Best Storage and Maintenance of Area for Old Priceless Carpet

Jun 11
07:40

2012

Ma. Theresa Galan

Ma. Theresa Galan

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The best location for the storage of your collection would be in a room that is cool, dry and where blinds or curtains can be used to block natural light. In fact, few of us have the luxury of having a spare room that we can devote to storage, and have to make due with closets, cupboards and under the beds.

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While it is possible to adapt many spaces in the house for storage,Best Storage and Maintenance of Area for Old Priceless Carpet Articles try to avoid using attics and basements, which are usually without climate control, suffering the largest swings of temperature and relative humidity.

Once you have decided on a location, you should think about the following:

  • if you live in a climate where humidity is high during some part of the year, make sure that there is some way to circulate the air to avoid mildew problems (even a fan will help); consider using a dehumidifier to bring humidity down to a more moderate level
  • if you live in a climate where humidity is low during some part of the year, consider raising the level of humidity slightly with a humidifier
  • block windows with shades or blinds
  • have a house-keeping plan for your storage area(s) as dust and dirt attract insects
  • avoid storing items directly on the floor; carpet beetles in particular like to take up resi-dence between the floor and the back of your rug.

The best way to store rugs is to keep them rolled. Obviously, if you fold a rug for a long period of time, creases will form. Additionally, the foundation of the rug will weaken from the pressure being exerted on the folded area, and if brittle, the foundation can break.

It is also best to roll a rug around a support tube (avoid using polyvinyl chloride tubing – PVC pipe – which can give off damaging chemicals as the PVC breaks down). Again, there are two options:

  • acid-free, archival tubes are the best choice (although expensive at over $2.00/foot); 3" diameter rug tubes are usually the best choice as they are very sturdy
  • a regular cardboard rug tube can be adapted by wrapping the tube with a layer of acid-free tissue; generally it takes several sheets lined up together to cover the length of the tube, so to hold all of the pieces in place and to insure that they last as you roll and unroll your collection, cover the tissue with a layer of washed cotton sheeting or muslin before rolling the rug around the tube.

For more information of this topic, check the links below:

carpet care northshore, carpet maintenance auckland

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