Rug fringes are the ends of the rug, often beautiful white tassels, that actually keep the rug from unraveling. They are often found on oriental rugs and Persian rugs. But over time, they begin to fray, deteriorate, and become very dark and dirty, especially on antique rugs. In this article, we will discuss the ways you can clean and repair your rug fringes.
What Are Fringes?
Fringes, also known as tassels, are the foundation of the rug. More specifically, they are the end pieces of the “warp” of the rug, which is the foundational yarn that runs from tassel to tassel. Although they have a decorative effect, they are what keeps the rug together, and prevents the yarn from unraveling. Fringes are usually originally white or an off-white and can get dirty quickly.
What Damages Rug Fringes?
Several factors cause damage to rug fringes. Here are a few reasons why your fringe may be breaking or unraveling
Bleaching
Firstly, when the rug is brand new, the maker might bleach the cotton fringes a bright white, making it more attractive to shoppers. Especially in cotton, this bleaching or oxidizing damages the fibers, weakening them, and causing them to break easily from foot traffic. The fringe itself can break or wear away quickly or the fringe can even break at the knot. This can be particularly pressing as the knots of the rug can begin to unravel if there is no knot to keep them in place. If this occurs,
High Traffic
Oriental rugs or Persian rugs are generally quite durable and are made most often from wool or silk. Yet the fringes, and thus the warp, is often made from cotton which is less durable. Over time, with wear and tear, the fringes and the tassels can be worn away. In addition, if there was chemical damage to the fringes from bleaching, they can wear away faster or even break easily.
Vacuuming
Vacuums nowadays with a beater bar can be too aggressive for rug fringes. The vacuum will suck up the fringe and the beater bar will aggressively agitate the fibers. The vacuum is then pulled away causing even more strain. In these scenarios, undue wear and tear can occur, and even breakage.
How to Clean and Repair Fringes
Steam Clean Fringes
Professional carpet cleaners can steam clean the fringes to improve their look. Fringes are often made from cotton which can be difficult to clean, especially if the fringes were an original bright white. Using mild, but effective chemicals, with hot water extraction can improve the look of your fringes. If they are especially dirty, and have been that way for a long time, you may see improvement from only 50-80%.
Hide and Replace the Fringes
If you really want your fringes to have that beautiful clean color again, the best thing to do is to hide the original fringe under the rug, and sew on new “fake” ones. Original fringes actually serve a structural purpose so if you sew on a new fringe, they are only for esthetic purposes. Yet hiding friends and sewing on a new pair, which is done by hand, is a great way to achieve the look you desire while actually preserving the integrity of your rug. Some rug owners may DIY the process and tape the rug fringe to the backing, but this can lead to breakage when the tape is removed. By sewing, you eliminate damage to the structural fringes, which can lead to serious and costly unraveling issues, and you also get a beautiful look for your treasured rug.
Removing the Fringes
Some homeowners might be wondering “can you cut the tassels of your rug” or even “how to cut a rug fringe without it fraying?” Don’t do this! For whatever reason you want the fringes removed, new stitching would have to be sewn into the rug to prevent it from unraveling. This process is called “binding.” These endstop stitches will prevent the knots from loosening from the warp. This procedure must be done correctly by an experienced expert as if done incorrectly, the new stitching will not hold and the rug will begin to unravel.
Re-Knotting the Fringes
If you would like to have the original fringe be visible but have issues with wear and breakage, expert rug repairmen can re-knot the tassels. This is an arduous and highly skilled process as some of the fringes may need to be restored.
Professional Fringe Cleaning and Repair in NYC
Do you have a beautiful oriental rug, Persian rug, or antique rug with fringes and needs care? Our oriental rug cleaning service in NYC offers fringe cleaning, repair, rug re-fringing, and binding to handle all of your fringe issues. Call today or request a quote online!
Frequently Asked Questions
Rug fringes, or tassels, are the end pieces of the rug's foundational yarn (warp) running from one end to the other, crucial for preventing the rug from unraveling.
Damage can occur from bleaching, high foot traffic, and aggressive vacuuming, leading to weakening, breaking, or fraying of the fringe fibers.
Yes, bleaching can weaken the fibers, especially in cotton fringes, making them prone to breakage and wear from foot traffic.
Cotton fringes can wear away or break due to the less durable nature of the material compared to the wool or silk of the rug itself.
Vacuums with beater bars can aggressively agitate and strain the fringe fibers, causing undue wear and potential breakage.
Options include steam cleaning, hiding and replacing fringes with "fake" ones for aesthetic purposes, or professional re-knotting for damaged fringes.
Cutting fringes is not recommended as it requires expert re-stitching to prevent the rug from unraveling, a task that must be done by experienced professionals.
Hiding original fringes and sewing on new ones or expert re-knotting of damaged fringes are effective methods for restoring their appearance while preserving the rug's integrity.
Carefully fold and secure the fringe under the rug, or consider professional services to sew on new decorative fringes while preserving the original.
Removal should be done by professionals who can then secure the rug's edges to prevent unraveling.
Carefully steam clean or use a gentle hand-washing technique, avoiding harsh chemicals that can damage the fibers.
Re-knotting the fringes or securing the ends professionally is crucial to prevent further damage and preserve the rug.
