Oriental & Area Rug Cleaning and Repair in Mohawk, NY

Restoring a woven kilim rug is a delicate process that requires understanding the rug’s structure, materials, and traditional weaving techniques. 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.     

The kilim rug reweaving process is a detailed, hand-crafted restoration method used to repair holes, worn areas, moth damage, or tears in flatwoven rugs. Because kilims are flatweaves (no pile), repairs must recreate the original warp and weft structure exactly.

Jafri Rug restoration fixed this kilim by doing the following:

Jafri weavers follow the original design knot-by-knot or pass-by-pass.

• Matching yarn is selected for:

  • Fiber type

  • Thickness

  • Dye color (sometimes custom-dyed to match faded tones)

• The weaving pattern is reconstructed exactly to blend invisibly.

With antique kilims, restorers often age or tone the yarn slightly so the repair doesn’t look too new, otherwise this is unconvincing work.

Jafri Rug restoration will do the following:

-Clean the rug first to soften up the fibers

-Cut the rug down

-Bind the rug to have the frame of the rug

Jafri Rug restoration has been serving Montgomery county for over 50 years.

The first image shows the rug as completely destroyed as the customer tried to clean the rug with baking soda. The rug is shown as completely stained and requires a proper cleaning. The second image shows the rug post cleaning work Jafri Rug restoration did the following to get the stains out:

-Entire soaking of the rugs in a tub of cold water and solution

-Drying the rugs in our drying roo

-Dusting the rugs to remove the existing dust

-Lathering the rug with olive oil shampoo to bring back the original colors of the rug

The first and second image show how this rug has been left in a very
poor condition. The rug was made with wool and viscose and is soaked in urine and has moth damage

The rug will be organically washed as well as repaired in several areas

Solutions provided:

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

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 Rug restoration will fix this rug entirely and raise 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.

Additional Steps in the Restoration Process:

·        Deep Cleaning: Once the repairs are done, the rug would be carefully cleaned using appropriate techniques for Persian rugs. This would likely involve hand-washing the rug with a gentle, wool-safe detergent to remove dirt, oils, and any debris, followed by rinsing and drying.

·        Final Inspection: After repairs, the rug would undergo a final inspection to ensure that all issues (moth damage, wear, pilling, etc.) have been properly addressed. Any minor touch-ups or final adjustments would be made.

Jafri Rug restoration will fix this rug entirely and raise 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.

Additional Steps in the Restoration Process:

·        Deep Cleaning: Once the repairs are done, the rug would be carefully cleaned using appropriate techniques for Persian rugs. This would likely involve hand-washing the rug with a gentle, wool-safe detergent to remove dirt, oils, and any debris, followed by rinsing and drying.

·        Final Inspection: After repairs, the rug would undergo a final inspection to ensure that all issues (moth damage, wear, pilling, etc.) have been properly addressed. Any minor touch-ups or final adjustments would be made.

This rug was a museum quality rug brought into Jafri Rug's for restoration work. Given the age of the rug our weavers had to make sure the rug was thoroughly organically cleaned to not make the rug brittle or too course when threading the needle for reweaving otherwise the rug would snap. This rug went thru flood damage and prior to repairing it Jafri Rug restoration cleaned it first.

Persian and Caucasian rug cleaning is an art. The rug in this picture is centuries old and is a threadbare rug. Cleaning aCaucasian antique rug(such as those from the Kazak, Shirvan, or Karabagh regions) requires special care due to their age, natural dyes, and delicate wool. Jafri Rug restoration's step-by-step cleaning process restores and preserves the rug's integrity while removing dirt and grime

The first image shows the rug in completely worn condition where the field of the rug requires reweaving and color restoration

The second image shows the rug completely repaired and the value of the rug has now increased significantly as the antiquity of the rug has been maintained.