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August 16, 2018Going to a rug repair shop can be an expensive process. Sometimes, there’s no getting around it, but there are a few small repairs you can do at home to save a little bit of money and preserve your rug.
Now don’t get the wrong idea – unless you’ve studied for years in the art of making wool rugs, but a small tear in the back or frayed edge is well within your ability. Here are five small fixes you can do at home to save your rug, and your wallet.
1- Edge Repairs
Worn and torn fringes are the most common – and permanent – issue with a wool rug. As your rug sees use, the fringes start to come undone, until slowly but surely the rug unravels and shrinks. The small knots that make up your fringe need maintenance and attention.
Whatever you do, though, do not use a machine – they are not delicate enough to properly thread the fringes together and can make your situation even worse.
When repairing an edge, use upholstery thread that is sturdy enough to hold together a thick rug. You want to thread that string through the warp and weft (the back woven part) of your rug to hold the ends together, and most importantly – you want to do this as soon as you notice a problem. Do not wait – the less yarn on a rug, the less likely it is to be fixed. Sew your thread through until you cover the frayed region and tie off the knots.
2- Back Tears
A small hole or puncture in the back of your rug is relatively easy to fix. There’s always the low budget option of covering it with adhesive tape. Duc tape will work for indoor area rugs. Simply brush off the dirt and debris before applying the tape for a stronger hold. If you notice some fibers popping up, push them back in. Then apply the adhesive tape so the fibers catch. For double-fabric sided rugs, however, you should push the displaced fabric through the cut to the proper side and tie off the holes with upholstery thread.
3- Loose Backing
If your rug has a rubber backing and it’s coming apart, cut a piece of replacement backing and apply a thin layer of hot glue systematically from left to right where the old backing is undone. Press the edges together and keep them together until the hot glue dries. You can find hot glue and a hot glue gun at most hardware and craft stores. Natural rubber backed rugs have a tendency to crumble and break down overtime. This may lead to more time vacuuming. If the rubber backing is overall coming apart and crumbling it may be time to replace the rug or purchase a new non-skid natural rubber felt pad.
4- Braided Rugs
Damaged stitches in a braided rug can pull apart the entire weave. Uncoil the damaged area and pull out the broken stitches. From there, replace the damaged material and braid them back together. Sew the coil and edges together with linen thread tightly.
5- Body Cuts
If a piece is cut or torn from the top side of your rug, cut a line parallel to the tear into both sides of the rug. Once you have an even, clean cut, sew the two ends together tightly and securely to cover up the tear altogether.
Resources:
Repair Your Rug Right.
Rug Repair
How to Fix Wool Area Rugs