Prescott Valley AZ – Can My Stiff and Brittle Rug Be Fixed?
“Stiff and brittle” is a condition that no rug should ever have! This is one of the worst conditions that a rug can have, especially because it is strongly indicative of the dreadful DRY ROT. Dry rot is a weakening of rug fibers and cotton foundation fibers are especially prone to dry rot. Fibers with dry rot are just one unfortunate step away from rips, tears, splits, or even holes! Extreme moisture or overly dry conditions can cause dry rot in your rug.
At Arizona Oriental in Prescott AZ, we have seen quite a few rugs come into our facility that have been getting a lot of attention from our four-legged companions and have been urinated on for months (and in some cases, even years). Urine has “urine salt crystals” that hold moisture and cause rug fibers to remain wet for extended periods of time. Urine also has an acidic nature that, when combined with excessive moisture, creates the perfect recipe for dry rot. While you can try your best to spot clean the spots as they happen, you won’t be able to completely flush all of the urine salt crystals form your rug’s fibers. You need to use specialized urine neutralizing solutions and equipment, as well as the right technique, to really be able to properly flush those urine salt crystals from deep within the knots of your rug.
When there is a build-up of urine deposits, the area rug will become stiff and crusty with urine salt crystals. Both dry rot and urine will make your rug stiff – not just the urine! Unless the rug has already split or torn, it is impossible to determine both the presence and extent of dry rot prior to cleaning your rug. The rug must, of course, be cleaned and all of the urine salt crystals flushed out. At that point, the rug can split, tear, or a hole may appear because of the dry rot in the fibers. It is critical for owners to understand that rugs in this condition are considered damaged and the rug owner must accept the possibility that these fibers may tear or split (just like an old set of curtains that have been hanging for too long become brittle and split).
Another cause of dry rot is SUN DAMAGE. Remember to keep the curtains and blinds closed when you aren’t home to protect your textiles. Not only does this protect your rugs, but it also helps to protect your upholstery, wood furniture, and even your wall-to-wall carpets. Other causes include over-watering plants, moisture seeping in from ground foundations, or anything else that may produce enough moisture for your rug to absorb and hold onto for extended periods of time like a plastic chair mat at your desk. Remember - moisture is the number one cause for mildew, mold, and dry rot. Of course, there are other conditions that will promote dry rot, but I will discuss these in a later article.
As far as restoration for rugs with dry rot goes, that can become quite costly depending on the extensiveness of the dry rot. It may even be impossible to correct, especially in rugs where the damage is wide-spread. Repairs include adding back in missing foundation and face fibers to rebuild the rug. As you can imagine, this is a very time consuming skill that very experienced rug weavers provide at a premium price. Arizona Oriental works closely with rug weavers, which enables us to provide a spectrum of rug repairs from simple to complex, including dry rot repairs.
At Arizona Oriental & Specialty Rug Care, we take rug care very seriously and provide our clients with informational cards on dry rot and other subjects pertaining to the proper care of area rugs. Feel free to stop by and browse our selection of informational cards or even ask us for more information or for a free quote on getting your area rugs cleaned with us here in Prescott AZ.
Till next time, enjoy your beautiful art for your floor and remember a clean rug is a rug that can last you a lifetime!
Arizona Oriental & Specialty Rug Care serves Prescott Valley, Prescott, Sedona and much of the Northern Arizona areas. We meet the highest standards in professional cleaning of area rugs with rug wash specialists having earned the highest training including certification as WOOLSAFE FIBER CARE SPECIALISTS through the WOOLSAFE ORGANISATION. Such extraordinary certification ensures the area rugs of our client’s receive the utmost in care.
If you are concerned about dry rot in your area rug, or would like more information, call Arizona Oriental & Specialty Rug Care in Prescott AZ at 928-445-1718, visit our website at www.ArizonaOriental.com, or stop by Monday through Friday 10:00 am to 5:00 pm at our rug washing facility at 565 EZ Street, Prescott, AZ 86301 (pick-up and delivery also available). (02-03-17)
