The cleaning of Oriental and area rugs is a complicated and intricate process. A major concern during this process involves the rug fringes. Rug fringes are prone to some deterioration with normal use due to the fibre content of the fringes (usually cotton), their loose or low twist, and their open ends. These characteristics make rug fringes susceptible to untwisting and texture loss during normal use, such as vacuuming, walking, and other activities.
There are additional reasons why fringes may require special treatments during or after cleaning. The first reason is cellulosic browning. Rug fringes are mostly made of cotton, a cellulosic fibre, which undergoes natural changes with time. These changes may lead to the development of a brown stain or discolouration called cellulosic browning. The second reason is the possible change in the colour of the fringes during cleaning. This form of colour change often occurs as fugitive dyes from the wet rug are being absorbed by the fringes.
There are other ways to clean or reclean rug fringes. The first approach is recleaning the fringes by hand, with or without mild acid rinsing, and rapidly drying them with a blower. The second, a stronger treatment, involves bleaching, with or without rinsing, and rapid drying. If browning or colour bleeding is severe, it may not be eliminated by the first approach, the milder treatment. The second approach will result in white fringes but may also cause some physical deterioration of the fringes. This deterioration is manifested in their strength loss, fibre loss, and/or “stringy” texture.
Each procedure has its advantages and disadvantages. The first treatment does not weaken the fringes but may leave them off-white or slightly discoloured. The bleaching process will whiten the fringes but may result in a change in the texture of the fringes. The fringes may also look stringy and break off during subsequent vacuuming and wear. The choice of procedures best suited for a particular rug comes from knowledge and experience.
Eventually, all rug fringes will wear out from normal use and care. Many professional rug cleaners can renew the appearance of your rug by replacing or re-fringing the old, worn rug fringes.
