How do I clean a dusty rug?

Gentle vacuuming works best for routine dust removal. Suction across the pile rather than using a rotating beater brush, which risks tearing the wool. Take it outdoors on a dry day and beat the back lightly. This forces deeply embedded grit out through the front without straining the warp.

My grandmother left me a large carpet with a red background, but one corner has faded quite a bit from sitting near a window. Can this sun damage be fixed?

Sun fading rarely reverses. The ultraviolet rays break down the chemical bonds in the natural dyes, leaving the wool lighter on the exposed surface. A professional restorer can sometimes apply tinted washes to disguise the contrast. However, many collectors accept gentle fading as a natural part of the ageing process.

What does abrash actually mean?

Abrash describes horizontal bands of varying colour tone across the pile. This happens when a weaver runs out of one batch of hand-dyed wool and ties in a new one.

I have a runner that gets a lot of foot traffic in my hallway and the edges are starting to curl inwards. Why does it do this and how do I flatten it?

Curling edges usually mean the side cords were bound too tightly on the loom. Changes in humidity cause the tension to shift, pulling the sides inwards. Adding a heavy rug pad underneath helps grip the floor and provides some stability. For stubborn curling, a restorer can stitch a leather strip along the underside of the edge to hold it flat.

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Antique Turkish Rugs

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Hand-knotted floor coverings and hangings produced across Anatolia. These antique Turkish rugs served as domestic insulation, prayer mats, and dowry items, woven with traditional geometric patterns and natural dyes to bring warmth and colour into the home.