Good morning. What a glorious start to the week we have had! The sun brings out all the smiles, doesn’t it?
Wasn’t it a beautiful weekend too? What did you all do this weekend?
My weekend started with a visit to the garden Centre.
I love filling my garden with flowers for the summer. They brighten up the day!
I also had a friend visit over the weekend who had an excellent question. She was decorating her living room and noticed the dog had nibbled at the edge of her favourite Rug.
I realised this is a question I bet we all could do with knowing.
How many readers are sitting home? Spring clean has been done, and a freshen up is needed, but, OH NO, my Rug is damaged…
I feel this question comes with a few things we also need to consider:
- Can my Rug be repaired?
- Can I fix it myself?
- What damage to rugs can be repaired?
- How expensive is it, and is it worth it?
So, let’s see if I can help us all.
Can my Rug be Repaired?
In short, it does depend. If you have caught the rug damage quick enough, generally, it can be repaired. So be quick!
Older carpets can be more challenging as they are made with vegetable dyes so colour matching can be tricky.
If you have any loose threads, don’t cut them!! The repair can be dealt with better if left, so if it’s unravelling, get it fixed at the earliest possible opportunity.
I wouldn’t want you to lose your fav rug for something as simple as not cutting the fraying edges.
Can I fix it myself?
Now don’t stop scrolling after you read this.
Sadly, we don’t recommend trying to repair it yourself, especially if it is your favourite.
Most rugs are repairable if you get them to the repair specialist before it gets too bad, and as they have the right tools and knowledge, we highly recommend leaving it to them.
We have a lovely man we use for repairs. Like us, he will be honest right from the start, too.
If your beloved rug is unrepairable, he will say so. Rather than charge you for a job none of us will be happy with.
What damage to rugs can be repaired?
There are typically five most common types of damage we see in rugs.
Fringes
Fraying fridges is the most common damage.
My doggy causes this in my house, but hoovers will do this too.
They are very delicate but, if caught quick, generally can be repaired.
The fraying edges could be replaced, or the threads woven back into the edge of the Rug.
Small holes
Again, the quicker this is caught, the easier and more likely it is to be fixed. Also, if the area around the hole is in good condition, this will be able to be repaired.
As much as the hole may be repairable, it is tough to match the area that needs reweaving. You find the older carpets, especially if they are very finely woven, will be harder to do.
Moth holes
If you find a small patch on the rug that is missing threads, it’s probably that a moth got hungry and decided that your Rug looked like the perfect feast.
These rugs tend to be made from wool or silk, and they are a favourite with moths. Carpet moths also like dark areas where they can hide, so keeping your Rug away from the edge of furniture can prevent this.
Again, if this is caught quickly enough, it should be easily fixed. If the damage is less than 5ml, the professional could use a bonding web.
A darning technique will be better if the hole is more significant.
Tears
These tend to be less complex than a hole. But only if it is dealt with quickly. If the tear is left too long, you risk the area losing threads and enlarging, which will make the fix harder, if not impossible.
The fix is simple for the right person, as reconstructing the area and putting the warps back is a technique most professionals know how to do.
Water damage
So a drink gets spilt, or you have just cleaned your Rug. If it’s not dried properly, the damage can turn into mould.
Without mould, it should be an easy fix. Clean again and leave to dry appropriately, with ventilation to the Rug. Hanging would be best if you do this yourself.
Suppose the mould isn’t too bad. There is a couple of tricks the professional can do. It does involve the Rug being cut. Yes, this is an option, and yes, it does mean your Rug will be smaller.
How much is it to repair my rug, and is it worth it?
This is a question you really should be asking yourself.
To help you a little, though, maybe ask yourself this:
- Was the Rug expensive? Rug repairing is not a cheap process by far. If the Rug costs £50, you may want to replace it with a new one.
- Is it sentimental? If the Rug was gifted, or a loved one bought it for you and then passed away, and you want to keep it… the price might not matter!
Repairing a rug can cost anything from £50, and this would be the lower end damage of a fringe repair. This is just an estimate and this will vary depending on the damage and type of rug.
Remember, someone must take their time to prep and find the suitable materials and colours that match the Rug to perfection, and therefore, repairing a rug is one of the highest costs of maintenance you will have.
I thought I’d give you extra help in finding rug repair specialists, so below are a couple I have seen in the area with the company’s name, contact details and rating.
Persian Tribal Rugs – Rating 4*
01223 264811 / info@persiantribalrugs.co.uk
Unit 21, Burwash Manor,
New Road, Barton,
Cambridge, CB23 7EY
Oriental Rug Repairs – Rating 5*
07446935787
59 Verulam Way,
Arbury,
Cambridge CB4 2HJ
For further advice or information on our Carpet and Soft Furnishing care, please do not hesitate to contact the Art of Clean team on 01223 901547 in Cambridge.
Our services include Carpet Cleaning, Upholstery Cleaning, oriental and area Rug Cleaning, Curtain Cleaning, Patio, Driveway Pressure washing, Leather Cleaning, Stone and Tile Floor Cleaning, and Wood Floor Sanding and Restoration.
We also supply new flooring and carpets through our sister company Art of Flooring. Farthings Cambridge provides our Dry-Cleaning service.
You might find this blog handy to help prevent your rug needing repairing:
Tips to help your Rug last longer