How to Preserve Abrash Patterns on Handmade Rugs

Handmade oriental rugs are prized for their beauty and craftsmanship. While cheaper, machine-made rugs can be had affordably, they simply don’t match the splendor of a real handmade rug. Oriental rugs are also an investment; depending on their size, the materials used, and the construction methods, they can be worth as much as $10,000. Protecting your investment means preserving every aspect of your handmade area rug so it will look just as beautiful in ten years as it did the day you bought it.

One of the most prized qualities of handmade oriental and Persian rugs is known as abrash, and if you want your rug to hold its value, you will need to preserve these unique patterns. Here is a guide to preserving abrash patterns in your oriental rugs from the rug care experts at JMS Enterprises:

What is Abrash?

The most valuable oriental rugs are made by hand from start to finish – right down to the threads woven into them. Because these threads are twisted and dyed by hand, subtle variations exist in the coloring. When these threads are woven into the final rug, the color variations create a striped pattern known as abrash. While you might think abrash would be undesirable, it is one of the many reasons these rugs are so prized. A pronounced abrash pattern is one thing rug dealers look for when they are selecting rugs to sell.

Preserving Abrash in Your Oriental or Persian Rugs

Unfortunately, normal wear, dirt, and other factors can dull abrash, robbing your handmade rug of its true beauty. You can preserve your rug’s abrash patterns, but it takes a bit of maintenance and special care. Here’s how you can preserve your rug’s striking abrash patterns:

• Avoid Wear and Tear – It’s best to place handmade rugs in areas where they won’t see heavy traffic. Instead of placing your rug in your home’s entranceway, where it can become worn down, try putting it in a less traffic-heavy area.
• Keep Your Rugs Out of the Sun – Exposure to sunlight can bleach the pigment in your rugs, making them appear lighter than they were original. If a piece of furniture is placed over the rug, bleaching can also create undesirable patterns where the light was blocked. For the most longevity, place your rug in a room where it will be shaded from direct sunlight, and avoid putting furniture on top of it whenever possible.
• Regular Professional Cleanings – Dirt can dull the vibrant colors of your rug fibers. Dirt is also abrasive and can cause them to wear prematurely. To keep your rug looking amazing for years to come, regular professional cleanings are a must.

Oriental and Persian Rug Cleaning in Bucks County, PA

JMS Enterprises has been helping residents of Bucks and Montgomery County, PA keep their rugs looking brand new since 1973. Our professional rug cleaners are members of the WoolSafe® approved service provider network, meaning they have received special certification and training specifically for cleaning area rugs. At our Rug Salon, we utilize the latest in gentle cleaning equipment to deep clean your rug to the backing without damaging the fibers. We even fluff and repair your rug after cleaning so it will look just as it did the day it was woven.

If you have valuable area rugs in your home, don’t trust them to just any cleaner. Call the experts at JMS Enterprises today! Our professional area rug cleaners will remove your rugs from your home and take them to our Rug Salon for cleaning. Once we’re done, we will return them to your home just where we found them. Call (215) 706-0188 to find out more about oriental rug cleaning in Bucks County, PA, and surrounding communities.