Rug Repairs: I consider this ssewing--A question

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Cea - I would think it would depend on how/where/how long you were going to use the rug and how 'beautiful' the edges need to be... and how much $$$ you want to spend. Can you get matte black (or navy or tan) duck/duct tape and do the edges? Can you place it so that furniture covers the worn spots? I would decide how much it was worth to me and not spend any more than that on it. It could become a very expensive "free" rug!

You'll be doing great just to get the musty smell out of it. Relatively speaking, Karastans are cheap, machine-made rugs not worth the bother of repairing. I assume it's knotted not woven since you say there are bald spots Almost the only people who know how to repair knotted rugs are Persian rug dealers and that's because those and some other quality hand-made rugs are the only ones worth repairing. All Persians are washable (that is the only proper way to clean them) but with your rug, it's extremely doubtful. Of course you have nothing to lose. You cannot properly repair a machine made rug because you cannot duplicate the work of a machine. But you could try cutting off the bald spot and making a smaller rug out of it if you can get the musty smell out of it (doubtful). IMO, no balding, musty Karastan is ever worth that kind of bother. I admire your courage nonetheless.

Cea: If you happen to come across ANY place that binds rugs, please email me. I'd prefer someone on this side, but will travel over the river if necessary. TIA, PAT

Try a carpet selling warehouse or shop, or an independent fitter. Over here they will often trim and bind the off-cuts from your new carpet fitting into rugs for very little. They might be prepared to do an old (clean!) rug for you, for a consideration.

Dear Cea,

Is this a pile rug? If so, you can repair it yourself if you can find the right colors. A fine wool yarn will work. You need a punch needle. There are several types--all do the same thing. It takes about five minutes to learn how to do it. You would punch from the wrong side of the rug to fill in the worn places. Finish the back by pressing on fusible interfacing, or painting the treated area with latex. After the latex cures, turn the rug over, and trim the pile to match the rest of the rug. I would have a carpet store refinish the edge, rather than trying to fringe it.

Teri

maybe 200 miles? I had 2 9x12s, a 7x10, a 3x12, and several throw rugs in my volvo station wagon all wadded up to cleaning. bringing home when they are rolled is another matter!

hej pat and cea:: I think these people can meet your needs.

before they cleaned my rugs the first time, i went to their shop and took a tour of how they did the cleaning and drying. see the pictures at

they have a recessed area in which they wash the rungs. then they have a large ringer that rinses and then gently squeezes the water (just like an old time washing machine of the 1940s). they have drying rooms in which the rugs were suspended and then unheated air was circulated to remove moisture final. they also pick up and deliver, at least here in metro washington area. when they return the rugs, the rugs are rolled and you put them back in place or there is a service charge to roll them out and put furniture back on them. in my case with a 9x12 that had a bed on top, it was well worth the charge.

they do repairs, such as fringe; i don't know what else. i think they also do repairs on the rug body.

when i was looking for such a service, i called a woman in my church, you know, one of those who knows everyone and everything and was referred without question to this place. it has now moved out near dulles airport and in the process expanded with the relocation,

klh in VA

Ayoub Carpet & Rug Cleaning Company

6840 Fairfax Drive Arlington VA 22213 relocated because of zoning to3856 Dulles South Court, Chantilly, VA 20151(703) 378-2007

1. Inspect and test rugs prior to cleaning. 2. Dust rugs to remove dry soils. 3. Pre-spot for any oil or grease stains. 4. Immerse rugs in cold water to loosen and suspend soils deep within the rugs. 5. Hand shampoo with approved cleaning detergents by the Wools of New Zealand. 6. Hand scrub soiled fringes. 7. Thoroughly rinse all soils and detergents out of rugs with cold water. 8. Remove water with high volume water extractor. 9. Apply conditioning agents as needed, groom nap and dry in climate controlled drying room. 10. Final inspection of rugs for maximum results.

...

It just goes to show you, you don't have to be Jewish to be a Yenta. (That's a compliment, just in case anyone wonders.)

Max

Cea, Don't know about fringe but the carpet places around here get about $2.25 per foot for binding. I repair their machines when they break them.

Cea: I tried to send this a couple of days ago, but there was something wrong (could have been the major thunderstorm we were having). I once repaired a split in a similar rug by stitching it up with dental floss. Disappeared right into the pile, and that rug lasted several more years until it finally went off to college with ds for his dorm room.

Similarly, once after (yet another) move I came upon a stained but otherwise good all wool woven-in-Belgium rug for $10. DH and I laid it upside down on the front porch, then I sprayed the spots with both detergent and ammonia, then scrubbed lightly with a stiff broom and sprayed with vinegar to neutralise it. Turned it over and repeated on the right side. After that, we turned the hose on it to rinse it, and flooded it over and over. We got out the shop vac to pull out the water, and were shocked to see all the dirt, so rinsed and vacuumed it a couple more times until it was clean. Left it on the porch to dry for a couple of days, then brought it indoors and laid it down on a thick pad of newspapers. It took close to a week to get completely dry, but was a great success.

Of course, that was then and this is now. We are older and wiser, with less energy and more money. Nowadays my rugs go to the cleaner.:-) :-)

Olwyn Mary in New Orleans

I had the edges of my old Karastan "rebound" by a local carpet store. It was somewhat expensive to have done, and the results were terribly dissapointing! They had used staples to attach the binding, then turned it and glued the other edge of the binding to the back of the carpet. After a few weeks, I noticed that the staples were working themselves loose and poking the children who were sitting on the rug (I'm a children's librarian) In retrospect, i wish I had just taken the time to do it myself by hand. Good luck to you.

There is a rug making craft that uses a punch needle and cotton backing to make Oriental pile rugs. They have a website where you can find instructions on how to punch, bind and make the fringe. You might be able to repair the bald spots by rebuilding the pile using this process. You'll be able to buy the tools and yarn if you are daring enough to take the project on yourself.

Their website is :

Good luck! I hope this helps.