What is the Proper Way to Store My Area Rugs? – Sedona AZ
There are a variety of reasons that people need to store their area rugs temporarily or for a long term. Perhaps you’re getting ready to move and aren’t sure if you’ll be using your rug in the new house. Or maybe you’d like to change up your décor and are thinking about putting another rug down in place of your current one that you don’t necessarily want to get rid of. There are many reasons.
Ruthie here with Arizona Oriental & Specialty Rug Care here in Prescott and today I’m going to discuss a few dos and don’ts when it comes to safely storing your area rugs. First of all, don’t make the mistake of simply rolling up your rug and shoving it under the bed or in the closet to get it out of the way. I can guarantee that moths are on the lookout for this exact scenario. When it comes to finding a place to lay their eggs (which will hatch into tiny wool-eating maniacs), moths look for two things – a food source (wool!) and a home that is dark, quiet, and undisturbed. In short, they need your wool rug to be under your bed or stuffed into your closet, totally unprotected!
Arizona Oriental can help you preserve your rugs for when you need to store them. The first step is to have us clean those rugs to remove soil, spills, etc. Many spills are protein-based, which is a food source that moths are especially looking for. Don’t give them even more of a reason to nibble on your rug! The second step is to have us moth treat your rugs. Our moth treatment is odorless and invisible, but it will definitely give those moths the message to stay away from your rug. This special wool (and silk) safe treatment adds a very distasteful layer to your rug fibers that will send the moths in another direction. The third step to be proactive about storing is to wrap your rug in a breathable wrap that allows the wool to breathe while also keeping critters out. NEVER EVER wrap rugs in plastic. Wool holds moisture and when sealed in plastic, wool can’t breathe and that can create big problems for your rug’s foundation and face fibers.
All of these services are readily available to you here at Arizona Oriental! My Ruggies and I are always happy to assist you with the proper care for your area rugs!
Before I forget – NEVER EVER fold a rug for extended periods of time! Rugs should always be rolled. I’ve seen folded rugs that came out of an attic with severe damage to the face fibers (kinda like when we sleep too long on one side of our face) that may not be correctable. These folds also tend to stretch the foundation of the rug, which can cause rippling to the point that it will never lay flat again.
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 FIBRE CARE SPECIALISTS through the WOOLSAFE ORGANISATION. Such extraordinary certification ensures the area rugs of our client’s receive the utmost in care.
Call us for additional information or assistance with properly preparing fine area rugs for storage 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). (03-09-17).
