| Navajo Rugs - Common Causes of Damage Direct sunlight, insects, moisture (including
condensation), untrained pets, and pointed furniture legs are among the
"passive" dangers to your Navajo rugs and blankets. Improper cleaning
techniques often cause more damage however including color loss, bleeding
(color run) and damage to wool texture.
Spills should be blotted immediately with a dry cloth and can be tested
with additional blotting with a damp cloth. Most Navajo rugs woven
after 1875 use aniline dyes for red, orange and other bright colors and
some can be subject to bleeding.
Long-Term Navajo Rug and Navajo Blanket Storage
Navajo rugs like to "rest" in similar conditions as people do. Cool,
dry temperate conditions mean that a closet in the house makes a far
better storage location than in the garage or in a non-climate controlled
storage unit. Primary concerns are humidity causing mildew damage,
insect damage (moths, spiders, silverfish etc) , pets and rodents. Ideally
rolling the rugs and blankets up (the "short way" , i.e. against and not
with the direction of the interior warp) and placing within a cedar lined
chest within the house . with the possible addition of a mothball filled
cheesecloth bag (note: mothballs or crystals should never come in direct
contact with Navajo rugs)
Navajo Rugs and Blankets - Cleaning & Repair
Navajo rugs should never be drycleaned by anyone nor even
handwashed by non-professionals. Dyes need to be set prior to washing so
they do not bleed and care must be taken so that the qualities of the wool
are not damaged in the process--different rugs and blankets and different
dirt and stain problems often require differing cleaning treatment
procedures. Items needing repair should be displayed on the wall or stored
to avoid further damage until they can be porfssionally restored
Professional restoration, de-bleeding, stain removing (including common
pet stain removal) and repair and restoration of holes, corner wear,
selvage and edge wear etc is availalbe through our gallery services.
More information and to see how to obtain free quotes for cleaning and
restoration options -- as well as free estimates of before and after
appraisal values of rugs needing cleaning and restoration -- click here:
Navajo Rugs - Cleaning
Navajo Rugs - Repair & Restoration
|
