A hand-knotted rug that has got wet is not lost. A hand-knotted rug left wet for several days may be: the cotton warp goes mouldy, the dyes run, the wool takes on a smell that never leaves. Everything happens fast.
Straight away
- Get the rug out of the water and lay it flat, if possible on a dry floor, in a ventilated room.
- Blot the excess water with clean towels, pressing, without rubbing or wringing.
- Get the air moving: open window, fan. No radiator pressed against the rug, no hairdryer, no direct sun: heat sets stains and distorts the piece.
- Photograph the rug and the damage for your insurer, before moving it if possible.
What not to do
- Don't leave it rolled or folded while wet, not even overnight.
- Don't lay it on parquet or tiles without ventilation underneath: slide in some blocks so the air can circulate.
- Don't use any product or bleach: the dirty water from a flood calls for a full wash, not a local treatment.
Then, the workshop
A rug that has soaked in dirty water (flood, sewer, washing machine) must be washed with plenty of water, disinfected, spun in a centrifuge and dried right through quickly: that is the only way to avoid odour and mould. The sooner it reaches the workshop, the better it comes out.
If the rug only took on clean water and was able to dry quickly, a wash is still recommended: water leaves rings and stiff patches that only a full wash removes.
Insurance
Cleaning and restoration after a claim are generally covered by home insurance. Keep the photos, the quote and the invoice.