Moths-The invisible enemy within your area rug

Most people aren’t aware of the damage and destruction moths can do to their area rugs. Moths can cause extensive damage to your area rugs by attacking the pile, fringes, and the knots of the back of the area rug. The first step in protecting your area rugs against moths is to educate yourself about moths. Moths are picky little pests that eat animal fibers such as wool, silk, cashmere, angora or fur, or any other materials that contain keratin. However, they only eat animal fibers that are idle and undisturbed. What do we mean by that? Take, for example, the portion of an area rug that lies under a bed or sits under a couch. Those areas rarely see any disturbances like foot traffic or vacuuming. Even an area rug that is placed in the closet, attic or storage. These area rugs would be ideal candidates for moths since they are idle; they are not being disturbed. Moths have a way of knowing which fibers are idle and when they find a suitable location, they lay their eggs.

Flying moths do not eat your area rugs, but their eggs hatch into larvae that consume fibers like wool, fur, feather and silk fibers. Moths and their larvae thrive in dark, undisturbed areas. A bad moth infestation will sometimes leave a cobweb-like blanket in the area of the damage. You may also notice a fine, sand like debris.

Moth damage can be prevented by regularly vacuuming your area rugs and frequent rotation of area rugs. We highly recommend vacuuming every portion of both sides of your area rugs every three to six months. Unless moths have already laid eggs somewhere else in the home, this method of disturbing the wool regularly will fully protect your rugs from moths. If you are worried that moths may be in your home, the best way to find out would be to check the edges of your area rugs as well as areas under furniture. If possible, check the back of the rug too. If your area rug is rarely used, you can safeguard against these little pests by spraying the front and back of your area rug every six months with a moth deterrent insecticide.If you see areas that are missing wool but the cotton foundation remains, it is likely that you either have moths or have had them in the past.

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How can you tell a hand knotted rug from other types?

How can you tell a hand knotted rug from other types? Easy. Take a look at the back. Go to the rug, flip a corner and check out the back of the rug, it should show the same clear pattern as the front. Another way to tell is to trust the store or online site you are purchasing from. There are several reasons why a hand knotted rug is typically more expensive than other hand made rugs. Hand knotted area rug designs are more intricate and use the most labor intensive rug weaving process today. Typically, hand knotted area rugs have a more defined and distinctive design than a hand tufted or machine made area rug because of the way they are made. Let me help you understand. 1. First, an artist draws the rug's full-scale design on a special graph paper. 2. Each square on the paper represents a "knot" of the rug. 3. Once the design is drafted, the rug is placed on a frame, called a "loom". 4. Columns of thread are stretched vertically (referred to

Don't let the dirt settle in your rug.

If you plan on investing or have already invested in a handmade decorative area rug, it is important to learn how to care for one. The beauty and quality of your area rugs can be maintained for years to come with proper care and cleaning. Most types of vacuums are fine to use on your area rugs. Be extra careful with a vacuum equipped with a power brush, as this type of brush can create a raking effect on the rug pile and weaken the knots. Vacuuming helps prevent dirt on the surface of the rug from filtering down into the pile where it can accumulate and cause increased wear. Your area rugs should be vacuumed regularly to remove dirt and grit that can settle into your rug and may damage the fibers and foundation of the rug. You may not actually see dirt on the face of your rug but trust me the dirt falls and settles into the base of the rug over time. If your area rug is in a high traffic area such as the kitchen or family room, you should be vacuuming it at least once a week.

Rotate and Enjoy!

While there are a few recommendations for maintaining your area rug, the very first rule I like to tell my customers is to ENJOY it! Since many area rugs are used in rooms that can have a specific traffic pattern, it's a good idea to rotate your rug twice a year. Rotation will equalize sunlight exposure and will also ensure that the rug wears evenly. It is also a good idea to occasionally rearrange the layout of your room to change traffic patterns across your area rug. If your area rug has been in the same room for years you most likely have one side that is much more worn than the other. Although some experts claim that you only need to rotate your rug every one to two years, we believe you should make sure to rotate your rug twice a year to ensure more uniform wear and fading on all sides. Simply fold over each corner of the rug and then rotate the rug 180 degrees.

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