Oriental and Navajo rugs often have significant cultural as well as monetary and decorative value, and the issues involved in care and maintenance are frequently the same for both priceless antiquities and decorative rugs. In addition to being walked on daily, rugs also bear the brunt of pets, floods, spills, insect damage, high temperatures from the under-floor radiant heat that is becoming popular in homes, and ultraviolet damage from the sun. Improper cleaning and improper pads and underlays will tend to compound these problems.
The simplest factor in the preservation of your rugs is appropriate placement; fragile, antique ones should be placed away from heavy foot traffic and sunlight, and the placement of kilims or any fragile rug under dining tables is inviting trouble. You should also display and store rugs where they can be checked regularly for moth and insect damage. With regard to general cleaning, simple vacuuming with an upholstery attachment will remove damaging grit and soil, and occasional turning will prevent uneven fading and damage from traffic patterns. It is also a good idea to keep a separate upholstery attachment for your rugs and other textiles. This will avoid the accidental use of one that has just been used to vacuum soot from around the fireplace.
“Restorer working on a 19th century Caucasian kilim. On wall behind is an antique Turkish hereke. Photo courtesy Textival Rug & Textile Workshop
Professional Hand-Washing: Approximately every three to five years hand-washing by a professional specialty service is advised. It will extend the life of a rug and provide an opportunity for a restorer to assess the rug's condition. Most larger cities have reputable oriental rug cleaning services though they are still hard to find in some parts of the country. Keep in mind that it is better not to have a rug cleaned than to have it improperly cleaned. Hand-washing (as opposed to steam cleaning, shampooing, ‘dipping’ or other mechanical cleaning), in combination with thorough dust removal, rinses out soil, grit and environmental build-up that adheres to fibers, and does so without leaving soap or other residues in the rug. Oils and grit that build up over time can harm a rug, either by breaking down, or discoloring or staining the fibers. Also, immersion in clear water, when combined with rapid drying, will hydrate the fibers and reduce brittleness over time.
It is a good idea to research the reputation of rug washers in your area; call around to reputable antique and specialty rug dealers, interior designers, your local museum’s conservation department, and other collectors and see who they recommend. Look for someone who works exclusively on hand-made and area rugs, has in-house rug restorers, and, of course, is fully insured. In the case of Navajo Rugs, it is best to send them to a specialist with experience in addressing the color-run, staining and fragility inherent in those weavings.
You can expect excellent results from having a rug hand-washed; the color and luster of the wool or silk should be restored, the feel should be soft, stains should be gone or diminished substantially and odors should be rinsed out, though washing does not necessarily address structural problems, fading, severe stains, or pre-existing damage.
Flood, Smoke, and Restorative Washing: If a rug is has been in a flood and is still wet, rapid drying is extremely important to prevent mold, mildew, color run and other potentially permanent damage from occurring. A carpet cleaning service can be called in to extract water and dry the rug, but not to wash it. Once the rug is dry, consult a restorative washing specialist.
A restorative wash is actually a stronger wash which may be necessary to remove stains, rust, or smoke odors and residues, and may involve selective use of bleaches to counter the color-run resulting from flooding. This type of washing is not recommended for all types of rugs, and again, advice from an experienced professional is vital. Not all types of color-run or staining are reversible, but substantial improvements can be made that are often satisfactory for the preservation of a rug’s value.
Re-weaving and Restoration of Damaged Rugs: The carpets that we love enough to live with on a daily basis are subject to the ravages of pets, time, and various types of household accidents. Many kinds of systemic damage can be irreversible and may not be noticed until too late, especially damage caused by mildews and molds, ultraviolet light, and water. A good restorer should be able to tell you if the rug is worth the expense of restoration, and if the results will add to, or detract from, its value.
Hand restoration can be as simple as a securing stitch that stabilizes an unraveling edge, and as complex as re-looming the warp and weft of a large area and re-knotting the design. Good restorers will custom dye and spin yarns to match the original, and there are an almost infinite variety of knots, stitches, braids, weaves, and structures (as well as colors and fiber types) that must be duplicated to make a good match.
As a customer you should expect restoration that blends well with the original material and is in keeping with how the original piece was woven. Be aware that in some cases a “quick fix” may be appropriate; patches from old rug scraps, dyeing worn or faded areas with textile paints, and cutting and re-finishing are solutions when full restoration costs more than you want to spend, or is disproportionate to the value of the rug. Whether seeking a full restoration or a quick fix however, avoid the restorer who plans the use of glues or machine serging on handmade rugs.
“Restoring an antique Navajo saddle blanket."
Photo courtesy Textival Rug & Textile Workshop
A Highly Specialized Field: For high-value items, it makes sense to find a specialist restorer with extensive experience in a given area; even with shipping costs and higher hourly rates, a restorer who has worked extensively with the type of rug you have will often cost less and yield better results. Our facility, for instance, specializes in restoration and washing of Navajo rugs, and we receive work from collectors and dealers around the country. Even within the already specialized field of Navajo rugs, however, there are areas of greater specialization. For example, we sometimes refer Germantown Navajo – 19th century Navajo blankets made with commercial rather than hand-spun yarns – to a restoration specialist in Texas. We have also sent hooked American rugs to the Boston area, where restorers have extensive experience with these pieces, and have referred a client to a Turkmen restoration specialist in Seattle.
“Restorers at ATC in Izmir Turkey."
Photo courtesy Textival Rug & Textile Workshop
Large Scale and High Volume Restoration: For large-scale restoration of high-value items, a very reliable service has been set up in Turkey (ATC Restoration in Izmir) that is doing some of the finest work anywhere in the world, and at very reasonable rates. Rug restoration is an ancient and highly developed craft in Turkey, and ATC has elevated their standards to meet the demands of museums, dealers and collectors throughout the world. On a recent visit to their facility we found around fifty restorers hard at work on French tapestries, Caucasian rugs, Saltillo Serapes, and Persian kilims, with full-time dyers preparing material. A good, qualified local restorer will be able to advise you on the option of sending work overseas. Shops such as ours act as brokers and can make the necessary arrangements to safely ship work to Turkey.
The Future of Your Rugs: The antique rugs and textiles we enjoy today exist, and are in good condition, because people in the past treasured and cared for them. It is not known which of the modern and semi-antique rugs of today will be collectible treasures in the future, but condition will inevitably be a major factor in their value. By working with specialists and learning to observe the condition of the rugs in our collections, we will preserve their value for ourselves and for future generations.
