Sedona AZ – Is the Stiffness and Brittleness of My Area Rug Correctable?
Arizona Oriental & Specialty Rug Care in Prescott AZ takes the proper care of area rugs very seriously. Which is why I will tell you now that it is NEVER a good thing if your rug is stiff or brittle. Unfortunately, this is likely DRY ROT, which is a horrible condition for rugs to have.
Dry rot means that your rug’s fibers are weakened and deteriorating and it is most often found in your rug’s cotton foundation fibers. Unfortunately, fibers with this condition are just one step away from rips, tears, and holes. Both extreme moisture and overly dry conditions can cause dry rot in not just rugs but in your old curtains or furniture.
Arizona Oriental has seen rugs come into our facility that have been subjected to the four legged members of our families urinating on them for months, and sometimes even years. Urine is both acidic in nature and also is made up of moisture-holding “urine salt crystals,” which really do a number on your rug’s fibers. These salt crystals cause rug fibers to remain wet for longer than they should ever be, creating the problem of dry rot. Sure, you can try to spot clean these animal accidents using a shop vac or small carpet machine, but you won’t be able to completely flush out the urine salt crystals trapped deep inside the knots of your rug. You need the proper urine neutralizing solutions, the proper equipment, and the proper technique to be able to flush those nasty salt crystals from your rug.
With the build-up of urine deposits in your rug’s fibers, the rug will become stiff and crusty from the urine salt crystals and dry rot. Unfortunately, we are not able to determine the full extent of dry rot before cleaning your rug unless it already has a tear, rip, or hole in it. At Arizona Oriental, we will wash and treat your rug and then flush out the urine salt crystals from the rug. It is at this point, then, that the dry rot may cause the weakened fibers to split, tear, or create a hole. Because of this, it is critical that owners understand that a rug in this condition is damaged and they must accept the possibility that fibers may split or tear - kind of like that old pair of curtains that you had hanging up in the window for years became brittle and seemed to split suddenly with no provocation.
Another cause of dry rot is SUN DAMAGE. So remember to keep curtains and blinds closed when you are not home to protect not only your rug but also upholstery and wood furniture. Other causes include over-watering plants and the water getting into the rug, moisture rising up from a ground foundation, or really anything that would cause excessive moisture to remain in your rug, like a plastic chair mat. You’ve probably guessed by now that excessive moisture is the first major cause for mildew, mold, and dry rot. Of course, a variety of different things can cause dry rot, but that’s a discussion for another article.
Restoration of rugs that have suffered from dry rot can get costly fast depending on the extent of damage done by the dry rot. In fact, it may even be impossible to correct if the damage is widespread throughout the area rug. Expert weavers need to reweave the foundation and face fibers in areas affected, which is a time consuming process that these expert weavers charge premium price for. Arizona Oriental & Specialty Rug Care in Prescott AZ works closely with rug weavers to provide all sorts of repairs from the simple to the more complex, including dry rot restoration.
At Arizona Oriental’s rug washing facility, we offer our clients informational cards about dry rot and a variety of other subjects regarding the proper care of area rugs. We invite you to stop in and take a look at our selection of these informational cards, or even for a free estimate on cleaning your area rugs!
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 Sedona, Prescott, Prescott Valley 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). (01-06-17)
