How to Store a Rug So It Comes Out as It Went In
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How to store a rug properly comes down to four enemies: moths, damp, creases and weight. A wool rug that is put away dirty, folded, sealed in plastic and left on a garage floor will meet all four. One that is cleaned, rolled, wrapped in cotton and laid on a shelf in a dry room will come out years later looking exactly as it did. The difference is an hour of preparation. This guide is written for wool rugs, hand-knotted ones included, and covers short breaks as well as long storage.
From the Atelier
Currently in our collection
Clean it before it goes away
Vacuum the rug thoroughly on both sides. If it has stains, food spills or pet accidents in it, deal with them now, and if it is due a full wash, have it washed before storage. Moth larvae are drawn to soiled wool, and a stain that sits for a year in the dark is much harder to remove than a fresh one.
Then make sure it is completely dry. Even slight dampness in the base of the pile, rolled up and wrapped, turns into mildew and a smell that is hard to get out. After any wet cleaning, give the rug a couple of extra days in the open air before you roll it.
Roll, never fold
Folding puts a sharp bend in the foundation, and a fold held for months can become a permanent crease or a weak line. Rolling spreads the curve evenly. Roll the rug with the pile facing inward, straight and reasonably tight, starting from one of the short ends. A cardboard tube in the middle helps a long rug stay even.
If the rug has a fringe, lay it flat along the rug before you begin so it is not crushed sideways. Tie the roll loosely in two or three places with strips of cotton fabric. Avoid string or tape directly on the rug, which cut into the pile or leave residue.
Wrap it in something that breathes
Wrap the roll in a clean cotton sheet, muslin or a breathable synthetic wrap of the kind used for building and for garment bags. The wrap keeps out dust and moths while letting moisture escape. Close the ends so insects cannot walk in.
Plastic sheeting is fine for moving day and for a few weeks. For long storage it traps any moisture inside, and with changes in temperature that moisture condenses on the wool. If plastic is the only option, make sure the rug is bone dry, and open the package to air it every couple of months.
Where to keep it
Choose somewhere cool, dry, dark and ventilated, with a steady temperature. A spare room, a wardrobe shelf or the space under a bed are good. Attics get too hot, basements too damp, and garages bring both, along with mice. A rented storage unit should be climate-controlled.
Lay the roll flat, off the floor, on a shelf or a pair of boards. Do not stand it on end for long periods, which lets it slump and crease near the bottom, and do not stack boxes on top of it. Weight flattens the pile along one line and can crack the foundation.
Check on it, and bringing it back out
Every three or four months, unroll the rug, look over both sides for signs of moths or damp, vacuum it and roll it up again. Cedar blocks or lavender in the wrap are a mild extra deterrent while they are fresh. We do not recommend mothballs: the smell clings to wool for a long time and the vapour is not something to have in a home.
When the rug comes out of storage, air it for a day, vacuum it, and let any roll lines relax over a week or two. Our rugs are hand-knotted wool from Morocco, and this page shows the whole collection. Each rug is one of a kind, with its exact measurements on its own page. Delivery is free worldwide, duties and taxes included.
What you can verify about us
- Origin
- Made in MoroccoHand-knotted Berber rugs from the Atlas regions. Every rug is one of a kind.
- Construction
- Hand-knotted woolVerified at every stage — never machine-tufted.
- Delivery
- Duties includedFree shipping; import duties and taxes are included in the price.
- Returns
- 14 daysIn condition received, full refund of the purchase price.
Frequently Asked
Questions
- Is it better to roll or fold a rug for storage?
- Roll it. Folding can leave permanent creases and weak lines in the foundation.
- Can I store a rug in plastic?
- For a few weeks, yes. For long storage use a breathable wrap such as a cotton sheet, because plastic traps moisture against the wool.
- How do I keep moths out of a stored rug?
- Clean it before storing, wrap it so insects cannot get in, keep it somewhere dry, and unroll and vacuum it every three or four months.
- Can I store a rug in a garage or attic?
- It is better not to. Attics overheat, and garages and basements are damp and attract pests. A cool, dry room indoors is safer.
Sources & References
What this page rests on
- 1. Textile Conservation Centre
- 2. Smithsonian Museum Conservation
The person behind the piece
“Before you buy, I’ll send you a video of the actual rug in natural light — not a stock photo. I answer the messages myself.”
I’m Youssef. I started ARINID because this market is full of middlemen and machine-made imitations sold as the real thing — and I grew up close enough to the looms to know the difference.
Every piece we list is one of a kind, hand-knotted in Morocco. If you want to talk through sizing for your room, I’m on the other end of the message. A rug at this level is a thirty-year decision. You should be able to look the person selling it to you in the eye.
Youssef
Founder, ARINID
The next step
See every rug we currently offer
Each piece is hand-knotted in Morocco and delivered to your door, with shipping, duties and taxes included.