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How Do I Care For Antique Rugs?

Home » Antiques » Caring for Antiques » How Do I Care For Antique Rugs?

Like other textiles, exposing rugs to rapid changes in temperature and humidity is not good. Open fires and treasured floor coverings don't mix. Direct sunlight may result in fading, so if your rug or carpet is in a sunny area, close the curtains at times of bright sunlight. Narrow diameter shoe heels, smaller than a two pence coin) no matter how high or low, cause a great deal of damage both to floors and carpets.

Take care when moving rugs and carpets. There's less chance of damaging the pile if you roll them up with the pile facing outwards.
Adhesive shouldn't be used with textiles. Glued patches do not help the stability of a piece and while underlays may be very useful, they shouldn't have adhesive on them. Don't use nails or staples to secure rugs or carpets either.

Pets can inadvertently do a great deal of damage. Claws cause damage to the pile and urine stains are difficult to remove, as well as attracting insects. Check during the spring and summer for signs of insect infestation. If a piece has signs of clothes' moths or carpet beetles, isolate it from other textiles and contact a textile conservator immediately.

Resources:

WWW.MARKETANTIQUE.COM
WWW.ANTIQUEANDESTATE.COM
WWW.ED-THELEN.ORG

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