Why is there a Strange White Powder under My Area Rug!? – Sedona AZ

Hi folks!  I’m Ruthie with Arizona Oriental & Specialty Rug Care and today I wanted to talk about one of the rugs that came into our shop recently.  Our client was concerned about the fine, white powder that she found beneath her rug when she lifted it up.  The rug had been sitting in the same spot beneath her coffee table for well over ten years.  Our client was in the middle of replacing the wood floors in her living room when she brought her rug to us to see if our cleaning could get rid of this powder coming out of her rug.

Here’s the real root of the problem: This type of rug is called a tufted rug.  These rugs are made by pushing loose tufts of yarn through a cloth foundation in the desired pattern.  To make sure these tufts stay in place, a layer of latex glue is applied and then followed up with a piece of monkscloth on the back to hide all that glue and give the rug a nice finished look.

The thing that most people don’t realize is that tufted rugs aren’t manufactured to last for multiple generations like hand-knotted rugs are.

Latex glue begins to break down after about 10 years, getting powdery and lumping together.  Eventually this powder works its way out of the carpet and onto your floor.  This is what our client found on her floor – latex that was meant to hold her rug’s tufts together breaking down.

So what can be done to solve the problem?  There are a couple of options available if a tufted rug begins to show these signs of aging – replacement or restoration.  Sometimes replacement can be difficult, especially if you really love the rug.  Finding the exact size, colors, and pattern to go with the rest of the room can be a real pain.  Restoring your rug may be a better option in this case since you’ll still be able to continue to enjoy your beloved rug for years to come.

In order to restore your tufted rug, the backing must be removed and the old, dried-up latex glue must be scraped away.  The rug will then be thoroughly washed before a fresh layer of latex glue and a new piece of fabric can be applied to the back of the rug.

Here at Arizona Oriental, we offer tufted rug restoration repairs along with other repairs depending on our client’s needs.  Don’t hesitate to contact us if you would like a free estimate!

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 which includes certification as WOOLSAFE FIBER CARE SPECIALISTS through the WOOLSAFE ORGANISATION.  Such extraordinary certification ensures that our client’s area rugs receive the utmost in care.

Give us a call for more information about tufted area rug repairs or for a free quote at 928-445-1718, visit our website at www.ArizonaOriental.com, or stop by Monday through Friday from 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). (05-15-17)