Seeing a moth out in the garden may be a pleasant sight, but for carpet owners, these creatures spell danger. Many moths have an insatiable appetite for textiles, surviving primarily off a diet of cotton, silk, and wool. They are also known to reproduce quickly, making dealing with an infestation a months-long process.
Fortunately, there are several solutions for dealing with moth damaged rugs — ranging from DIY patchwork, to professional rug repairs in Los Angeles. In this guide, we’ll show you how to identify, prevent, and fix moth damaged rugs.
How to Identify Moth Damage
There can be any number of reasons for rug damage but a few very distinct signs that winged insects are the culprit. Spotting an adult moth hovering around your carpet is, of course, a dead giveaway. But here are some more subtle clues:
- Tiny holes begin appearing on random parts of the carpet.
- The rug’s edges start to fray.
- Parts of the carpet peel off when scrubbing or steaming.
- You find a white silken tubes or a web-like material on your rug.
- You find moth droppings on the surface of a rug — these are small brown flecks look similar to a whole pepper.
With that said, moth damage is hard to spot, and knowing about these signs often isn’t enough. The holes and patches can be very tiny until they suddenly aren’t — and you’re left dealing with a very serious issue on your hands.
Moth infestations are also a lot more common than you think. If your home has a lot of warm and dark spaces, it’s almost inevitable that you’ll soon spot moth-eaten areas on your rug. So, along with looking out for these signs, we recommend getting your carpet regularly examined by a professional.
How to Prevent Moth Damage
When it comes to moth damage, prevention is better than cure.
Repairing moth-eaten areas can be painstaking and complex, so it’s always better to tackle the issue head-on. Whether you’re just coming out of an infestation, or suspect one might be on its way, here are some tips to keep the pesky insects in check:
- It may sound obvious, but vacuuming is the ideal solution for moth removal — especially larvae and eggs. We recommend setting a rug vacuuming frequency of at least once every two weeks.
- Similarly, deep cleaning helps instantly kill any surviving moths — no matter how small or embedded they are. So make sure you take your carpet for a professional rug cleaning in Los Angeles at least once every six months.
- Install carpet moth traps at regular intervals. These adhesive pads are soaked in pheromones that attract and stop moths in their tracks and are incredibly effective at preventing serious long-term damage.
- Use a mix of natural solutions to prevent the growth of eggs. Some popular options include cedar, lavender, or white wine vinegar.
- The best time to have your house treated by pest control specialist is when your rug is out for cleaning. The professionals will take care of the moth nest inside of your rug.
- Finally, ensure that your rug gets sufficient natural light, since the moths that eat carpets are particularly fond of dark, warm spaces. If it’s stored in an attic or basement, let it air out for a few hours a month, too. We also recommend moving heavy furniture every three months and vacuuming underneath.
These tips are so crucial because they don’t just aid in moth removal, they increase the longevity of your rugs, reduce allergens, and contribute to a cleaner home. Dirty rugs are also especially harmful for children or anyone with pre-existing respiratory issues, so preventing moth damage also acts as a crucial protection against various illnesses.
Read this guide to find the perfect mix of professional vs DIY rug cleaning habits.
How to Repair Moth-Eaten Rugs
If, despite your best efforts, you start to find holes popping up across your rug, act quick. Experts have several solutions to help restore moth-damaged rugs — but, of course, the less extensive the damage, the easier it will be to fix. With that in mind, here’s an overview of the best ways to restore a moth-eaten rug.
- Purpose of a Rug Pad in Different Rooms
The most straightforward solution is to simply patch the moth-eaten areas of the rug.
To fix your carpet, a professional will first find a piece of fabric from another rug that matches the color and texture of the damaged area. They will then sew the patch into place with precision to ensure that it seamlessly fits onto the rug.
While the actual process isn’t particularly hard, finding the right material — or donor rug — can be a challenge. It’s for this reason that we recommend leaving more intricate patchwork, darning, or fine detailing to the experts.
- Reweaving
If your rug has extensive damage, or is very valuable, we recommend opting for a comprehensive reweaving instead. To execute this complicated solution, professionals must often tie thousands of knots to match the weave, color, and pattern of the rug. As you’d imagine, it is a time-consuming process, but one that promises remarkable results.
Any kind of rug can be rewoven, but it is particularly recommended for Persian, Oriental, Caucasian, or any kind of antique. A properly restored rug won’t just last longer, it will preserve its value for generations to come.
- Color Correction
Antique carpets use unique materials and dyes in their patterns — it’s what gives them that distinct look and feel, after all. So, in cases where the moth damage has caused significant discoloration, you need a professional to help restore its sheen.
These experts will meticulously blend dozens of shades until they create the exact color that matches your carpet. Apart from being a very precise art, color correction is a fix that relies on trial and error and experience.
How a Professional Rug Repair Service Can Help
Several of the moth damage solutions offered in this article can be carried out at home — but we don’t necessarily recommend it. Trying to restore a carpet without the required knowledge or experience can be very expensive and time-consuming.
Instead, you can simply send in any moth-damaged rugs to Thomas Rug Cleaning Co. & Ararat Oriental Rugs. Our experts don’t just know how to repair moth-damaged rugs with precision, we take time out to properly identify the issue, use techniques to ensure the moths don’t return, and have experience working with a wide range of antiques.
Get in touch with us today to learn more.
