Job completed for Vienna Turkish Rug Cleaning and Repair

Completion date: November 13, 2025

Location: Vienna, NY

Why did the customer contact us?

This is a classic example of a Turkish circa 1900 rug. The rug is threadbare and requires enormous work aside from cleaning.

Restoring a woven kilim rug is a delicate process
that requires understanding the rug’s structure, materials, and traditional
weaving techniques. Turkish rugs, such as kilims are flat-weave rugs, typically made from wool
(and sometimes cotton), and have no pile. Restoration focuses on preserving the
rug's authenticity while repairing damage such as holes, frayed edges, or faded
colors.

Solutions provided:

Given the age and value of the rug, this is a rug that
should not be sent to any rug store, but should go to Jafri Rug restoration as
the weavers are specifically skilled to repair these threadbare rugs and
understand the motifs and match the wool dye lot for dye lot. The artistry will
maintain the antiquity of the rug and will not make it look newly made and will
also raise the value of the rug.

Pre-Repair Cleaning

• A deep cleaning is performed before repairs to remove dirt, oils, and debris that interfere with repair work.


• Includes:




• Dusting (front and back)


• Gentle hand washing with pH-neutral detergents so as not to erode the fibers of the rug


• Rinsing and drying in a temperature-controlled environment

 Structural Repairs

These are the most critical to maintain rug integrity:

a. Edge Repair (Overcasting or Binding)

• Rewrap or rebind fraying edges to prevent unraveling.


• Uses matching wool or cotton thread.


• Restores tension and keeps the weft and warp from separating.

b. Fringe Repair or Replacement

• Stabilizes or reconstructs the fringe (often the warp threads).


• May involve:


• Tying off loose fringe


• Sewing in new fringe sections


• Weaving new fringes into the foundation

c. Hole or Tear Repair

• Small holes: patched and reinforced from the back.


• Larger holes or tears: require reweaving the foundation (warp and weft), then tying new knots to match the original pattern.

 
4. Pile Reweaving / Pattern Reconstruction

• Rebuilds worn or missing areas by hand-knotting new wool or silk into the
  structure.


• Requires:


• Color-matching
  wool (often hand-dyed)


• Matching the knot density, knot type (Turkish or Persian), and pattern




• Done by experienced weavers to ensure seamless blending with the original design.

5. Color Restoration

• In areas where colors have faded or bled, restorers may:




• Touch up color with textile-safe dyes where there is already wool shown in the pile but requires blending of color for consistency in the rug’s colors


• Avoid painting, which can damage fibers over time

 6. Shearing &
Grooming

• After repairs, the pile is carefully sheared to match surrounding areas.


• Helps ensure a consistent pile height and finish.


• Brushing aligns the nap and improves visual consistency.

 7. Blocking &
Reshaping

• If the rug is warped or misshapen:




• It’s dampened and laid flat under weight or pinned.


• Dried under tension to restore its original shape and prevent buckling.

8. Final Cleaning & Inspection

• A final surface clean removes any dust or fibers from the repair.


• Inspection
  ensures:




• Seamless repairs


• Color and texture matches


• Edges are secure and the rug lies flat