Oriental & Area Rug Cleaning and Repair in Clifton Gardens

Initial Inspection • The cleaning process begins with a thorough inspection of the rug. Jafri Rugs assesses its material, condition, and any stains or areas of damage. This helps determine the appropriate cleaning method and whether any repairs are needed. • Dusting and Vacuuming • Pre-Cleaning Dusting: Before washing the rug, Jafri Rugs dusting will loosen and remove embedded dirt and dust from deep within the fibers. This step is crucial for preserving the structure of the rug and preventing dirt from turning into abrasive particles during cleaning. • Vacuuming: The rug is vacuumed to remove surface dirt and debris. This step helps ensure that the rug is ready for the next phase of cleaning. • Pre-Treatment of Stains and Spots • Jafri Rugs will apply specialized treatments to any visible stains or heavily soiled areas. These treatments are designed to break down the stain without damaging the rug fibers. For delicate rugs, a stain-removal solution will be chosen based on the specific material and stain type. • Washing or Deep Cleaning • Hand Washing: For high-end rugs or those with fragile fibers, we may choose to wash the rug by hand using cool water and a mild olive oil soap detergent. This method is especially common for wool, silk, and other delicate materials. • Machine Cleaning: Some synthetic rugs may be cleaned with specialized machines that use gentle agitation to remove dirt and stains. • Rinsing • After the washing process, the rug is thoroughly rinsed to remove any detergent or cleaning solutions. This step is critical to avoid leaving any residues that could attract dirt or cause deterioration over time. • Drying • Air Drying: Once cleaned, the rug must be dried properly to prevent mold, mildew, or warping. This is done in a controlled environment, often using specialized equipment that ensures even drying. Rugs are usually laid flat or hung in a climate-controlled area. • Avoiding Direct Sunlight: To prevent color fading, rugs are generally not placed directly in the sun during the drying process. • Post-Cleaning Treatment • After the rug has dried, it may undergo a final treatment, such as brushing or combing the fibers to restore its texture. Some rugs may also receive a protective treatment to help resist dirt, stains, or future damage.

Jafri Rugs not only cleaned the rug but brought back the vitality of the rug and increased the overall value of the rug. Jafri Rugs antique weavers repaired the rug to its original state and restored a century old rug/tapestry and also added a pocket to the back of the rug so that the rug could be hung rather than put down on the floor leading to further damage.

Jafri Rugs added a pocket to the back of the rug so that the rug could be ornamental. This protects the rug from any future traffic destroying the rug.

Jafri Rugs not only cleaned the rug but brought back the vitality of the rug and increased the overall value of the rug. Jafri Rugs antique weavers repaired the rug to its original state and restored a century old rug. The rug required spot treatment and binding and fringe restoration. The rug additionally required reweaving into the field of the rug which was all done by hand. All repair work is done by hand.

Jafri Rugs not only cleaned the rug but brought back the vitality of the rug and increased the overall value of the rug. Jafri Rugs antique weavers repaired the rug to its original state and restored a century old rug. The rug required spot treatment and binding and fringe restoration. The rug additionally required reweaving into the field of the rug which was all done by hand. All repair work is done by hand.

Jafri Rugs not only cleaned the rug but brought back the vitality of the rug and increased the overall value of the rug. Jafri Rugs antique weavers repaired the rug to its original state and restored a century old rug. The rug required spot treatment and binding and fringe restoration. The rug additionally required reweaving into the field of the rug which was all done by hand. All repair work is done by hand.

Jafri Rugs not only cleaned the rug but brought back the vitality of the rug and increased the overall value of the rug. Jafri Rugs antique weavers repaired the rug to its original state and restored a century old rug. The rug required spot treatment and binding and fringe restoration. The rug additionally required reweaving into the field of the rug which was all done by hand. All repair work is done by hand.

Jafri Rugs will make sure to do the following: Apply an antique wash to the rug where the rug will be soaked for days and then dusted Repair all the fringe and binding work

Jafri Rugs will make sure to do the following: Apply an antique wash to the rug where the rug will be soaked for days and then dusted Repair all the fringe and binding work Reweave the field to maintain the integrity of the design and eliminate all wear This customer required immediate color restoration for the rug.

Jafri Rugs will make sure to do the following: Apply an antique wash to the rug where the rug will be soaked for days and then dusted Repair all the fringe and binding work Reweave the field to maintain the integrity of the design and eliminate all wear This customer required immediate color restoration for the rug.

Jafri Rug restoration will do the following: 1. Assess the Damage Inspect the Condition: Look for signs of wear, such as holes, tears, fraying, or areas where the rug has thinned out. Check for Color Fading: Sometimes, fading due to exposure to sunlight or cleaning can be a problem that needs attention. Look at the Weaving: Check the integrity of the weave, especially in areas where the rug may have been damaged by moths or other pests. 2. Gather Necessary Materials Matching Wool or Silk Thread: Ensure you have thread in the same color and texture as the original rug fibers. Needles: A rug repair needle, which is thicker and longer than regular sewing needles, is essential. Scissors: To trim excess yarn once the repair is complete. Rug Repair Kit: Some kits come with tools for securing edges and fixing weft and warp threads. Dye: If the rug’s color has faded, you may need dyes to match the original tones. 3. Repairing a Hole or Tear Matching the Weave: Start by carefully aligning the fibers to match the original pattern. Persian rugs typically have a symmetrical design, so repairing with the same weaving technique (such as flatweave or pile weaving) is important for maintaining visual consistency. Sewing the Hole: For a hole, carefully stitch the surrounding fibers to the new yarn, ensuring the new yarn matches both the texture and color of the original fibers. Use a traditional weaving method for the best results. Reweaving the Pattern: When reweaving, you need to follow the same structure of the rug’s knots to maintain the consistency of the pile height and texture. 4. Fringe Repair Fringe Replacement: If the fringe is damaged or missing, it can be replaced by tying new fringe fibers. Typically, Persian rugs have cotton or wool fringe, and the replacement should match the existing material. Securing the Fringe: Knot the new fringe securely at the end of the rug using a knotting technique that resembles the original method. 5. Rebinding the Edges Rebinding (Selvage Repair): If the edges of the rug are fraying or damaged, you can repair them by redoing the binding (selvage). Use a matching yarn and a binding technique like overcasting or stitching to secure the sides. Reinforcement: Depending on the extent of the damage, reinforcing the edges with additional stitches can help prevent further fraying.

Jafri Rugs will make sure to do the following: -Cleaning -Color restoration -Shearing

This is a classic circa 1900 Bakshahesh Persian rug. Restoring a Persian rug requires skill and care to maintain its integrity and value. Persian rugs are known for their durability and intricate patterns, often made from wool or silk, with a dense weave. Jafri Rugs restored this rug by doing the following: 1. Assessment and Inspection: Condition Check: Inspect the rug thoroughly for signs of wear, including fraying edges, missing or damaged knots, stains, or fading. This is essential to assess the scope of restoration work needed. Fabric Type: Identify the materials used (wool, silk, etc.) to ensure the correct restoration techniques and materials are used. Color Matching: Persian rugs often feature vibrant and intricate color schemes. Color matching is important for any repairs to ensure the restoration blends seamlessly with the original. 2. Cleaning: Gentle Cleaning: Before restoration, the rug is cleaned to remove dirt and stains. This is typically done by hand, using mild cleaning solutions and techniques that preserve the integrity of the fibers. Drying: After cleaning, the rug must be carefully dried to prevent any damage or shrinkage. 3. Repairing Damaged Areas: Reweaving/Knots: If there are missing or damaged knots, the missing sections will be re-woven by hand. Skilled artisans use the same knotting technique that was used in the original rug to ensure consistency. Fringe Repair: If the fringe is damaged or missing, it can be reattached or replaced using matching fibers. Edge Repair: The rug’s edges may become frayed over time. A repair may involve re-binding the edges to prevent further unraveling. 4. Color Restoration: If the rug has areas with faded or discolored sections, dyes matching the original colors may be applied to restore the vibrancy. This requires careful attention to detail to blend the colors seamlessly.

This is an example of a Lavar Kerman timeless masterpiece rug made in Iran. This rug is no longer able to be produced on the loom. It is over a century old. A rug of this quality comes from the finest weavers of Iran from the town of Lavar but the rug had enormous wear and was destroyed in numerous areas. This type of work can only be performed by hand and Jafri Rug's weavers are skilled artisans who understand the curvilinear characteristics of the rug and can reweave into the wool without making the rug look new. The time to restore this rug took approx 6 months.

Picture 1 shows the pre-restoration work where the rug was showing as worn and the fringe and binding was unraveling and the color was faded.

Picture 2 shows the post-restoration work where the rug was completely rewoven and color restoration was treated on the rug.

Jafri Rug restoration repaired this rug by doing the following:

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
• 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