The second and third images shows the rug completely restored

Jafri Rug Restoration fixed this rug by applying its professional museum-quality antique rug cleaning process step-by-step:

1. Inspection & Documentation

A specialist first examines the rug to determine:

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  Age, origin, weave style

  
  


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  Fiber type (wool, silk, cotton foundation, etc.)

  
  


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  Dye stability (natural vegetable dyes vs synthetic dyes)

  
  


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  Fragile areas: worn patches, dry rot, loose fringe, holes, moth damage

  
  


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  Previous repairs or color touch-ups

  
  

Why it matters: Antique rugs often have unstable dyes and delicate foundations. The cleaning process is tailored based on the following factors: fabric, type of dye used, age of rug

2. Dry Soil Removal (Dusting)

This is one of the most important steps.

• Gentle vibrating dusting machines

  
  


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  Air dusting / compressed air

This removes the following:

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  Packed dust

  
  


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  Sand/grit

  
  


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  Allergens

  
  


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  Moth larvae and eggs

  
  

Why it matters: Up to 70% of soil in antique rugs is dry particulate that tears fibers if washed without dusting.

3. Colorfastness Testing

Before any washing:

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  Each dye color (reds, blues, greens, blacks) is tested with water and mild detergent.

  
  


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  If dyes are unstable, cleaners apply dye stabilizers or choose a dry-cleaning or low-moisture method.

  
  

Why it matters: Natural dyes can bleed or fade; this prevents damage.

4. Specialty Hand Wash (Traditional Bath)

Most high-end cleaners wash antique rugs by hand, never by machine.

Steps:

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   Rug is submerged in a cool-water wash pit.

   
   


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   Olive oil wool-safe shampoo from Italy is gently applied, no harsh chemicals are applied as that can cause color run/color bleeding

   
   


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   Both sides of the rug are cleaned using soft brushes or hand tools.

   
   


4. 
   

   Water is circulated to remove embedded dirt.

   
   

5. Rinse & Water Extraction

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  Thorough rinsing removes soap residue that can attract dirt later.

  
  


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  Water extraction is done by rolling, squeegeeing, or suction tools.

  
  


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  No high-heat drying (which can shrink wool or warp foundations).

6. Controlled Drying

Antique rugs are dried:

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  In climate-controlled rooms with proper airflow

  
  

Drying can take 24–48+ hours depending on the rug’s age and thickness.

7. Grooming & Fringe Care

After cleaning:

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  Rug pile is brushed in its natural direction going the grain and fibers of the rug

  
  


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  Fringe is hand-cleaned and straightened out with a comb

  
  

8. Repairs or Restoration

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  Reweaving worn areas 

  
  


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  Edge/selvage reinforcement

  
  


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  Fringe repair or replacement

  
  


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  Moth damage treatment

  
  


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  Color restoration is used where actual dye and New Zealand worsted wool is used to bring back the original condition of the rug

9. Final Inspection

The rug is checked for:

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  Even pile direction

  
  


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  Clean fringe

  
  


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  No soap residue

  
  


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  No odor

  
  


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  Proper color stability

  
  


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  Smooth, flat drying

Why Antique Rugs Need Special Care?

Antique rugs are different because:

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  Natural vegetable dyes can bleed

  
  


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  Wool fibers become brittle with age

  
  


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  Cotton foundations shrink easily

  
  


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  Hand-knotted structure can loosen

  
  


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  Value (sometimes thousands of dollars) depends on condition

  
  

Machine carpet cleaning or steam cleaning can destroy antique rugs.

1. Assessment

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  Examine the extent of the damage.

  
  


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  Identify the rug’s age, origin, dyes, and fibers.

  
  


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  Determine if it's worth restoring (some antique kilims are more valuable left untouched).

  
  

2. Cleaning

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  Always clean the rug before restoration. Use a gentle, non-chemical wash suitable for wool.

  
  


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  Avoid saturating kilims; they can lose shape if overly wet.

  
  

3. Stabilizing the Structure

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  For holes or weak spots: reweave using matching wool threads and original weaving techniques.

  
  


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  Use a loom or hand-held tools to mimic the kilim’s flat weave.

  
  

4. Edge Repair

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  Rebind the edges with appropriate wool thread.

  
  


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  You may need to reweave selvedges or add a new border if it's too damaged.

  
  

5. Color Matching

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  Use natural-dyed wool (ideally antique yarns or wool dyed to match) to blend with the original colors.

  
  


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  Be very cautious: mismatched colors can devalue the rug.

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.

Jafri Rug restoration will do the following:

Jafri Rugs restoration will do 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 or machine using organic olive oil shampoo foam to cleanse the rug 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 weavers 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.