How to Restore a Persian Rug

A Persian rug is a work of art that will last for many generations when properly cared for. This delicate and precious piece of art requires careful attention to maintain its original color and shape, which is why some homeowners choose to mount theirs on the walls rather than spread out on the floor.

Simple repairs, such as cleaning up accidental spills and repairing frayed edges and small tears are easy to do at home and save you the trouble and expense of professional care, which means that with a few household items restoring a persian rug is possible, but not only that, you can also take care of all the maintenance that the Persian rug will need throughout the life of the rug. So, let’s show how to do some basic repairs. See below.

Stain removal

• Dab a white paper towel over the stain immediately to prevent it from reaching the base of the fibers. Replace the soaked paper towel with a dry one and use as much as needed until the liquid is fully absorbed. If it is a hardened stain, insert a plastic spoon under the stain to loosen and release it from the carpet. The stain to remove any loose residue should be left empty.
• Mix 2 cups of cold, mild water with 2 to 3 tablespoons of carpet shampoo and pour the mixture into a spray bottle.
• Spray a corner of the rug with the soapy solution to test color fastness. Consult with a professional cleaner if the colors of the carpet are executed. If the colors remain intact, spray the solution onto the stain on the carpet to completely suffocate.
• Blot the soapy solution on the carpet with dry, white paper towels. Start at the outer edges of the stain and work your way up. Use a paper towel when the old one is saturated. Continue to blot the stain until it is completely removed.
• Cover the damp patch on the treated carpet with a clean, damp cloth to remove any soap residue and allow the carpet to air dry. Alternatively, run a blow dryer on a medium setting over the treated area in a circular motion for five to seven minutes or until dry, depending on the size of the stain.

Frayed Edge Fixing

• Thread a sturdy cotton or woolen thread that matches the rug’s colors onto a tapestry needle and spread out the amount you need, depending on the size of the frayed edges. You need enough thread to go over the frayed edge to cover, plus some extra since the needle is inserted 1/2 inch away from the damaged section. Knot the end of the thread and cut off the excess.
• Place the needle 1/2 inch from the frayed edge and push the needle from the underside of the rug through to the top.
• Wrap the yarn over the edge of the frayed section and press the needle into the bottom of the rug so it emerges from the top level. Repeat the procedure of wrapping the yarn over the frayed edge until it is completely covered.
• Run a vacuum over the frayed side to be repaired to lift any threads that are killed down during the sewing process.

Tear fixation

• Spread rug face-side-down in a clean work area to expose your back.
• Use a putty knife to gently push loose threads through the tear.
• Cut the length of the tape at 3:57 inches longer than the tear.
• Pull both sides of the tear together to join them so the tear is no longer visible.
• Use one hand to both edges of the tear and the other to spread the tape carefully over the tear.
• Press on the tape to ensure it fully adheres to the surface before the carpet banks right side up.