Rug Repair

Rugs are both functional and aesthetic. They need periodic cleaning and occasional repair. Here's how it'south washed. This Fix-It Guide on rug repair tells how a rug works, what often goes wrong, how to place a rug problem, and what parts and tools you will need to fix a carpeting. It then gives simple step-by-step instructions for how to repair a cut in a rug, how to sew a frayed rug edge, how to repair a braided rug, and how to trim and bind a jute rug. See rug repair for whole room or whole house carpet issues.

How Does a Rug Work?

A carpeting is a piece of thick heavy material, usually with a nap or pile, that is used every bit floor roofing. Purists say that anything over 6 anxiety by 9 anxiety is a carpet (see the Carpeting Repair Prepare-It Guide). However, virtually decorators say that the primary difference betwixt a rug and a carpeting is that carpet is attached to the subfloor while a rug typically is not. Rugs vary from spot or area rugs to room-size rugs. They include rag rugs, braided rugs, woven rugs, jute rugs, oriental rugs, and others.

What Tin Go Wrong with a Carpeting?

The edges of rugs fray. Braided rugs come unbraided. Some rugs need binding. Rugs get spilled on and burned. You can exercise minor repairs to a rug, but if the rug is valuable or the repair is major, expect into professional help available through better rug dealers.

Prepare-Information technology Tip

An oriental carpeting is hand-made in Islamic countries (Turkey, Iran, Egypt) or in the Far Due east (India, China). If it looks like an oriental rug blueprint only is machine-made or made elsewhere, information technology'south an oriental-design rug.

How Can I Identify a Rug Problem?

  • If at that place is a cutting or tear in the rug, patch the back side with tape (see beneath) or stitch it together.
  • If the edges of a rug fray, you can sew the edge (run into below).
  • If a braided rug is coming un-braided, you can re-braid and rebind it (see beneath).
  • If a jute rug begins to fray at the edges, you can trim and bind the border (meet below).

Fix-It Tip

A braided rug is made of three strips of fabric that are braided together. The braid is then coiled and stitched to itself using linen thread.

What Do I Need for Rug Repair?

Y'all can observe rug repair materials and tools at textile stores and sewing centers every bit well as the sewing department of larger household stores. In add-on, some specialized rug shops acquit tools and materials for repairing rugs. Hither's a starting listing:

  • Rug Repair

    Push the material dorsum through the cut to the meridian layer of the rug.

    Adhesive (duct) tape

  • Curved upholstery needle
  • Heavy-duty thread
  • Linen thread or monofilament (for braided rugs)
  • Cotton binding tape
  • Putty knife
  • Quality material scissors

What Are the Steps to Carpeting Repair?

Repair a cutting in a carpeting:

  1. Plough the rug over and apply a putty knife to push fabric dorsum through the tear.
  2. With your easily, piece of work the two edges together.

    Rug Repair

    Seal the cutting with tape.ii edges of the tear together.

  3. Seal the tear with tape.

Sew a frayed edge of a carpeting:

  1. Offset about 1/4 inch from the damage, sew together over the border with an upholstery needle and heavy-duty thread of a matching colour.
  2. Continue wrapping the thread effectually the frayed expanse until all the frayed surface area is covered.

Repair a braided rug:

  1. Remove damaged stitches belongings the roll together and unwind the carpeting as needed.
  2. Remove whatsoever worn or damaged material and reattach as a continuous braid.
  3. Recoil the braid.
  4. Use an upholstery needle and linen thread to resew the coil with pocket-size, tight stitches.
  5. Reinforce the outer edges by attaching a strip of cotton binding tape to the perimeter using small, tight stitches.

Trim and demark a jute rug:

  1. Use heavy-duty shears to trim the frayed edge of the rug.
  2. Cut a strip of cotton binding tape 2 inches longer than the raw edge of the rug.
  3. Evenly fold the binding over the rug's border and secure it in place with cross-stitches (run into the Sewing section of the Tools Fix-Information technology Guide) through the bounden and rug.
  4. Fold the opposite end of the bounden nether the carpet and secure information technology with cross-stitches.

Ready-It Tip

You lot can clean your own rugs using household carpet and carpet cleaner. However, if you are unsure of the fabric or event, consider having a commercial rug cleaner practise the job.