How to clean an antique area rug safely?

Vacuum them carefully using a suction-only setting. Beater bars tear the wool and damage the foundation threads. For spills, blot the liquid with a plain cotton towel immediately. Professional washing by a specialist is usually needed every five to ten years to flush out deep dirt.

My grandmother had a really large rug in her dining room that has heavy furniture dents in the pile and I was wondering if those will ever come out or if the wool is crushed?

Heavy furniture does compress the pile over time. The wool fibres get packed down tightly against the foundation threads. Moisture helps the fibres relax and spring back. You'll want to mist the dents lightly with water and gently coax the pile upright using a soft brush. Give it a few weeks in a room with normal humidity. Most minor depressions lift on their own once the weight is gone.

What causes the colours to run?

Bleeding happens when unstable dyes get wet and wick into adjacent lighter areas. Red dyes are notorious for this. Keep them dry.

I have an old tribal piece with a very distinct smell like wet dog or sheep and I want to know if that is just how the natural materials smell or if it means there is damp rot in the fibres somewhere?

Unwashed natural wool holds onto lanolin, the oil produced by the sheep. That distinct scent often reactivates on humid days or if the piece gets damp. It rarely means rot unless the foundation feels stiff and brittle. An airing outside on a dry afternoon usually helps freshen the fibres.

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Antique Area Rugs

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Hand-knotted textiles woven on looms across the Middle East and Asia, originally made to cover earth floors and provide insulation in nomadic tents and village dwellings.