5 Tips: How To Store Rugs Without Ruining Them

If you’ve ever stored something in a self-storage unit, or even the back of your closet, only to later find it wrinkled, musty, moth-eaten, or moldy, then this is for you. 

Storing things properly is the difference between it being usable later when you need it again and it sadly being unusable later. This is especially true for textiles. Without proper storage, that expensive wool coat or that heirloom Persian rug will be ruined.

Rugs especially require some extra care and attention – they are susceptible to mold, bugs, and other kinds of damage. And since rugs can be highly prized and very expensive items (even if they’re run of the mill rugs!), they are worth a little extra care and attention in order to keep them in pristine condition.

So we’ve come up with 5 Tips on how to store rugs without ruining them.

Step 1: Deep Clean

The cleaning method for your rugs will vary depending on the material. Modern rugs are often made of a polyester blend and a good vacuum will do the job. You can throw some rugs in the washing machine and for others, if you have the space and the gusto, you can take them outdoors and give them a good whack to get some of the deep dust out of the fibers. (Do this only if it’s not going to upset your neighbours and send a cloud of dirt into their homes.)

Wool is also a common material used in rugs, and the fibers might be braided or woven. Other delicate materials include silk and natural threads that should not be subject to a heavy-duty vacuum cleaner, and may require a sponge clean or to have a protective woven layer placed overtop first. Other materials – hides, jute, fur, and so on, may have specific requirements to keep from wrecking the rug so be sure to adjust your method to the material at hand.

Really what we are trying to say is do some research on the best way to clean your rug – whether that is through a professional service or at home. Keeping up with regularly cleaning your rug throughout the year will make this process easier in the long run.

Step 2: Protect 

Moths and insects are especially drawn to natural fibers like wool, so you may want to apply an insect repellent. Proceed with caution – not all fibers will react well to industrial repellents so be sure to read labels and do research about what will work for your rug.

Step 3: Roll

Once the rug is clean and dry, tightly roll up with rug. Depending on the size, you may need to recruit help for this step. Lay the rug flat on the clean ground (so as not to pick up extra dust and debris), roll the rug evenly so that it is a nice, tight tube. You may need to tie with a string or bungee cord.

Step 4: Wrap 

Another step to make sure that your rug is protected against insects and bugs. Many varieties can eat through the material, causing holes and tears in the rug. To prevent this, wrapping the rolled rug in a specially designed plastic sleeve is essential; this will keep your carpet in pristine condition.

Step 5: Move and Store

Again, depending on the size of the floor covering, you may or may not have to recruit help to move the item. Rugs can be deceptively heavy and awkward to carry. If you’re storing the rug in a self-storage unit in Vancouver, or anywhere for that matter, be sure that the unit is dry and humidity controlled so that mold doesn’t become a factor. Especially if you are storing it for an extended period.

Stand the rug on one end and store it vertically. Carefully choose where you will place it in the storage unit; if you won’t need the rug for a long time, you can tuck it into a back corner. Be sure to keep your self-storage unit organized, stacked, labeled, and clean, with walkable pathways. Believe us – the extra organizing up front will pay off when you need to retrieve things.

If you are looking to temporarily store your belongings in a clean, safe, state of the art self-storage facility in Burnaby, Vancouver, Surrey or Kamloops, connect with us. We will gladly walk you through our options.