Antique rug issue

[Zee]

I've got a couple of 100 some year old rugs that someone at some point put sticky tape on.

As I try to open the rug, it nearly rips the yarns out - it is so sticky.



Oh mighty ruggie, I beg for thy wisdom in guidance of thine ways or removal of glue hell...

 

[Zee]

 

[Jimmy L]

try some spray carb cleaner. As you pull off spray the leading edge till it comes off.

 

[Nate The Great]

We just pulled off that sticky seam tape sh!t off a customers rug that used it to put the fringe back..... We cut off and secured the fringe as the customer didn't like the fringe... I know what your working with and it's not fun....

 

[Brian H]

Be careful..

I have seen people use seam tape to reinforce the backs of rugs that were dry rotted. Make sure you to have the customer sign off. You don't want to make their problem yours.

 

[Zee]

I was opening it in front of the customer to show how sticky it really is and it may take some time to carefully remove all of it. I explained and showed how it's nearly pulling the yarns out and she understands and definitely made aware that it will be an extra charge to deal with this. (more than the normal $4.00/sqft)

A very regular customer... and I had a number of her rugs in before. Some of her rugs I washed 3-4 times already.


Now back to the question: what procedure would be best? I know we all have done similar things before....what would you do with an old rug like this?

 

[Cleanworks]

Actually, Jimmy's suggestion of carb cleaner would probably work. You need a fast acting volatile solvent that won't cause any bleeding. Although the carb cleaner may be too aggressive, it's easy to control. Just hold the tape in one hand and spray with the other and it should release fairly easily. Otherwise, whatever volatile solvent your supplier has.

 

[The Great Oz]

Hand-knotted rugs can be soaked in solvent without doing any harm, but it may take a lot of dwell time to break this stuff down. You can go at it in different ways, from using OMS or a gelled solvent as the intial softener and using 1.1.2 trichloethylene or MEK as the more volatile product to remove the remainder. Paint remover is also an option.

The simplest fix is to skip trying to get it off and powder it with string-line chalk. Brush off the excess and no more sticky. Or, a little more adhesive and cover the area with a jute or muslin fabric.

 

[Ron K]

I would not try to pull it off because it may/and apparently has pulled some of the rug apart. I would try heat first to soften up and gently pull off then not worry about the residue you'll do more damage then good. Solvent baths and brake cleaners meh!
Cover sticky areas with an un bleached and died linen and wash. I would try to remove as much as you can but you'll never get all of it out. So remove the "tape" part as to not ad bulk. Sell her a good underlayment. It looks like the whole reason for the tape was to stop corners from curling and rugs from slipping. JMO!