Job completed for Wynantskill Antique Rug Cleaning and Repair

Completion date: November 13, 2025

Location: Wynantskill, 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. The weavers are specifically skilled to repair these threadbare rugs, understand the motifs, and match the wool dye lot for dye lot. The artistry maintains the antiquity of the rug, does not make it look newly made, and also raises 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 to avoid fiber erosion


• Rinsing and drying in a temperature-controlled environment

Structural Repairs

These are the most critical to maintaining 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 prevents warp and weft separation

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 fringe into the foundation

c. Hole or Tear Repair

• Small holes: patched and reinforced from the back


• 
  Larger holes or tears: 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:




• Hand-dyed, color-matched wool


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




• 
  Performed by experienced weavers to ensure seamless integration 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 wool is exposed and blending is needed
  


• Avoid painting, which can damage fibers over time

6. Shearing & Grooming

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


• 
  Ensures consistent pile height and finish
  


• Brushing aligns the nap and improves visual consistency

7. Blocking & Reshaping

• If the rug is warped or misshapen:




• It is dampened and laid flat under weight or pinned


• Dried under tension to restore original shape and prevent buckling

8. Final Cleaning & Inspection

• A final surface cleaning removes residual dust or fibers


• Inspection ensures:




• Seamless repairs


• Accurate color and texture matching


• Secure edges and a flat lay