Can a Damaged Rug be Repaired?

So, you’ve noticed that there is damage on your rug? We’ve all been there and we all know the feelings of terror, panic and worry when looking down at the problem. The good news is that there are very few accidents that can damage a rug beyond repair. The bad news is you need to be smart about this and jump into action as quickly as you possibly can, so that the damage doesn’t get any worse than it already is.

Rugs are meant to bring some personality into your home, and while they are the best thing you can put on your floor, the very fact that they are on the floor means they are going to be quite exposed. Not only are rugs made to be walked on, which is going to cause them to experience some wear and tear, but they are also subject to spills which can easily seep into the materials, causing unsightly damage.

A damaged rug can be repaired, even if the damage looks irreparable. And in this quick and straight to the point guide, we’re going to answer all of your questions and help you fix your damaged rug.

 

Do you need a professional and when can you DIY the rug repair?

Some repairs are going to be beyond what you are capable of doing, and are therefore going to require a professional set of eyes, and tools, to be done correctly. If the rug is one of those considered a higher-end vintage rugs, like a Persian or an Oriental, it will be best to take it to a professional - the kind that has experience with these sorts of rugs.

As far as possible, you will want the rug to hold onto its value, and the only way that you can guarantee this is to let someone who knows a lot about these types of rugs, and who has worked with these rugs before, do the repair.

Another situation in which it would be best to call in a professional, is if the damage is more than you feel capable of dealing with. While spills and stains are easy to work out, tears and damage to the materials can be a whole lot more challenging. When in doubt always call on an expert for assistance.

Rug stains, when dealt with as soon as possible, are easy to handle on your own. There are a variety of rug cleaning methods online, we have an extensive guide on different rug stain removal methods.

Should you invest in rug maintenance?

Most rug damage doesn’t happen as one unhappy event. Generally, rug damage happens over time, through general wear and tear. One day the wear and tear just goes too far and you end up with a hole or the fringe starts falling apart.

Unless the unexpected happens, you can avoid the worst kind of rug damage by committing to a bit of maintenance every now and then. Making sure that you regularly clean the rug is the first part, and then you should definitely consider an annual deep clean, especially if you are the owner of a Persian or an Oriental rug.

Which types of rug damage can be repaired?

Although you might not want to hear it, there are some types of rug damage that are irreparable, but these are rare instances and not something that should have you too worried.

The most common type of rug damage is wear on the fringe. As the fringe of the rug is generally a lot more exposed, and is one of the more delicate parts, it is usually the first to take damage. Signs of damage include missing sections and the fringe might also just end up looking a little thread bare either all over or just in places. Although such damage might look horrific and just about impossible to fix, it is one of the easiest and less expensive repairs you can do. While you can attempt to do this repair yourself, it would be easier to take your rug to a professional to fix the fringe. The whole fringe can be replaced or just a new section can be added, but either way the repair should be straight forward.

A more complicated repair is a tear. Torn rugs are hard to repair because they can rip right through a pattern and ruin the look of the rug. Another issue is that the tear can get bigger as the materials further unravel. This will happen if the tear is left too long. While you can attempt to fix the tear yourself, if you have a rather expensive rug, it would most certainly be best to take the rug to a professional, someone who has the tools to do the repair properly. If it is a clean tear, a professional will usually be able to fix the rug in such a way that it will look as though the tear never happened.

Another common problem with rugs is small holes that are the result of being walked on over the years. These holes normally appear towards the middle of the rug, in places where perhaps the materials are not quite as strong as they are on other parts of the rug.

If the damage on the rug is too extensive, it could require reweaving. Normally reweaving will be necessary when the rug is a vintage or on the upper end of the price and prestige scale.

When has the damage gone too far?

As we keep saying, the longer you leave the damage, the more chance you have of the rug becoming impossible to fully restore. For the most part, rugs are easy to repair especially when they are left in the capable hands of someone who knows exactly what needs to be done.

If the rug is not important or not vintage, you might want to consider saving yourself the money, and trouble, and just toss it out and buy something new. Not all rugs are worth replacing. However, even if the rug is not suitable for repairs, if it has a beautiful image or pattern, you can always repurpose the rug by turning it into a fancy piece of one-of-a-kind wall art.

What kinds of repairs can I do myself?

Simpler damage, of which there are many kinds, can easily be fixed without having to pay out a fortune to a professional carpet repair company. For those who want to do a little DIY work, these are some of the types of repairs that you can do yourself.

Moth Damage

The longer you have a rug, and especially if you put the rug into storage, moth damage becomes a real possibility. The best way to deal with damage of this kind is to not have to deal with it at all, which means you need to dedicate some time and effort into preventative measures. Regular vacuuming, proper storage, and keeping the rug away from moisture, are all ways that you can stop the rug from being damaged by moths.

If you see that the rug does have some damage or that there is moth larvae around, you can buy an organic moth repellent which you can use to keep the moths away. You can start the treatment process by agitating the rug with a vacuum cleaner and then remove the larvae and the eggs. To fix the damage, if it is not too bad, you can weave the fibres back together by yourself, if you just follow the pattern.

Burns

Cigarette ash and fireplaces are the two big fire hazards when you have a rug. This kind of damage is quite common and it is not only the hole that causes the damage but also the smoky smell, which can affect the whole room in which the rug is placed.

Holes can be tricky to neatly fix, as the pattern needs to be thought about carefully, but it is not impossible to reweave, without the fix being noticeable, if you pay attention to the finer details. To get rid of that smoky smell, you can give the rug a deep clean and let it air outside.

Unravelling

Less expensive rugs are often prone to unravelling. It could be the rug itself that is unravelling or it could be the fringe that is starting to come apart. Either way, once the rug starts doing this, it can cause a lot of damage to the rest of the rug, eventually leaving the rug irreparable. Loosened fringes need to be tightened, which can be as easy as retying the materials, and if the rug is totally unravelling, you will need to reinforce the rug edges, to make the rug stronger again. You can also look at reinserting the fringe by hand, by working new threads into the knots.