can cause damage to the rug’s foundation. This damage is near impossible to repair.
Before you store a rug, it's important to get it nice and clean to prevent damage from insects. Call Gatesway today to schedule an area and oriental rug cleaning.
