WE CAN FIX RUG DYE BLEEDING IN ORIENTAL RUGS

Oriental and Persian rugs are generally crafted from an intricate interlacing of vibrant dyes. When these bold and ravishing tones run into one another, the resulting confusion of colour can destroy the otherwise exemplary effect of the carpet. However, we can not only prevent this from happening during our own cleansing processes, but can also eliminate many of the effects of previous misconceived washes.

Rugs rely on a delicate acidic salt bond (the setting process) to hold the dye and fibres together. Where the rug is washed with alkaline water, this can dissolve the bond, causing the dye to bleed or run. We will always be careful to use a water solution that doesn’t break down the bond. Where the rug already has high alkalinity, we can stabilise the bond, making sure that no further bleed occurs.

There are other reasons for colours running. This can happen, for example, where excess dye wasn’t removed through proper rinsing – this is particularly common in rugs manufactured in a location where water is a scarce commodity. Alternatively, colour may transfer through rubbing, or as a result of the dyes not being colourfast. Whatever the cause, we will conduct very careful tests that allow us to clean without creating bleed, and without exacerbating the problem when it has already occurred. In most cases, we can reverse the damage, removing colour runs, and restoring outlines and fine detail.