Moth-damaged and flooded rugs, and rug repair, explained
WATERFALL cleans rugs in your home; we do not repair, bind, resize, restore, appraise or treat a rug for moths or flood damage. Each is a specialist trade, done by a repairer, an appraiser or a pest-control company. For cleaning see rug cleaning and the prices page. WATERFALL cleans area rugs at your home for $89: call (747) 214-6199.
Can a moth-eaten rug be repaired?
Often yes, if the damage is limited and the threads the rug is built on are still sound. A repairer first makes sure the moths are gone, then reweaves the missing pile into the old foundation, rebuilds missing foundation threads first if needed, or stabilizes the edges of a hole so it spreads no further. Whether it is worth it depends on the size of the damage, the rug's value and what it means to you; do not glue, tape or trim the hole first. We do not offer repair.
Why should resizing a rug be left to professionals?
Because cutting a rug without securing the edge lets it unravel, and a hand-knotted rug can lose knots along the cut. A professional cuts and finishes the edge so that it holds. We do not resize rugs.
What is a rug appraisal?
An appraisal is a written value for a rug, made by an independent appraiser, from its age, origin, material, condition and market. We do not appraise rugs.
What is my rug worth, and what is the difference between replacement value and market value?
Market value is what the rug would sell for, and replacement value is what it would cost to buy a similar one. The two can be far apart, so ask the appraiser which one the paper states.
How do I get rid of moths in a wool rug I kept in storage?
The University of Kentucky's entomologists give freezing at 0 degrees Fahrenheit or below for at least one week. Isolate the rug, find the damage, vacuum, have it treated and clean it before it goes back.
WATERFALL cleans rugs after moth damage; mothballs work only inside an airtight container, used exactly as the label says.
- take it outside or to a garage, away from other wool, fur and feathers
- check both sides, the edges and the folds for holes, webbing, cases and droppings
- vacuum both sides, the floor and the storage space, then empty the vacuum outside in a sealed bag
- a small rug can be sealed in a plastic bag and frozen at the temperature and for the time given above, and the University of California's pest guide describes freezing too; a large or valuable rug goes to a rug specialist or pest-control company for freezing or controlled heat
- after treatment, have it cleaned to take out the soil larvae feed on, and set pheromone traps nearby to watch for adults
What do rug moth larvae look like and how do I spot them?
Virginia Tech's extension describes the larva as a pale, shiny caterpillar up to half an inch long, often in silken tunnels or cases with droppings nearby. The University of California's pest guide describes small, shiny white caterpillars with a dark head, often inside a thin silk tube or a case made of rug fiber and the color of the rug.
Look under furniture, at the edges, on the back and in folds, where the rug is not walked on or vacuumed, for these signs.
- bare patches or pile cut at the base
- fine webbing or silk tubes
- tiny droppings the color of the rug
- carpet beetle larvae, which do similar damage but are darker, brown and bristly; a close photo to a pest-control company tells which it is
How do I store a rolled rug so moths stay out?
Clean it, let it dry through, then close it off: the University of California's guide to clothes moths says to make sure susceptible items are clean and pest free before they are stored and to put them in an airtight container, and that a tight container matters more than cedar.
- have it cleaned first, and roll it only when it is dry right through; a rug wrapped damp can mildew
- roll it with the pile inward, never fold it
- wrap it closed so moths cannot get in, and keep it off the floor in a cool, dry place
- unroll it and check both sides every few months for webbing, cases and bare patches
How can I keep moths out of rugs that I store rolled up in a closet?
Store it clean, dry and sealed. Vacuum or clean both sides first, since moth larvae go for soiled wool, and let it dry right through. Roll it, never fold it, and seal the roll in heavy plastic or a lidded container; a loose fabric cover does not stop newly hatched larvae. Keep it off the floor, vacuum the closet, and unroll and check it every few months. Mothballs belong only in an airtight container, used as the label says.
Will a professional rug cleaning get rid of moths in my wool rug?
Not on its own. Cleaning takes out the soil that larvae feed on, but moths are a pest problem: the rug needs a moth treatment, such as freezing or controlled heat, from a rug specialist or a pest-control company, and nearby wool, the rug pad and the room need checking too. WATERFALL cleans rugs after moth damage; if you have seen moth damage, tell us when you text (747) 214-6199.
Can I save an area rug after a flood?
Sometimes, and it depends on the water. A rug wet by clean water can often be saved if it is dried within a day or two, while a rug soaked by sewage or floodwater is usually not safe to keep. Dry it fast, get it out of the damp room and call a water-damage restoration company; the EPA covers mold and flooding. Once the rug is dry, we clean it in your home, flood or leak included.
Why shouldn't you wait to clean your rugs after wildfire exposure?
Because ash and soot settle into the pile, and the longer they sit the harder they are to take out. Vacuum a rug gently, do not rub or wet the ash, and clean it soon. We clean the rug; we do not promise to remove smoke damage or smell.
Questions and answers
How to get rid of moths in rugs?
Find them, vacuum thoroughly and call a pest control company if the signs keep coming back. We clean the rug after moth damage; text a photo and we tell you what we expect.
How do I get rid of moths in my Persian rug?
Call a pest control company; moths are a pest problem. WATERFALL cleans the rug after moth damage; text a photo and we tell you what we expect.
Will a rug cleaning get rid of moths in my rug?
Not on its own: cleaning takes dirt out of a rug and is not a pest treatment. For moths, talk to a pest control company; WATERFALL cleans rugs after moth damage; text a photo and we tell you what we expect.
Can rug fringe be repaired?
Yes, by a rug repairer, who re-ties loose fringe or rebuilds it from the threads the rug is built on. We do not repair fringe; we clean rugs.
Why do rug edges curl after cleaning?
Usually because the rug dried unevenly or its backing or edge pulled as it dried. Lay it flat, roll the edge back gently the other way and weight it until it settles; an edge that keeps curling needs a rug repairer, and we do not repair rugs.
What is my rug worth?
That is a question for an independent appraiser. We do not appraise rugs.
Can you restore the color of a rug?
Cleaning brings back color that dirt hid, not dye that has faded. Restoring color is dye work, which we do not offer.
Why should resizing a rug be left to pros?
Cutting a rug without securing the edge lets it unravel. We do not resize rugs.
Prices and booking
More guides
- Area rug care: all guides
- Do rugs need pads? Rug pads and sizing — A pad keeps a rug from slipping and wearing; make it about an inch smaller than the rug on each side. We clean rugs and do not sell pads.
- How often to clean a rug — Vacuum weekly and deep clean about once a year for a busy rug; the right pad, rotation and quick blotting make a rug last longer.
- Wool, Persian, Oriental and antique rugs — Wool is cleanable but needs gentle products and little heat; a Persian or antique rug needs a look at the dyes and the fringe first.
- Carpet ripples, fraying and water damage — WATERFALL cleans carpet; it does not stretch, patch, bind or repair it or restore water damage. This explains what each involves.
Sources: UC IPM on clothes moths (The University of California's guide to clothes moths, which feed on wool.); UC IPM on carpet beetles (The University of California's guide to carpet beetles.); University of Kentucky entomology on clothes moths (The University of Kentucky's entomologists on clothes moths, including how freezing treats infested items.); Virginia Tech extension on clothes moths (Virginia Cooperative Extension's description of the clothes moth and its larva.); EPA on mold cleanup (The EPA's steps for cleaning up mold and drying a home after water damage.); EPA on flooding (The EPA's guidance for a home after a flood.)