How To Clean A Latch Hook Rug

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lenore on rug for web

Many of my customers and students balk at the idea of putting a hooked rug on the floor. I reassure them that a well-made hooked rug will last 100 years or more, on the floor, and will in fact be fought over by future generations.

Stuff will happen to the rug, to be sure, but anything that happens to a hooked rug can be repaired (which is why they last so long). These rugs can be washed and vacuumed, and if they get stained, worn or moth-eaten, no worries, all these things can be fixed.

vacuuming old rug for web_edited-1

Vacuuming is great for hooked rugs, because you want to remove the grit that wears away at the fibers. Before I vacuum a hooked rug, I always check for snagged yarn to be re-hooked (more about this later). Don't 'beat' a hooked rug though, that's not good for the fibers.

Hooked rugs can also be washed, but hand-washing is preferred. Just have on hand two pans containing about two cups of water each. In the first, add one tablespoon of laundry detergent. (You want laundry detergent as opposed to dishwashing liquid or other soap, because you don't want too many suds.)

muted old rug washing for web

Put a rag in the pan and squeeze it almost all the way out. You don't need to get the rug soaking wet, you just want enough moisture to pick up the dirt that has been deposited on the rug. Scrub the rug in a circular motion. Don't forget to wash the back as well.

In the second pan of water, add a splash of vinegar (this is good for the yarn). Then using a clean rag, go over the washed rug one more time, to remove some of the soap. Then lay the rug where it can get plenty of air to dry.

I read once that in days of yore, they would wait for a good powdery snow, take the rugs outside, put snow on top, sweep it off, and bring the rugs inside to dry. So you don't need a lot of moisture, just enough to lift the dirt off the surface.

Before washing and binding the edges

Two old rugs, in need of a pick-me-up

These two old rugs (above) were probably forty or fifty years old. They were quite dirty, but other than that, they were in really good shape. I washed them, and since the edges were in good shape, I decided to bind them before I use these rugs on the floor.

muted old rug unhemmed for web

Here you can see one of the rugs, with the hem taken out.

To bind the edge, I removed the hem, then I wrapped the backing around a cotton cord, extending out from the hooked edge. I tacked the cording in place using regular sewing thread.

muted old rug sewing in cord for web_edited-1

Wrapping the backing around a cord

The cotton cord protects the backing, because the fabric is not going to fold down flat anymore.

Whip stitching with a matching yarn and tapestry needle

I whip stitch over the cording, using a matching yarn and a tapestry needle. I sew over the ends of the yarn, so they don't show (I don't tie knots in the back). The whip stitching adds yet another protective layer to the backing fabric, shielding it from wear and tear.

Finished rug with bound edges

pinwheel rug before rehooking for web

Hooked rug with a bit of yarn snagged

This is the most common thing that happens to a hooked rug. Occasionally, a bit of yarn may get snagged on something. Kitties are often the culprits, but don't throw out the rug (or the cat!). Just remember, your rug will survive not only this cat, but many generations of family pets to come.

Snagged yarn pulled through to the back so it can be rehooked

Just pull the unhooked yarn through to the back, and re-hook it. If you have just a little bit of experience with rug hooking, it is a five-minute repair. What could be easier?

Pinwheel rug rehooked

What if Fido took a liking to your hooked rug and decided to make it a chew toy, like the rug shown below?

Rug chewed by a dog

Don't panic, even this can be repaired! Unhook the rug until you come to healthy backing. Then sew in a patch on the back. Tack the two layers of backing together, trimming away any loose threads, but keep the ones that run all the way through the damage. Then re-hook the rug, hooking through both layers.

Same rug, patched and re-hooked

This rug was fairly new at the time, so it was easy to match the yarn to re-hook the design. When you lay the rug on the floor, you cannot see the repair. If you examine it on the back, you can see the patch.

1930's rug with damage on the edge

With normal wear and tear, the first place to wear out on a hooked rug is the edge. When I hook a rug, I always bind the edge to prevent such damage, but I have found that old rugs rarely have bound edges. In this instance, I unhooked the border and sewed in a patch to strengthen and protect the hooked edge of the rug. Then I re-hooked the border, bound the edge with a matching yarn, and completed the hem.

Rug with hem removed, red border unhooked and patch sewn in place

Close up of repair

Close up of the border re-hooked through the patch, and bound edge

Markusrug300before for web

This Cocker Spaniel rug is another family treasure that had been used and loved for many decades. I unhooked the edge, but in this case, the owner decided to have me make the rug a little smaller, rather than patching the old edge.

markusrugdamageclose72 for web

Close up showing some of the damage

This shows the rug unhooked to the healthy backing.

To give added support to the old backing, I sewed in some ribbon, and wrapped that around the cording for the bound edge. Then I sewed the hem with regular sewing thread.

I bound the edge, then added fringe so it would resemble the original

I bound the edge with matching pink yarn, then added fringe so it would resemble the original

This charming leaf rug (below) had sustained major damage all around the edge, as well as in spots inside the design.

Charming old rug with extensive damage and wear

I made a large patch, to restore and support the entire edge. Then I re-hooked all of the patched areas and bound the edge, so the rug will continue to be used and enjoyed for a long time.

Cutting away the excess backing for the patch

Cutting away the excess backing for the patch. I removed the red basting thread and zig-zagged the cut edge on my sewing machine. Then I tacked the patch in place and re-hooked through both layers

This shows the patch sewn in place, front view, before re-hooking

Repaired rug, viewed from the back. Notice the patches and new hooking.

Repaired rug, front view

Why bother to repair an old rug? Because hooked rugs are extremely valuable. Restored, this rug has a retail value of at least $1400.00, not to mention the sentimental value to the family.

Don't despair—REPAIR!!!

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Hand-hooked Victorian Santa, with mohair beard. 34"x20", designed and hooked by Judy Taylor

Hand-hooked Victorian Santa, with mohair beard. 34″x20″, designed and hooked by Judy Taylor

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Happy Hooking!