Expert: Jahann and Sons Persian Rugs - 10/15/2008

Question
My woolen rugs were soaked when our house flooded on Monday night.  I laid them outside in the shade to dry but they are now discolored. It seems the dye in the fibres has run.  They are all natural dyes.  Is there anything that can be done in this instance or should I consider replacement?  Many thanks in anticipation of your advice.

Answer
Hi Donna,

I'm so sorry to hear about your home.  Depending on what kind of rugs you have and how extensive the damage, it may or may not be cost effective to repair.  Color repair is a very tedious and therefore expensive process.  If your insurance will cover something like this, you'll probably want them to foot the bill for the repair or the replacement.  If you'd like, I'd be happy to look at some rug photos to give you an idea of what you're in for.

When looking for a company to service your rugs, it is important to find a company that is capable of dye removal.  A lot of times rug cleaning companies will treat color running as they do a stain and you won't get any results.  Just as a hint, companies that specialize in Oriental rug cleaning and repair will be much more likely to be able to do something like this than your average rug cleaners.  If you're in the Washington, DC area, we can help you.

I hope this information helps you.  Please feel free to contact me should you have any further questions.

Best of luck,
Katie (ruglady@jahannandsons.com)