Oriental & Area Rug Cleaning and Repair in Jonesville, NY

A Persian Sarouk of this quality is a rug that is no longer produced on any loom across the world.

The rug was made in the 1920s and has all the characteristics of an antique Persian rug starting with its non-programmed size and is made with vegetable dyes

Additionally, it is threadbare and is tightly knotted

HOWEVER, the rug has the following issues:

-Moth damage in the field that ate thru the motifs which requires reweaving and color restoration

-Fringe destroyed which requires fringe implant

-Faded vegetable dyes which requires brushing the rug with oil and vegetable dye to bring back the original color of the rug

Jafri Rug restoration fixed this rug entirely and raised the value of the rug by doing the following:

1.Inspection and Identification: Jafri Rugs carefully inspected to assess the extent of the moth damage. This involves checking the front and back of the rug for signs of infestation.

·        Moth Treatment: The rug would be treated to eliminate any remaining moths and eggs. This usually involves a deep fumigation process using eco-friendly chemicals or freezing the rug to kill any pests.

·        Re-weaving or Repairing Damaged Areas: The affected areas would likely require Jafri’s weavers reweaving the entire field. The damaged wool would be carefully removed, and new wool fibers, typically dyed to match the original, would be woven into the affected areas to restore the rug's appearance.

2. Worn and Faded Areas of the rug

As an example the medallion is a central feature in Persian rugs, and significant wear or fading can take away from the rug’s beauty and value.

·        Color Restoration: To restore the faded vegetable and chrome dyes, Jafri’s first class weavers dyeing techniques may be employed. This could involve carefully re-dyeing the  area using natural dyes or color-safe synthetic dyes. This process is done with precision to match the original hues and avoid dye bleeding.

·        Reweaving/Restoration: If the medallion’s pattern is worn down to the point of damage, Jafri’s weavers had to reweave the intricate design. This involves painstakingly replicating the original design and colors.

3. Fringe and Binding Unraveling

The fringe and the binding are crucial for maintaining the structural integrity and aesthetic of the rug.

·        Fringe Repair or Replacement: The unraveling fringe would need to be reattached or replaced, depending on the extent of the damage. Jafri’s weavers often restore the fringe by knotting it back into place using similar fibers (wool or silk, depending on the rug’s original material). If the fringe is too damaged, it might need to be completely replaced.

·        Binding Reinforcement: The edges and binding would also be repaired. This could involve stitching new binding material (usually wool or cotton) onto the rug’s edges, followed by a careful reinforcement of the stitching to prevent further unraveling. A careful color match is essential to keep the aesthetic intact.

4. Wool Pilling

Pilling happens when fibers get tangled and form small balls of fuzz, which can occur naturally over time with wool rugs.

·        Shaving the Rug: Pilling can be removed through a careful process of shaving. Special tools or razors designed for rugs are used to gently remove the pill without damaging the fibers underneath. The professional would carefully go over the rug to ensure the pilling is removed evenly, leaving the wool in good condition.

·        Deep Cleaning: After shaving off the pilling, the rug would undergo a deep cleaning to remove any remaining loose fibers and dirt. This would also help restore the softness of the wool.

The first picture shows the newly preserved rug where the vegetable dyes are coming thru and you can actually see the pronouncement of the design.

The second picture shows the newly added fringe.

As this is a classic Kerman rug from the mid-century it is densely knotted so the binding and fringe has to comport to the design and era of the rug.

In this instance Jafri Rug restoration used fringe implants that were of the mid-century so they were a little longer and New Zealand ivory wool was used to fix the edging of the rug.

Look at the below detailed process of Jafri Rug restoration:

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

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.

1. Inspection and Assessment

• The
  first step in Jafri Rugs restoration is a detailed inspection to assess
  the extent of the damage. This includes evaluating areas of wear,
  unraveling threads, fading colors, and any holes or tears in the rug.
  Special attention is given to preserving the original design and integrity
  of the stitching.

2. Cleaning Before Restoration

• Before
  any restoration work begins, the rug must be cleaned thoroughly. Cleaning
  ensures that any accumulated dirt or stains are removed so that the
  restoration work can be done on a clean surface. This also helps identify
  areas that may require special attention during the restoration process.

3. Reweaving Damaged Sections

• Reweaving:
  If the rug has areas of missing or damaged stitches, skilled artisans can
  reweave the missing sections, matching the original patterns and colors as
  closely as possible. This requires a high level of expertise to ensure the
  new stitches blend seamlessly with the rest of the rug.

4. Fringe and Edge Repair

• The
  fringe of a rug is often subjected to wear over time. If the fringe is
  frayed or missing, it can be reattached or replaced by hand, ensuring that
  it matches the original design and material.


• The
  edges of the rug may also need reinforcing or re-binding if they have
  started to unravel. This can be done by re-stitching or using a similar
  material to secure the edges.

5. Dyeing and Color Restoration

• Color
  Fading: Over time, the dyes in a hand knotted rug may fade due to
  exposure to sunlight, wear, or improper cleaning. Skilled restoration
  experts can re-dye the affected areas using professional, colorfast dyes
  to restore the rug’s original hues.


• Matching
  Colors: When dyeing a rug, it’s critical to match the colors exactly
  to ensure that the restoration is seamless. This process is usually done
  by hand to ensure accuracy.

6. Final Inspection

• Once
  all the restoration work is completed, a final inspection is conducted to
  ensure the rug is restored to its original condition. The rug is checked
  for any missed areas, color inconsistencies, or stitching issues that may
  need to be addressed before it’s returned.

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