What Is Dry Rot In An Antique Rug

Dry rot in a rug is the deterioration of the foundation fibers usually cotton but sometimes wool jute or silk.

What is dry rot in an antique rug.

Dry rot is a condition that can occur in older textiles and furnishings especially those with a cellulosic fiber such as cotton flax linen jute and similar fibers can slowly degrade over time. Photographed below is the back of the rug showing a strong water mark. Never wrap a rug in plastic as that can create condensation resulting in mildew. Damage caused by pet urine has yellow discolorations on the top side of the rugs.

A rug that sits on a damp floor perhaps in a basement will tend to absorb moisture over time and degrade the fibers with mildew. In the extreme it is a total lack of structural integrity and to a rug this means it can simply fall apart. Odors resulting from the slow drying of rugs and wet carpet can result in microbial growth which may effect the health of occupants susceptible to asthma triggers. The rug will become very stiff and is no longer flexible a condition called dry rot the rug can t be folded or rolled without cracking the foundation which you can sometimes see or hear.

2 make sure the rug is completely dry. Dry rot damage is a condition that can occur in older textiles and furnishings especially those with cellulosic plant or plant based fiber such as cotton flax linen jute and similar fibers. Sometimes years or decades. Delaying the proper drying of your valuable oriental rugs can result in staining rippling dye bleeding dry rot microbial growth and odor concerns causing permanent damage.

If an area on a rug is stiff and cracks when you slowly bend it or sounds like wood when you knock on it then dry rot has already set in. These fibers can slowly degrade over time. Only when you are absolutely sure that it is dry roll it like tube and wrap it in paper that is specially created for this purpose. This paper is chemical and ink free so there are minimum chances of damaging the rug.

Often if a rug has been exposed to water and not properly dried it can take on dry rot which deteriorates the fibers. Microscopic mold and mildew spores drift in the air and when moisture conditions are right they settle into the fabric and grow. Dry rot occurs when a fabric is exposed to moisture and doesn t dry completely or when it has been stored in a humid environment. Buildup of chemical residue from using incorrect cleaning products can dry out the foundation fibers making them brittle and eventually causing them to rot.