Rug Help w/Pictures

[chervenc19]

Wannabe cleaner looking for some rug advice. Customer found me on google (god only knows how) and called about two rugs. Rugs are leaving a white powdery substance on black hardwood floors underneath rugs and wants to know what it is and if I can clean the rugs. Label on 4 x 6 rug says its acrylic and the label on the other rug couldn't be read. Haven't done a fiber test but will tomorrow. Customer has had them for 10 years and insists that they are at least 60 years old. Customer has a cat but says it has never gone on either rug but rugs do have a slight odor.

Any one know what the white powder is or being caused from? Does that look like mold or mildew on the back of the rugs?

Customer knows I am a part timer and I told him I would see what I could come up with.

Thanks.

Cracked binding on 9 foot round rug

White powder from under 9 foot round rug

Back of 4 x 6 Rug

Mold?

 

[John Watson]

Looks like you got a couple of old hand tufted rugs and the laytex or binder used to secure the tufts is powdering out.... and the backing is rotted out,

 

[Nate The Great]

Throw it in the gutter and go by another! !gotcha!

That Watson is one smart bugga!

 

[rhyde]

look like wool tufted rugs not bad really re-back with adhesive parabond 267

 

[John Watson]

Hey Randy dandy, would you think a novice could doe this type of repair on his first go around or would you suggest to find a repair shop in his area to do the job?

I, myself believe he should do the latter. We had about 12 rugs like that from one client that said fix em till she heard the cost. My repair shop (Julie @ DA Burns) was ready willing and able. We surface cleaned, and dried flat upside down and client was happy. She had bought them at an antique shop and is using them as displays in her studio/gallery.

 

[rhyde]

it's not that hard to do IMO

 

[dgargan]

Where would one learn to do repairs like that?

 

[lust1kiddo]

Hey man, I would find a restoration place and take them there and have them fix the rugs, mark it up a little and learn what to do for next time. That's what I am begining to do now, you can look through my postings to see how bad I have screwed up..haha

 

[Ron K]

IMO I have to agree with Randy. Tell the customer he should use a pad for his rugs.