How to Maintain Antique and Semi-Antique Rugs

In the rug and carpet industry a rug that is over 100 years old is considered an antique. At 50 years a rug is considered semi-antique. It may seem that rugs of that age are not desirable, but in fact they are very much in demand. Whether a hand made Oriental from Iran or a hand hooked piece of Americana, old rugs have a unique appeal. For example Interior Designers use old rugs to create ambiance in a space. Think of “Mediterranean Tuscan” décor with a beautiful Old Persian rug, or a “Shabby Chic” bedroom with a vintage hooked wool floral rug.

You may want to have a look in your attic for hidden treasure of an old rug and consider having it restored. And what about that old heirloom rug your grandmother gave you? You may be surprised at how beautiful it looks after a restoration.

The types of issues usually found in old rugs are stains, holes and missing, damaged or discolored fringes. All of these damages can be restored if the damage is not too far gone. Old fringes can be removed and new fringe added. Discoloration and fading of colors may also be corrected, depending on the extent of the problem. Even dry rot can be stopped and repaired on some rugs if it is done properly and the area is not too large. And of course a good cleaning by a certified professional rug cleaning facility is a good place to start to restore your old rug.

After you have your rug restored you will want to maintain it by doing the following:

-Use a rug pad under your rug. This will help protect the rug from wear.
-Be very careful in vacuuming your rug. It is recommended to avoid vacuums with a beater bar.
-Have your rug cleaned every 3 years or so by a certified professional rug cleaning facility. We recommend visiting the Carpet and Rug Institute website (www.carpet-rug.org) to find a certified professional rug cleaning facility in your area. Dry Cleaning may be necessary.
-You may want to get an appraisal to determine the value of your rug. Once appraised you can check with your insurance carrier as to the level of coverage you may want to carry.

If you are in the Hampton Roads, Virginia area and have an old rug that you want restored, please contact us and we will be happy to advise you about the restoration of your treasured old rug.

Mark Gonsenhauser's Rug and Carpet Superstore
4153 Virginia Beach Blvd.
Virginia Beach, VA 23452
757-486-6600

Website: http://www.igotyourrug.com/

Proudly providing you Antique Rug Restoration for the Hampton Roads cities of Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Chesapeake, Portsmouth, Suffolk, Hampton, Newport News.