shagpile carpets/rugs!  

As a girly-boy growing up in the frigid Midwest,
It was common practice in our home to remove all rugs (mostly wool oriental's) and rub them in the dry snow..shake them out..and bring 'em back into the home. I was always told that this was to "moth proof" the wool rugs.
But then again, they'd mothproof my sister the same way.
Aunt Mark

I have a large flokati from the 70s or so.
It gets washed about twice a year in a huge front loader at a nearby laundromat, then dried in the sun. It helps to comb or brush it out afterwards. The rug looks and feels great. Because it is old it sheds minimally and the trouble of carting a big heavy rug to the laundromat is worth it. But I'm sure many people wouldn't think so. I wash with Eucalan in cold and never put it in the dryer!

Thanks Hazelnut...its, I...
Thanks Hazelnut...its, I don't know, 5x7 maybe? Made in the late 60's by the Art prof at Western Michigan University, Helmi Moulton. I have a few other pieces by her as well but only this one rug. You're right...it would look great out in the snow:-)
Love that Panton!

This is a super old thread...but maybe we can revive it? I just bought my first vintage rya rug ($12 at an estate sale woohoo!). It looks like it's been used exclusively as a wall hanging, but the dust on it is fierce. I shook it and beat it a bit but the edges (which a light cream color) are still a bit gray. I fear professional cleaning on this beast will be too spendy (it's about 3.5'x4' and heavy), and the method of walking on it in the snow, as idyllic as that sounds, won't work in Oregon--could be years before we get that kind of snow! So I was wondering if I could soak it with some Woolite and hang it to dry on a sunny day. Would the dye in the wool run?? (Whether I could lift it wet is another question...)

I think you can lift it wet---I'm don't possess super-human strength and I sort of hoisted a soaking wet 6x9 extra-thick flokati once.
That said---the color may very well run if washed with water. Cold water is less likely to cause problems but it's no guarantee. I'd worry more about the base fabric, which is cotton and/or linen, shrinking when wet. Cold water doesn't guarantee that that won't happen, either.
You may be best off with a wool wash like Eucalan, which doesn't need to be rinsed out. I don't know how it works but it's been around for years and knitters swear by it. Since a handknit sweater can easily cost $150+ just for the yarn and then there are all those hours that go into the knitting, I tend to trust their endorsement.

Ooh I'll check that out. Thank you for the tip!!

It's a vintage rug, it's fine to just live with edges a bit gray. If it bothers you it may be because your surroundings are too clean. Cleanliness is somewhat overrated. Think of the spiders. Where are they supposed to live if they keep getting their webs torn down? Be compassionate.
I find that WET dirt is much worse than dirt- dirt can be vacuumed easily. Non-rinse detergents leave things full of soapy horrible smelling perfumes...
If your rug were covered in cat piss or something then you might do well to submerge it in some sort of a bath but I don't think you're anywhere close to that now... just vacuum the thing, spot clean with a damp sponge if needed and enjoy it

Haha don't worry--spiders are pretty darn happy at my house 🙂
Thanks for putting things in perspective tho; I suppose the dust stains aren't so bad. Still, it's fun to learn how to clean things even if they don't totally need it (though this might if I end up selling it). I ended up ordering the Eucalan bc it sounds like a handy natural product.

Let me know how the Eucalan works! I've been curious but not quite enough to buy some. (It comes in an unscented version, object. I'm with you on perfumes. Most of them give me elevator claustrophobia immediately.)

I'll try to remember to post here once I use it. To get a discounted price on amazon I had to get one that "usually" ships in 4-5 weeks. By that time I may have totally forgotten what I got it for.

I would just be very careful washing: agitation and temperature are big factors in washing wool. The moisture + temperature open the cuticle + agitation forces it to interlace/lock progressively tighter = felt. If you use a machine, the delicate cycle just jerks back and forth a few times intermittently and works fine.
Hazelnut, I'm surprised (and glad) putting your rug in the washer didn't felt it... Maybe the combination of heat and agitation?
I have a prized Avoca knit mohair double sized bedspread that was fine the first few times I cleaned it... I guess I got carried away, but the last time I let it agitate in the washer longer and it definitely shrank. It wasn't a catastrophe, only about 4 inches, but I don't think I can ever block it out myself.

Wow!
These are the loveliest carpets. Thanks for sharing.